Rogers’ Chocolates since 1885

 

Rogers' Chocolates celebrated its 125th Anniversary on October 25th, 2010. The company is steeped in tradition and a rich history that has earned them a reputation as one of Canada's premiere chocolate makers. The first Rogers' chocolates were made in 1885 by Charles "Candy" Rogers in the back of his grocery store in Victoria, British Columbia. He quickly became a popular man.

In 1891, Rogers expanded his chocolate operation to the company's current heritage storefront on Government Street in Victoria and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, there are 8 retail stores, several hundred wholesale outlets that ship to over 50 countries, and a 20,000 square-foot factory.  For more information, visit the History webpage. Also, see the timeline on A Brief History of Chocolate from 250BC to 2010, and view the Rogers Videos on YouTube.

 

AICPA - Evolution of a Profession

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) was formed in 1887 and is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012. As part of the celebration, this short video (about 6 minutes), called “Evolution of a Profession,” reviews the history of the accounting profession from its origins 8,000 years ago to present day.

Celebrating the AICPA's 125th anniversary

As noted in the previous posting, the AICPA has reached a remarkable milestone: being one of the few organizations to celebrate 125 years. The CPA profession has changed a lot during this period. Throughout the year 2012, the AICPA and its members will be celebrating this special anniversary and reflecting on the history of the CPA profession. Since people are what make a profession, members have been asked to submit their thoughts on what the AICPA means to them and the value of being part of a strong CPA profession.


To celebrate the AICPA's 125th anniversary, a new section of the website has been created. Numerous commemorative materials and activities have been developed to help members take a journey through the profession's history. The 125th celebration is as much a reflection of the past as it is an opportunity to envision what lies ahead. Much has changed in the last 125 years, and those changes have created today's profession. The current issues will create the profession of the future.

Listen to the video message from AICPA President & CEO, Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, commemorating the 125th Anniversary. Also, browse the 125th Anniversary edition of the Journal of Accountancy and Test your CPA history knowledge.

Titanic Tragedy Remembered - 1912-2012

April 14, 2012, marks the centennial since the HMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Everything about the Titanic and its journey was big. Its biggest promise — one few stopped to question — was that it was an unsinkable ship.

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic left Southampton, England, to travel west across the Atlantic Ocean and reach New York City on the other side. It carried 2,435 passengers and 892 crew members. But arrogance on the part of the White Star Line and lax maritime safety regulations of the time, ensured most on board never reached the US. To add deck space, designers of the ship had a second row of lifeboats removed. That left only 20 lifeboats — not nearly enough for all who were on board.

When the ship struck an iceberg 600 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland and sank, its once awe-inspiring size and capacity became a hindrance. Women, children and some men were ushered into lifeboats that had no hope of holding every person on the ship. More than 1,700 people were still on the Titanic when it broke apart and slipped into the frigid North Atlantic. Anyone who fell into the water would have died within minutes because of hypothermia.

When the news reached Europe and North America — that the mammoth unsinkable ship had indeed sunk — the headlines in newspaper were big too. An estimated 700 people survived but more than 1,500 died. Titanic photographs still haunt 100 years after disaster.

How did the Titanic sink? According to an article in the National Post, experts who have advised both National Geographic and the History Channel for their 100-year anniversary documentary programs offer their views. The following represents the best estimations science and history can currently make as to what happened in the moments immediately before and after the Titanic disappeared beneath the surface.

As the world remembers the tragedy of the Titanic, CBC News looks back at some of the stories and legends of the doomed ocean liner. From the ship's comforts and luxuries to the personalities on board, there is no shortage of anecdotes and details about the Titanic. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has a permanent connection to the sinking of Titanic. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary, visitors can see many exhibits, programs and special events.

IBM’s 100 Icons of Progress

"In the span of a century, IBM has evolved from a small business that made scales, time clocks and tabulating machines to a globally integrated enterprise with more than 400,000 employees and a strong vision for the future. The stories that have emerged throughout our history are complex tales of big risks, lessons learned and discoveries that have transformed the way we work and live. These 100 iconic moments—these Icons of Progress—demonstrate our faith in science, our pursuit of knowledge and our belief that together we can make the world work better." 

"In the late-1980s, IBM helped create a network of supercomputer centers dubbed NSFNET (the National Science Foundation Network), one of the first networks to use TCP/IP. The project essentially gave birth to the Internet—and business and life around the world changed forever. Before the Internet, scientists and researchers had to travel—often out of the country—for computing resources and to collaborate on major projects. By the early 1980s, an early Internet had begun to emerge: a primitive, regional telecommunications network linking several national laboratories and supercomputing centers that could be accessed only by trained experts. It was complicated, unfriendly and slow. But it was an important first step to the worldwide establishment of the Internet."

IBM celebrates 100 years

“Of the top 25 industrial corporations in the United States in 1900, only two remained on that list at the start of the 1960s. And of the top 25 companies on the Fortune 500 in 1961, only six remain there today. Some of the leaders of those companies that vanished were dealt a hand of bad luck. Others made poor choices. But the demise of most came about because they were unable simultaneously to manage their business of the day and to build their business of tomorrow. As you read this, IBM begins its 101st year. Today we take a moment to step back and view the longer arc of history. We’d like to share some of what we have learned—sometimes in humbling ways—on our journey so far.” Read the full essay on the IBM 100 website. Explore an evolving collection of stories about the 100 IBM innovations that helped shape the last century. Celebrate IBM’s 100-year history with commemorative memorabilia designed exclusively for IBMers, families and friends.

A century of CAmagazine

Small beginnings are no indication of ultimate results,” noted the foreword to the first issue of The Canadian Chartered Accountant in July 1911. Launched from temporary offices in Toronto with the slogan “Of the Profession; by the Profession; for the Profession,” the 32-page quarterly magazine was an effort to knit the far-flung members of the Dominion Association of Chartered Accountants (DACA) into a cohesive fraternity. At the time, there were only seven provincial accounting organizations, with Alberta having formed its institute the previous year. In September 1911 at the national convention in Montreal, the magazine received its first and most important review: “Let it be printed,” members voted. (Read the article “A century of CAmagazine” in the June-July 2011 issue of CAmagazine online.)

CAmagazine - 100-year overview

When The Canadian Chartered Accountant began publishing 100 years ago, editors said its pages would be “open for discussions, for news and for any other purposes tending to bring the members more closely in touch with one another.” Sensibly, they made no claim for how the magazine would strengthen the community and instead focused on reporting and offering insight on events and issues critical to CAs. For a century, the magazine has acted as the profession’s adviser, referee, historian and, occasionally, conscience. The article “100-year overview” in the June-July 2011 issue of CAmagazine celebrates those who built, sustained and helped CAmagazine prosper. Happy birthday!

Shell Canada - Celebrating 100 Years

In 2011, Shell Canada celebrates 100 years of business. To celebrate this milestone, it is launching exciting programs from coast to coast to say thank you to Canadians. A lot has changed since 1911, but Shell has remained committed to innovation and leadership. It strives to leave a positive legacy for all Canadians for generations to come. Read the Anniversary Press Release and Explore 100 Years of Innovation through an Interactive Timeline.

ICAS: 150 Years and still counting - A Celebration

The 2004 publication ICAS: 150 Years and still counting - A Celebration marks the 150^th anniversary of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). It provides an appropriate and readable insight into the history and character of the Institute. The variety and format of the recollections and reflections afford the opportunity to go “behind the scenes” to see how the ICAS has developed over the years. View the Highlights (4 pages), and download the full Research Report (234 pages).

CAmagazine - 100th anniversary 1911-2011

This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Canadian Chartered Accountant which was first published in July 1911. The journal was the "Official Organ of the Dominion Association of Chartered Accountants" (now The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants). The journal continues to live on as CAmagazine, the leading accounting publication and preferred information source for Canadian chartered accountants (CAs) and financial executives. It provides a forum for discussion and debate on professional, financial and other business issues. The magazine is published in English and French 10 times a year (with combined issues in January/February and June/July) by The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. CAmagazine.com acts as a complement to the print edition, providing web-only articles and news of interest to CAs, digital archives and a search function.

Canada's History and the Hudson's Bay Company

In 1994, the Hudson's Bay Company donated its corporate archives to what is now the Archives of Manitoba, and its museum collection to The Manitoba Museum, both public institutions. These gifts earned a substantial tax saving, most of which was put to work in the name of history by establishing the Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation. The Foundation, in turn, provides core funding to ensure the maintenance of the Company's gifts and to support the initiatives of Canada's History. Canada’s History operates independently of the Foundation and realizes additional funding through memberships, donations and sponsorships. As a registered charity, it can accept donations and issue receipts for income tax purposes.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia - Centenary Website

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia (ICABC) celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. It was marked with events, articles in Beyond Numbers, Centenary Artwork, an online timeline of the history of CAs in BC, and a calendar. An expanded look at these contributions is provided on the ICABC centenary website which describes the people and events that have shaped the profession in BC.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario - Innovation and Historical Milestones

There are approximately 72,000 Chartered Accountants (CAs) in Canada. Nearly half (33,000) are Ontario CAs. CAs work in large and small businesses, in government and in public accounting, in the not-for-profit sector, and as professors and teachers - at home and around the world. The year 2010 marks the 131st year of the CA designation in Ontario. From the province's origins as an agricultural society to its emergence as an economic powerhouse, CAs have played a key role in shaping Ontario’s progress. Our history bridges all the major milestones… the great waves of immigration of the early 1900s, the harnessing of Niagara Falls, the birth of Ontario Hydro, the First and Second World Wars... the huge building booms of the 1950s and 1960s, and the signing of the Auto Pact, the Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA. To learn more about CA Innovation since 1879,  Historical Milestones and the 125th anniversary in 2004, visit the website of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO).

Chartered Accountants of Alberta - 2010 Centennial

This year marks a very special milestone for the Chartered Accountants of Alberta. Throughout 2010, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (ICAA) is celebrating 100 years of dedication to protecting the public, providing accounting and business excellence, and adding value to Alberta’s communities through volunteering. The ICAA website includes information about the Alberta CA profession’s past—including details about former Council Presidents and the history of the Institute—as well as current initiatives to promote the centennial throughout the year. This centennial year presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate this milestone with members and external stakeholders, including the general public. (Visit the ICAA website for more information about all of the centennial initiatives.)