Autumn Tax Primer

Arnaud Franco was appointed Director of Economic Research at BDC in January 2024. He leads a team of brilliant economists, tasked with providing real and actionable insights to Canadian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, he keeps senior leaders informed about critical developments in the economic landscape. 

Mr. Franco has nearly 20 years of analytical experience and a decade of management and leadership training. He is also a seasoned public speaker, having presented at numerous global conferences.

Elena Ivanova is a CPB Canada member since 2008 and founder of Piligrim Accounting Inc. She leads a seven-person team delivering cloud bookkeeping and tax (T1/T2) for SMBs. Elena teaches a practical T1 course and bookkeeping workshops for the Russian-speaking community, blending rigorous compliance with human-first systems that protect profit, quality, and wellbeing.

Driven by her passion for bookkeeping, Melissa took a leap of faith in 2009 and founded King Accounting Solutions. Over the years, their services expanded beyond bookkeeping to encompass human resources and Virtual CFO solutions. In 2022, through a strategic partnership, the business further evolved into King Business Solutions &s; KBS Accounting, broadening its scope to include corporate and personal income taxes, as well as comprehensive tax planning services. At KBS, they take pride in delivering top-notch bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting services across Canada, catering to clients from coast to coast. Witnessing this growth, both professionally and personally, has been immensely fulfilling for Melissa.

As a Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) and a Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP), Melissa is deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of excellence in our field. Additionally, she is honoured to serve as the CPB Canada Board Chair, contributing to the advancement of our profession, as well as Software Ambassador for Wagepoint and Xero.

Founder and CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory, Best-Selling Author of The Wealthy Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Business Coach

Robert Gauvreau is the founder and CEO of Gauvreau | Accounting Tax Law Advisory, a leading CPA firm helping entrepreneurs gain financial clarity and reduce tax pain. Under his leadership, Gauvreau has grown into an 8-figure business with over 200 professionals and has been recognized as one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies for five consecutive years.

A bestselling author of The Wealthy Entrepreneur and a sought-after speaker, Robert has shared stages with leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk and Tony Robbins. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs with the confidence to make strategic financial decisions, achieve freedom, and create meaningful impact.

Amy Lewis is the Ambassador of Awesome at Sunshine Books, where her small-but-mighty team helps small businesses and non-profits bring clarity and confidence to their finances. Since launching the firm in 2018, she’s built a reputation for pairing smart systems with genuine heart. Named Orillia’s Business Woman of the Year in 2022, Amy is a proud advocate for financial literacy, community, and professional standards in bookkeeping. She believes that strong businesses grow from honest conversations, good data, and just the right amount of organized chaos.

Andrew Seguin is the Founder of Seguin Financial, a Cornwall, ON-based bookkeeping and tax firm launched in 2018. What began as a solo practice has grown into a 13-person team serving clients across Canada, with a strong focus on Ontario. Andrew built the firm around scalable systems and cloud-based tools like QuickBooks Online, Dext, Plooto, and Bookkeep to maximize client value and efficiency. His leadership has earned multiple business awards and strong community recognition. He has also delivered 40+ workshops and 80+ webinars, known for his high-energy style and practical, business-focused insights.

Tiffany Stewart, CPA, CMA is the founder of a cloud-based CPA firm in Ontario, specializing in tax, accounting, and advisory services for small businesses. With over 30 years of experience, she’s known for her forward-thinking approach to automation and efficiency in solo and small firm practice. Tiffany is a passionate community builder, serving as a board member at The Women’s Centre of Halton and leading the QB-HQ Facebook group for accounting professionals. She’s committed to helping peers embrace technology, find their voice, and thrive in an evolving profession.

Cherry Chan, CPA, CA, is the founder of Real Estate Tax Tips, a leading Canadian accounting firm focused on helping real estate investors and small business owners save taxes and grow wealth. With over 20 years of public accounting experience, Cherry is known for simplifying complex tax rules into practical strategies. She also leads Otus Financial Solutions, a CFO and bookkeeping firm for nonprofit organizations. As a speaker, author, and YouTuber with 35,000+ subscribers, Cherry is passionate about helping Canadians achieve financial freedom through smart tax planning.

A blend of economic expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for technology defines Sarka’s career journey.

Sarka graduated from Queen's University with a degree in Economics, initially applying her analytical skills to project management and marketing. Needing more flexibility for “mom” duties, her early passion for accounting—first developed while helping her mother with small business records—was reignited. She then went on to earn her CPA, CGA designation while simultaneously completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree and running her own successful small bookkeeping firm which evolved into a small public practice.

A lifelong tech enthusiast, Sarka's fascination began with her first 64K computer from Radio Shack (a true throwback!) and has evolved through every major advancement, right up to today’s cloud infrastructure. Making the leap to TaxCycle over seven years ago allowed Sarka to perfectly combine her tax and accounting knowledge, entrepreneurial drive, and love of technology.

Immigrated from Szczecin, Poland, in 1995 and was raised in the Lower Mainland, Karolina began her career in the bookkeeping, finance and accounting industry in 2002 after she enrolled in the Certified General Accountant (CGA) program.

Beyond her Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) certification, she holds a Business Skills and Accounting Business Management certificate from Thompson Rivers University, Advanced QuickBooks Pro Advisor Certification from Intuit Canada, and a Fresh Books Pro Advisor Certificate.

Karolina currently serves as Vice Chair on CPB Canada’s Board of Directors.