It is an honour and a privilege to serve as Chair of the CJA Board for the 2023 – 2025 term. Having been a Director of the Association since 2017, I have seen several changes and it will be no surprise for you to know that more, positive change is on the way!

Our wonderfully talented office team of Carla, Alanna and Nicole are working on new initiatives, new member benefits and exciting new webinar content for the upcoming year. Phyllis and Kelly remain committed to their steadfast work of Government Relations and Crime Prevention.

I take this opportunity to thank Gail Golberg for her tireless work as Chair over these past two years. Her task was particularly difficult due to the pandemic. Planning and executing an office move to cut our expenses, coping with no travel and in-person meetings and mastering online collaborations. Gail handled all of this with grace and dignity.

I thank Jewelers Mutual Group for their continued support of our Association. Their dedication to the industry is unparalleled and we are extremely fortunate to receive their incredibly insightful perspective on how to move forward in evolving times.

Your new, diverse Board of Directors represents Canada from (almost) coast to coast, and of course we would love representation from the centre and north of the country too. If you would love to give back to your industry as we do, please consider becoming a committee member or even stand to be a Director at next year’s AGM. It’s your opportunity to have your say in what shapes our industry.

Our Association succeeds because of its membership and it must be an engaged membership.

My cornerstone for the CJA over the next couple of years is RELEVANCE. How can we evolve and remain relevant in this world of exponential change?

• By listening
• By exploring and acting on themes that are important to our members
• By providing membership benefits that impact the bottom line
• By continuing to be the voice of the jewellery industry
• By providing access to education for all members
• By forming strategic relationships with industry peers and learning from their best practices
• By being curious and trying new ideas

It’s a big ask, but we have the ability to succeed if we all work together.

Because we are all in this together.