NORTH VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - February 23, 2018) - North Vancouver's David Wende, CPA (Hon.), was awarded an Honorary CPA designation for his outstanding contributions to B.C. and Canada's accounting profession.

David Wende, CPA (Hon.), has been counsel to Gudmundseth Mickelson LLP in Vancouver since 2014. He assists CPA members and firms with risk management, professional conduct, and liability matters, often working on a pro-bono basis.

Recognized as a mentor, teacher, and advocate for those in the accounting profession, Wende began serving as legal counsel to professional accountants after his call to the bar in 1980. As a partner at Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP from 1991 to 2014, he developed one of the largest legal practices in Canada devoted to serving accountants and other financial professionals. His dedicated and skilful work earned him a reputation as one of the leading Canadian lawyers in the defence of professional accountants before the courts.

Wende served as procedural chair or prosecuting counsel to many discipline panels for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia (ICABC), one of CPABC's provincial legacy bodies. He has also assisted countless members in resolving professional conduct issues before the profession's investigation committees. Nationally, he is frequently asked to provide legal counsel to firms with regard to regulatory matters and the interpretation of the CPA Code of Professional Conduct.

Wende has also given generously of his time as a volunteer. He served on the ICABC's Professional Liability Task Force from 1997 to 2000, and worked with the organization's staff in 2007 and 2011 to author sample engagement letters for the membership. He has also presented more than 60 professional development courses on professional conduct and liability issues, expert testimony, and other matters relevant to CPAs, chartered business valuators, and tax professionals.

Wende's work was formally recognized in 2011, when he received a Leading Lawyer award from Lexpert, a Thomson Reuters business that celebrates achievements in the Canadian legal and business community.

Quote from Lori Mathison, FCPA, FCGA, LLB, president and CEO of CPABC
"David's contributions to the CPA profession have been invaluable. We are very pleased to honour him with an honorary CPA designation."

Read the profiles of all the award winners at bccpa.ca/members/recognition-program.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Publication quality photos of the recipients are available.

About CPA British Columbia
The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for more than 35,000 CPA members and almost 6,000 CPA students and candidates. CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy. CPAs are recognized internationally for bringing superior financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, and leadership to organizations.