(October 5 – 15:46 ET) – The Canadian Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (CAIFA) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual professional development awards. The five medal winners were recognized at CAIFA’s national conference held recently in Saskatoon.

The John A. Tory Award and the Chartered Financial Consultant (CH.F.C.) medal of achievement are awarded to the top students in all of Canada who have demonstrated excellence in the Chartered Life Underwriter and CH.F.C. designation programs.

Michael Panagapka, of Kirkland Lake, Ont. is the winner of the the John A. Tory Medal, for the most outstanding performance, with an average grade in all courses of 87.25%, in the Chartered Life Underwriter program.

Gregory Lysz, of Edmonton, is the winner of the CH.F.C. Medal of Achievement, for outstanding performance in the Chartered Financial Consultant program with an average grade in all courses of 92.7%.

In addition to the national awards, CAIFA also recognizes the top student in each province who has demonstrated excellence in achieving an average grade of 75% or more for all courses in the CLU program. The winners of the Leslie W. Dunstall medals for outstanding achievement in the CLU program by province are:

  • Michael Milos, Surrey, B.C.;
  • John Rees, Markham, Ont.; and
  • Donna MacMillan, Moncton, N.B.

The John A. Tory award, which takes the form of a gold medal, was instituted in 1952 by James M. Tory, in memory of his father, the late John A. Tory. The medal is awarded annually to the CLU graduate who has achieved the most outstanding success in writing the examinations leading to the title Chartered Life Underwriter.

The CAIFA Institute Medal of Achievement was instituted in 1989 and is presented annually to the CH.F.C. graduate who attains the highest average CH.F.C. examination marks among all the CH.F.C. students across the country.

The Leslie W. Dunstall Memorial Medals were instituted in 1962. The silver medals are granted to CLU candidates who have achieved the highest degree of success in the writing of CLU examinations in their respective provinces.
-IE Staff