A new workspace at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) offers a welcoming space for students to explore new ideas and opportunities, and encourages collaboration between students, industry partners and visitors.

The CPA Manitoba Collaboration Workroom, located on the second floor of Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, is a bright, modern space designed for study, work, community meetings, breakout sessions and small group activities. The space can be used during events or ceremonies as a private place to reflect, or for small groups to connect and collaborate.

“We’re very supportive of post-secondary education, so the more we can do to enhance that experience for students, the better,” said Geeta Tucker FCPA, FCMA, president and CEO of CPA Manitoba.

“It’s a way to enhance student learning by showing them what opportunities are out there in the world and connecting students to opportunity. And if students see the signage and wonder what CPA Manitoba is, maybe that encourages them to find out more and eventually pursue a CPA designation,” she said.

Tucker has held her title with CPA Manitoba since 2019, and is the executive sponsor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the CPA profession in Canada. She also sits on an accounting advisory board that advises on the curriculum of the accounting and business programs at RRC Polytech.

“I appreciate RRC Polytech’s focus on Indigenous engagement, and one thing that has really attracted me to the College is the innovation in its teaching approaches and delivery. It produces students who really add value in the workforce, and we want to be a part of that by being a donor” said Tucker.

She notes that while Indigenous students make up a low percentage of those in accounting and finance programs, she hopes the new CPA Manitoba Collaboration Workroom will foster collaboration and curiosity in students, inspiring them to explore new opportunities.

“Having this beautiful space to enhance and encourage Indigenous learners to come to the College is exciting for us, and if it ladders into the steps that lead to a CPA program, we’re helping contribute to improving the diversity in Manitoba,” she said.

Supporting the new space complements CPA Manitoba’s Indigenous Understanding Initiative, which represents the start of the organization’s learning journey towards making the CPA designation more inclusive and representative of Manitoba’s population, as well as to reduce barriers of entry to the accounting profession in Manitoba.

The Initiative also includes an Indigenous mentorship program, launched in 2021, which connects University of Winnipeg students with mentors from CPA Manitoba. The pilot program has been incredibly successful, and the organization hopes to continue growing it by partnering with other post-secondary institutions in the future.

“The hope for the future is that CPA Manitoba supports a profession that reflects the diversity of the working population in Manitoba. It’s going to be a long journey, and there are many barriers, but it’s something that we strive toward. We’ll know we’ve gotten there when CPAs feel they can bring their true, authentic selves to work,” said Tucker.  

The Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba (CPA Manitoba) is a regulatory body that represents more than 9,000 members, candidates and students. CPA Manitoba protects the public interest through rigorous educational and certification programs and ensures its members uphold the highest professional and ethics standards.