RSVP Now for DAC 2018 in Quebec City: The Focus Is on Diversity

Next year’s Distinguished Advisor Conference (being held in Quebec City, Nov. 11-14, 2018) will explore how the work of tax and financial advisors fits into a changing demographic landscape under the theme “The Changing Face of Community: Collaboration with Impact.” Registrations for delegates and speaker sponsors are now open, and we are asking for your input on the topics you’d like to explore more closely at the event.

Why “The Changing Face of Community: Collaboration with Impact”? There are now people of 250 ethnic origins in Canada and two in five children under 15 are foreign-born. If current trends continue, visible minorities could represent between 31.2 percent and 35.9 percent of the Canadian population by 2036. Further, Canada’s indigenous population has grown 42.5 percent since 2006. What impact do these new trends have on the financial services?

“As an industry and as individuals lucky enough to live in Canada, it’s a great time to work ‘above our privilege,’ that is, to set higher goals, improve services and to give back more in mentorship and engagement to a new client base with vastly different demands of their tax and financial advisors,” says Evelyn Jacks, President of Knowledge Bureau and DAC program director.

The challenge, she says, is to strive for higher standards of care within the new face of Canada. A strategic look at the new issues that shape demographic needs, and the resulting tax and economic policies in Canada, is critical, in order to interpret what that means for prospective clients in the tax and financial services.

Indeed, there’s lots to think about. Statistics Canada reported late in October that close to 21.9 percent of our population reported they were, or had at some time been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada—the highest level since Confederation. Almost half (48.0 percent) of recent economic immigrants were admitted through the skilled workers program and more than a quarter (27.3 percent) under the provincial and territorial nominees program.

In addition, the vast majority of Canada’s 7.5 million immigrants (93.2 percent of them) were able to conduct a conversation in English or in French, and many of these families live in multigenerational homes. For tax and financial advisors, there are a myriad new opportunities and insights to explore as we contemplate how to help the increasingly diverse Canadian population.

The attendees of DAC 2017 were inspired and educated by some of the most brilliant minds in the financial sector. They also enjoyed both the formal and informal (curling, anyone?!) networking opportunities provided in Kelowna. Some of their comments below are creating an even greater buzz as potential delegates mark their calendar to experience education differently at DAC in Quebec City. We hope you’ll join us.

Here’s what some of our attendees had to say about DAC 2017:

“Amazing speakers. Excellent value. Different content compared to other conferences. Quality and diversity of speakers.” —Brett Watson, Manitoba

“Variety of backgrounds and topics, extraordinary content. DAC provides a wealth of knowledge, opportunity to connect with a diverse group of inspiring people and a program that is progressive, meaningful and fun!” —Maureen Carse, British Columbia

Don’t forget to chime in and help us assemble the agenda for DAC 2018 under the theme “The Changing Face of Community: Collaboration with Impact by liking our Facebook page to share your thoughts.

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