Belleville Chapter Celebrates the Achievements of Doug Bellwood, CGA

Doug Bellwood, CGA, has his family and professional roots in Belleville. Doug began his career as accounting/manpower clerk for Ontario Hydro [now Hydro One] in Tweed, Ontario. Realizing that in order to advance in this organization he needed to pursue both higher education and a professional accounting designation. In August 1969 he made two important choices; to get a business diploma and enrol in the CGA program of professional studies.

It took Doug three years to get his diploma; his first and third year at Loyalist College in Belleville and his second year was at Algonquin College in Ottawa. During this time, Doug quit his full-time job at Hydro and moved back in with his parents in Belleville; during the summer he worked temporarily at Hydro. After graduating Doug secured permanent employment with Hydro in Peterborough. His career with Ontario Hydro led him to advanced positions and locations in Arnprior, later Barrie and ultimately back to Belleville where he settled with his wife Pat and their family.

He recalls that in the early ‘70s, it was a much longer haul to obtain your CGA designation even with a three year college diploma along with Dean’s List marks. Only a handful of l college diploma courses were offered as exemptions. Doug added that it was only years later with the forethought and efforts of CGAs such as Gary Earle, CGA, that CGA Ontario finally recognized the equivalency of community college courses, like Loyalist College’s accounting program, for advanced standing in the CGA program of professional studies.

Doug became a CGA in 1981, and joined Belleville Chapter’s board of directors for the 1982-83 year and has been an active member ever since with only one year off the board. Doug recalls from his colleagues that Belleville Chapter was once a joint chapter with Kingston. It officially became a separate chapter in 1975; prior to that, both chapters alternated the chapter chair position. The first year that Belleville Chapter operated as a separate chapter was 1973 with Bill Hutchinson, CGA, as chapter chair. [Note: According to records Belleville Chapter has had many incarnations since it was inaugurated in 1962. For full historical details, visit Belleville Chapter’s chapter profile.]

Doug has fond memories of Belleville Chapter’s education representative, Donn Martinson, CGA—as the longest-serving board member in Belleville Chapter’s history—whom Doug recalls is quite the procrastinator when it comes to scheduling volunteer invigilators for the CGA program of professional studies exams, despite all of his dedicated efforts as an education member. “Often it would come down to final day and he would be scrambling for a volunteer,” said Doug, “but Donn always works his charms and or uses other means, not to mention taunting to obtain a volunteer for exam invigilation.” All kidding aside, always the consummate professional, Donn always manages to pull it together and finds willing and committed invigilators.

Doug recalls another humorous story that occurred in 1984-85 at Belleville Chapter’s President’s Dinner at the Belleville Club. The Association’s chair at that time, Keith Scott, FCGA, was asked by the chapter chair to make a short preliminary address and that their guest speaker would address the group. However, there must have been some miscommunication between the Keith and chapter chair on what was expected, because by the time the Keith finished his address, the hour was indeed late. Needless to say, the CGAs had difficulty giving their undivided attention to the guest speaker’s address!

In the mid-1980s Doug participated in helping to develop and promote professional networking and social programs thus giving rise to the Belleville’s reputation as the “Friendly Neighbour Chapter.” Popular venues were the Belleville Club and Shiners Club. Casino nights were a big hit for CGAs and students and always drew in the crowds.

Doug also invigilates student exams, participates in local college fairs, attends student nights and networks with new students to promote the CGA designation. Doug’s work within the chapter and his promotion of the CGA designation in the community earned him the Chapter Distinguished Award.

Since serving on Belleville Chapter’s board of directors, Doug has held the following positions:

• treasurer,
• vice-chair/programs,
• chapter chair 1984-85
• secretary (for the last six or seven years)

Now retired from Hydro One, Doug has no plans to leave the board and he would welcome staying on the board as secretary unless someone else is interested in taking on the job! Of course, Doug is more than a secretary to Belleville Chapter; he is a seasoned and highly knowledgeable certified general accountant and board member who provides guidance and expertise to new chapter chairs and board members alike.

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