Words Stephen Leaver, Baker Tilly Sidney
Some of you may be familiar with Baz Luhrman’s classic song “Everybody’s free (to wear Sunscreen).”
Personally, I’m a big fan of sunscreen (I burn like a lobster), but more pertinently, the song contains several tidbits of timeless wisdom, including this gem: “Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life … some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.”
My path to becoming an accountant and business owner in Sidney wasn’t a linear one, and the above verse offered me some comfort along the way.
When I graduated from Parkland Secondary School I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I did know I loved the natural world. So, naturally, I went to the University of Victoria for a degree in biology. I liked it so much I stayed on and did a Master’s degree in biology. At this point, though, I needed to decide – continue the academic path to pursue my PhD, try to apply my mostly academic training into a “normal” job, or try something completely different.
The choice was not an easy or an obvious one, and I did what most do when confronted with an unsolvable dilemma … I stalled for time. This resulted in a diverse range of experiences: teaching biology labs at UVic, working at Mountain Equipment Co-op, taking a weekly nightshift at the local movie store, and training to be a kayaking instructor, to name a few. But one role really stood out: working as an apprentice bookkeeper for Bernice Leaver Bookkeeping, a local small business (and, as you may have guessed, my Mom’s company).
Accounting was something that had never crossed my mind as a career, but I was struck by the beautiful logic and clarity of the self-balancing accounting system. And while I still appreciate the number and problem-solving aspects of my job, what I find most rewarding are the resulting relationships and connections to the outstanding community we have here. My role is helping members of this community navigate the complexities of the Canadian tax system, often in relation to major life events. I believe that the wandering path that led me here, and the diverse experiences along the way, improves my ability to understand, empathize and assist others as a Chartered Professional Accountant.
This issue of Seaside Magazine is devoted to the exceptional men in our business community. I guarantee each one of them has an interesting story behind how they got to where they are today, and I expect, like me, it was often not a straight line from A to B. I look forward to getting to know them more in the following pages, and I’m sure you do too!
