The Financial Planners Standards Council is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of CFP certification in Canada by establishing an award “to recognize and further inspire outstanding contributions to the advancement of the profession of financial planning in Canada”.

The annual Donald J. Johnston Award, named after the FPSC’s founding and current president, was presented to Johnston in a surprise ceremony at the group’s anniversary event on January 26.

Margaret Koniuck, FPSC chairwoman, said the award was, “inspired by a decade of Don’s leadership at FPSC’s helm, developing and promoting a made-in-Canada CFP professional certification for financial planners.”

The group says that the purpose of the award is to “recognize and honour the spirit, imagination, dedication and contribution exemplified by FPSC’s first and founding president in establishing and leading FPSC through its first successful decade as the standard-setting organization for the emerging financial planning profession in Canada”.

“Don’s vision, dedication, tenacity and talent have made an enormous contribution to the evolution of the financial planning profession,” says Koniuck. “His contribution recognized through the establishment of this award, we hope will inspire other similarly meaningful and profound contributions for years to come.”

In addition to a trophy, a formal award presentation, and the recipient’s name on the plaque that will sit at the FPSC offices in Toronto, the FPSC’s board of directors will make a financial contribution to a charity chosen by the annual recipient of the Donald J. Johnston award. This year FPSC will contribute $10,000 to a charity to be chosen by Johnston.

At the event marking the group’s anniversary, Johnston said, “From financial planning standards to recognition of the profession of financial planning is a journey that FPSC began with a single step and a leap of faith. Ten years later, we’re well on our way. It’s been a successful beginning.”

“We look very optimistically towards the future as we continue to work to ensure financial planning is a profession in which we can all take pride and in which Canadians can place their trust,” he added.