Congratulations to our CPA Ontario Foundation 2026 Circle of Success Educational Grant Recipients

October 26, 2026

All aspiring CPAs share the same goal of earning their designation and building a successful career. However, every journey comes with its own challenges, and for some communities, those challenges can be greater than others.

Although important progress has been made toward greater inclusion and diversity in the profession, some groups continue to face systemic obstacles on the path to becoming a CPA, and certain communities, including Black and Indigenous CPAs, remain underrepresented.

That’s why the CPA Ontario Foundation is supporting the educational success of aspiring CPAs from priority communities who face barriers entering the profession. Through its programs, awards, scholarships, and most notably the Circle of Success educational grant, the Foundation supports students from Black, Indigenous, and other priority communities who are pursuing their CPA.

The grant provides recipients up to $25,000 annually for up to four years of post-secondary education. Beyond financial support, the grant offers mentorship, access to professional networks, mental health resources and opportunities to connect with the CPA community through student conferences, events and other CPA Ontario programs.

On September 24, 2026, the CPA Ontario Foundation held its Annual Gathering at the CPA Ontario office, honouring the newest recipients of the Circle of Success educational grants, including three Black students and two Indigenous students. Liam McNeilly, the first ever recipient of the Circle of Success grant in 2024, was there to deliver inspirational words to this year’s aspiring CPAs.

Meet the 2026 recipients of the CPA Ontario Foundation’s Circle of Success educational grant:

Anastacia Barker Herron

Anastacia Barker Herron is a first-year accounting and finance student at Seneca Polytechnic with a lifelong dream of becoming a CPA, inspired by her mother's career in accounting. Anastacia has pursued multiple opportunities to explore the profession, including her high school's Specialist High Skills Major business program and the University of Toronto's SEE U of T program.

A dedicated employee at the Toronto Zoo, she has developed leadership, financial literacy, and administrative skills and demonstrated a commitment to her community. Anastacia has overcome academic challenges, graduating high school with Honours and the French Honours Certificate. She’s also completed the internationally recognized DELF certification, Business certificate, and Business SHSM Certificate. Passionate about representation and mentorship, she hopes her story will inspire other young Black students to pursue careers in business and accounting.

Brooke-Lynn Edgell

Brooke-Lynn is a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and believes education is a powerful tool for creating opportunities within Indigenous communities.

A first-time mother, Brooke balances family, career and commitment to lifelong learning while working as a Payroll Administrator and advancing her credentials. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Commerce through Athabasca University and holds a Business Administration Diploma with a specialization in Accounting and a Certified Payroll Practitioner designation.

Brooke is committed to inspiring Indigenous youth to pursue education and reach their full potential, using her own journey to demonstrate what the transformative power of learning can do. She hopes to use her accounting and leadership skills to support Indigenous communities, all while becoming the first CPA in her family.

Namaa Ibrahim

Namaa Ibrahim is a Somali-Canadian student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting at York University, with the ultimate goal of becoming a CPA. As a first-generation university student, she has demonstrated her commitment to academia while balancing full-time studies and employment. Namaa actively volunteers with her local mosque and with a non-profit social service organization, strengthening her interpersonal skills and deepening her commitment to community service.

Looking ahead, Namaa aims to apply her accounting expertise toward establishing a non-profit resource centre that provides financial literacy, tax support and educational resources for immigrant and newcomer families – an initiative she hopes will help individuals and families build greater financial confidence and long-term stability.

Charmaine Keesic

Charmaine Keesic was born and raised in Moose Factory, Ontario and is a member of Moose Cree First Nation, with Cree and Western Ontario Ojibway roots from Lac Seul First Nation.

Charmaine returned to school in 2018, completing her Business Diploma at Northern College and her Bachelor of Business Administration at Laurentian University. She is now working toward her Master of Business Administration. She is also finishing her CPA preparatory courses and preparing to write the Project Management Professional exam through the Project Management Institute.

As a mother of five and a grandmother of two, Charmaine says her children are her greatest motivation, and she wants Indigenous women to see what is possible with dedication and hard work. She hopes to spend her career building capacity in her own community and helping other First Nations communities move forward and thrive on their own terms.

Alazar Mekuria

Alazar Mekuria is an accounting graduate and aspiring CPA, pursuing the Master of Professional Accounting program at the University of Guelph. With a solid academic foundation in advanced financial accounting, auditing, taxation and accounting systems, he is building a path toward a career in public accounting. Alazar’s long-term ambition is to take on leadership roles within the profession while helping to guide and support the next generation of Black accounting professionals.

Alazar volunteers with the Ethio-Canadian Mutual Support Association, providing bookkeeping support and preparing annual financial statements to strengthen the organization's financial stewardship. Passionate about continuous learning and community impact, Alazar is dedicated to using his accounting expertise to support diverse communities and inspire other Black students to pursue careers in accounting.

Learn more about the CPA Ontario Foundation and the Circle of Success educational grant.