March Newsletter

2022 Annual Conference - April 27 & 28

Forward. Together - Conference 2022 - Registration Is Open!

Yes, it’s shorter. And, yes, the itinerary is different, but the Practice Review Committee and Conference Planning Team have worked hard to create a program for the 2022 Conference that is considerate of members’ time and budget. 

As far as education goes, the topics that will be explored during the four day event are pulled from surveys and suggestions by members that are invaluable to the Practice Review Committee’s planning. The Conference   program planners dealt with a shorter schedule by concentrating on subject and speakers that will offer intriguing perspectives on matters directly related to practice.   

The Executive Committee did choose to consider this the “coming out” event, post-pandemic, and committed to an in-person program that will be true to the theme of “Forward. Together.” The focus of the 2022 opening presentation will be on reconnecting with community, especially assessors reconnecting with their professional  community after two years of isolation, of meeting via computer screens and phone calls, and of maintaining the health and security of personal “bubbles.” We’re not necessarily clear, but we’ve made it to this point. We hope that you will make it to Banff and celebrate your own successful navigation of practice in the last two years and the achievements of our members, especially members whose achievements have not been recognized by their peers since 2019.

Battle of Assessors

Hockey’s back!  If you refer to the itinerary above, the Assessors’ Hockey game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m Tuesday, April 26 at the Fenlands Recreation Centre, 100 Norquay Road, Banff T1L 1A1.  Contact Collin Hindman (chindman@stalbert.ca) or Mike Krim (mike@tanmarconsulting.com) for details and to register. 

There is a small fee per player to cover the ice rental and signed waivers are required.  A link to the facility website is provided for updates related to health and safety.

Why No Online Registration?

The Association removed the online registration option as a result of  a review of the fees added to the registration; we discovered that GST was not included in the final price. Registrations were charged the app’s registration fees and the credit card processing fees. Adding GST to or including it in the cost of registration had implications that were not anticipated; the choice to continue would have impacted the costs to the Association or the charges to the members.  The decision to discontinue and use “paper” registrations seemed to be the least disruptive for members (many of whom had already chosen the pdf option).    While we apologize that the far easier online registration/payment process is not available, the rest of the Whova app benefits remain once the app is downloaded.

Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act (POARA)

Legislation Update

Members may recall from the June 2021 issue, that the Association’s overarching legislation, POARA, was being reviewed as were memberships of “professional regulating organizations” (PROs) included under this umbrella act.  The Association, via the Legislative Policy Committee and Administration, prepared review reports for the legislation and for the AAA’s membership to continue.

In January 2022, representatives of the Association's Executive team attended a meeting to advise PROs of the upcoming tabling of the new or amended legislation(s) intended to "streamline" professional legislation.  There are 22 PROs in the province, 13 are regulated under POARA and 9 have their own independent legislation. During this meeting specifically for POARA PROs, AAA representatives were pleased to hear Alberta Labour staff advise that no changes had been made to the membership of POARA. The Alberta Assessors’ Association remains a professional regulating organization with title protection in Alberta under POARA and this will continue under a proposed overarching legislation that will be tabled in April.  What remains unknown are the details or detailed changes in a new Bill streamlining professional legislation.   It is expected there will be changes to reporting requirements; a standardized professional conduct model for complaints and disciplinary actions and appeals; the possibility of amalgamating with similar professional organizations; and, modernization of language and processes.

Congratulations on Your Retirement - Neil Currie!

    Neil served his last day with the City of Medicine Hat on December 30, 2021.  He has been a valued employee with the City for nearly 8 years having started on March 3, 2014.  He has been a leader and mentor for the department with the residential and condominium properties.  Neil also took on the challenge of and completed the inspections, assessment calculation and data entry for the Business Improvement Area, the CCDA, for downtown Medicine Hat.  He started his valuation career with SAMA while earning his LAAS, RI and PAg. He  obtained his AMAA designation in August 2014 meeting the requirements of the interprovincial agreement and has continued to develop professionally by completing additional education courses.  Neil will be missed for his knowledge, dedication and organization plus being a solid team member.

All the best Neil!