Avail CPA has acquired Apex Accounting

We are excited to announce that, on September 1, Avail CPA acquired Apex Accounting. As a result of this acquisition, both the Cranbrook and Creston Apex offices will now operate as Avail CPA, increasing our locations to eight regional offices across BC and Alberta.

The addition of these two offices will allow us to better serve our BC-based clients, as well as expand into exciting new markets and local industries. The team from Apex will also bring additional accounting and advisory resources to our Avail clients, as well as decades of combined expertise across a wide range of services and industries.

We would also like to take this opportunity to announce that three new members have been admitted into the partnership at Avail CPA:

Brenda Van Der Meer CPA, CA
Erin Carr CPA, CA
Mike Adams CPA, CA

If you would like to know more about Avail's newest partners, please see their bios below.

Contact information for our new office locations in Cranbrook and Creston can be found here.

We look forward to working alongside the talented team from Apex, and with all of the current and future clients who call the Kootenay region home.

New Partner Bios

Brenda Van Der Meer CPA, CA - Partner

Brenda is based out of our Creston office. Brenda graduated with her Bachelor of Management in 2006 from the University of Lethbridge, obtained her CPA, CA designation in 2011, and has been in public practice since 2006.

Brenda is involved in all areas of client service, including audit, accounting, corporate and personal taxation, and business consultation. She enjoys working with her clients of all sizes to reach their financial goals. As one of our audit Partners, Brenda also has a passion for the standards and enjoys working on them with our team and audit clients.

Born and raised in Sparwood, BC, Brenda grew up playing piano and figure skating. She spent time living in Red Deer, Alberta, and Nelson, BC before moving back to the East Kootenay and joining Apex Accounting in 2013 in Cranbrook. In December 2020, Brenda and her husband relocated to Creston to be based out of our Creston office.

Brenda is an active volunteer. She joined JCI Kootenay in 2014 where she held various positions including president and past president for JCI Kootenay and JCI BC/Yukon, 2018 National Vice President for JCI Canada, and JCI Canada Treasurer from 2017 to 2020. In 2019, Brenda was awarded her lifetime membership in the Senate of Junior Chamber International. Currently, Brenda is a member of the Creston Valley Rotary Club and Treasurer for the Ducks Unlimited – Creston Chapter.

In her leisure time, Brenda enjoys spending as much time as possible at Christina Lake with her family, as well as camping, drawing, reading, doing carpentry projects, and family time with her husband and their three Labradoodles: Ebony, Brielle, and Bunnie.

Erin Carr CPA, CA - Partner

Erin operates out of our Creston office. Born and raised in Creston, Erin earned her Bachelor of Management degree from the University of Lethbridge in 1997 and obtained her CA designation in 2008.

With over 20 years of public practice experience, Erin works closely with individuals, owner-managed businesses, and entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. She values building long-term relationships with clients and helping them navigate the opportunities and challenges of business ownership through thoughtful planning, financial guidance, and personalized service. Her broad experience and community roots allow her to bring both professional expertise and local insight to the clients she serves.

A dedicated community volunteer, Erin currently serves as Treasurer of the Creston Valley Ministerial Association and as a Board Member of St. Andrew's Hall. She was also recognized with a Rick Hansen Foundation Difference Maker Award for her years of volunteer service as an assistant coach for the KRSS Senior Girls Volleyball Team.

Mike Adams CPA, CA - Partner

Mike oversees our Cranbrook office. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has been in public practice since 1997. Born and raised in Creston, BC, Mike worked on his family's dairy farm before attending College of the Rockies where he obtained a Business Administration Diploma in accounting. He joined Apex Accounting in December 1997, acquired his CPA, CA designation in 2002, and became a partner in 2003.

Mike is involved in all areas of client service, including accounting, audit, corporate and personal taxation, and business consultation. Mike enjoys working closely with business owners and managers to minimize tax and improve profitability.

An active member of the community, Mike is the treasurer for the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice and a past president of the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce and JCI Kootenay. He is also a past treasurer for the Cranbrook Society for Community Living and the Cranbrook Youth Soccer Association.

In 2012, Mike was presented with a lifetime membership in the Senate of Junior Chamber International for his work as a member of JCI Kootenay. He has also volunteered his time with a number of other local charities and not-for-profit organizations, and in 2017, Mike was honoured to receive the Citizen of the Year award for his work in the community of Cranbrook.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this acquisition, please contact your local office or the Avail CPA Help Desk using the form below.