When Dale Gislason arrived in Winkler, Manitoba, in 1980, it was not a return home but the beginning of a new chapter. Raised in Winnipeg, he had been offered the opportunity to help open an accounting office in a small but growing community of roughly 5,000 people.
What began as a professional opportunity soon became the foundation for a remarkable career that would span more than four decades and leave a lasting impact on both the profession and the community he came to call home.
“I came here to help start an office,” Dale recalls. “At the time, I didn’t imagine I would spend my entire career here, but the community, the people and the opportunities made it an easy place to stay.”
Dale’s path into accounting began at the University of Manitoba, where he initially set out to become an actuary. Drawn to mathematics and analytical thinking, it seemed a natural fit. But as his studies progressed, he realized he was equally interested in the broader context behind them.
“Accounting gave me the opportunity to not only work with numbers, but to understand what they meant,” he explains. “It combined technical rigour with real-world problem solving, which would help business owners, entrepreneurs and families navigate financial decisions that would shape their future.”
Dale pursued his designation through the Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba, drawn to its flexible education model, which allowed him to work while completing his professional studies. The approach proved essential as he balanced career ambitions with raising a young family.
“It fit my life,” he says. “I could keep learning while continuing to build my career.”
After beginning his career at an accounting firm in Winnipeg, Dale made a pivotal move to join Hermiston, Brent & Co. and relocate to Winkler. There, he helped build what would become Gislason Targownik Peters Chartered Professional Accountants LLP - now the largest regional firm in the Pembina Valley, with offices in Winkler, Winnipeg, and Steinbach, and a team of nearly 80 professionals and staff.
Looking back, he attributes the firm’s growth to a simple but forward-thinking philosophy.
“We always believed numbers were just the starting point,” says Dale, who was named partner at just 24 years old. “Our role was to help clients understand what those numbers meant and what decisions they should consider next.”
At a time when many firms focused primarily on compliance, Dale and his partners took a more advisory-driven approach, working closely with clients on strategy, growth and succession planning.
“Financial statements and tax returns are important,” he adds. “The real value comes from helping clients understand where they’re going, what opportunities exist and what risks to consider.”
Over the years, that philosophy helped build strong, lasting relationships across the region. Many of the businesses Dale advised were in their earliest stages when he first met their owners, and he later helped guide them through expansion, transition and long-term planning.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this profession is watching a business grow from humble beginnings into something successful,” he reflects. “Being part of that journey is incredibly meaningful.”
As the firm expanded, so did Dale’s appreciation for the people behind its success.
“No firm grows because of one person,” he emphasizes, noting that their success has always been rooted in teamwork. “It happens because of talented people who care about the work and about their clients. I have been fortunate to work alongside exceptional partners and colleagues.”
Beyond his practice, Dale played an influential role in shaping the accounting profession. Through his work with the Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba and the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, he contributed to important discussions about the future of accounting education and professional standards.
At the time, the profession was examining how Canadian accounting designations could remain competitive and credible in an increasingly global environment. Dale chaired a national task force that recommended introducing a university degree requirement for CGA students.
“We recognized that professional standards needed to evolve,” he explains. “The goal was to ensure that Canadian accounting credentials remained respected, both nationally and internationally.”
Among the group’s most significant achievements was negotiating a partnership with the University of Calgary, allowing CGA students to apply their professional coursework toward a university degree and pursue both concurrently. The model was later adopted by other institutions, including Athabasca University.
“It created a more practical path forward,” Dale notes. “People could build their careers and complete their education.”
His contributions eventually extended internationally through work with the International Federation of Accountants, where he collaborated with professionals from around the world on standards and policy.
“It broadens your perspective,” he reminisces with a smile. “We tend to think our system is the norm, but seeing how the profession operates globally reminds you just how diverse it really is.”
Despite his professional commitments, Dale has always believed in giving back to the community that supported his career. For nearly two decades, he was a member of the Kinsmen Club of Winkler, eventually serving as President. He also dedicated many years to his church community and contributed to numerous local initiatives.
More recently, he joined the board of the Southern Health-Santé Sud and serves as a Deputy Chief Commissioner with the Manitoba Tax Appeals Commission.
“If you are fortunate enough to build a career in a community, you have a responsibility to contribute to it. He emphasizes that volunteering has given him just as much in return, particularly through the relationships built and the perspectives gained along the way.
Behind Dale’s career has been a network of support, and for Dale, that support has always started at home.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize my wife, Bernice,” Dale shares earnestly. “This profession requires a significant commitment of time, especially alongside volunteer work.”
Together, they raised three children - two sons and a daughter - and now enjoy time with their six grandchildren. One of his sons works with him today, helping lead the next generation of the firm.
While many of his peers have retired, Dale remains actively engaged, focusing on tax planning and succession matters, areas where his decades of experience continue to provide meaningful perspective. That continued involvement has also given him a front-row seat to the profession’s evolution.
Over the course of his career, accounting has been transformed by advances in technology, shifting regulations, and increasing globalization, with artificial intelligence now poised to drive further transformation.
Yet for Dale, one principle remains unchanged.
“Accounting isn’t really about numbers,” he says thoughtfully. “It’s about people, their goals, their challenges, and the decisions that shape their lives. The numbers simply help tell that story.”
And for the countless clients, colleagues and communities he has supported over the years, that belief has made all the difference.
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