Sudarshana Chakraborty, PFP

"Always plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark"-Richard Cushing As an accredited Financial Planner, Estate Planning is the first point of conversation I bring in every single meeting. After working so hard for all those years and saving in one's registered investments or building assets through real estate, one wants to make sure that your wealth is transferred to the next generation according to your wish in the smoothest way possible. A will is just not a document, one signs to bequeath their life's savings to loved ones, it is THE MOST important document, one ever signs to make sure that the legacy left behind is protected, the right way. A living will, on the other hand protects our own self when in case of a major illness or unexpected event leaves us incapable of taking decision for ourselves. Most importantly, in this age of technology led life, how many of us ever think of ensuring our digital assets are taken care of after some one passes away? Our team of wonderful advisors at RBC in Fort McMurray, and Luke Siemens from RBC PH&N along with Kanan Gandhi, Lawyer from Coopers and Company, joined me in presenting our semi annual Wills and Estate Planning event in Fort McMurray yesterday. It was an evening of sharing knowledge and understanding.

While I love volunteering for my community, one of the most loved ones is for The Northern Lights Health Foundation. Health care is the most important priority. Northern Lights Health Foundation helps makes that a reality by working with the community to fund health care priorities in Fort McMurray. It was a lot of adrenaline, outrageous costumes and unbeatable community spirit last Saturday, September 20th, 2025, all in support of advancing local health care. Once again the tiny but mighty community of Fort McMurray, came together in full force to support local health care, raising an impressive $60,000 towards enhancing medical services across the region. Teams of four raced hospital beds carrying a 150 lbs " Bedbug" Sandbag across 50 meter sprints, for the Golden Bedpan Trophy ,Team Spirit and Top Fund raiser title. This is my second year volunteering for this cause. My job was to carry those beds back to their starting position. We ran short of volunteers. My friends from Fort McMurray Bengali Association, a Multi Cultural community, came running, helping me to push the beds back to their start line! While the champions, SMS Heavy Haulers took away the Golden Bed Pan , I know we won hearts for pulling together! Heartiest congratulations to a "Fort McMurray Tough" community!

T's the season that sparkles! Northern Lights Health Foundation in Fort McMurray, organized Festival Of Trees this past weekend. Whole weekend was super busy with Winter Wonderland, Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, Santa's Village, Teddy Bear Hospital, Super Mon Hero Son and Daddy Daughter Sugar Plum Fairy Ball! Community members poured in their donations for silent auction, Volunteers from all over the community came in flocks to help to execute this mammoth task, smoothly. Like every year, I was a part of this huge event, as a volunteer too. I worked for the entire weekend at Santa's Village. Along with almost 50 volunteers, I was on my feet for almost 8 to 10 hours every day. In the evening, I tried to dress up faintly and attended the Festival of Trees Gala. I should have been tired like a dog, but I am not! Seeing all the love and Holiday spirit flowing everywhere, I forgot about the hard manual labor I was putting in! My colleagues from RBC in town joined me from time to time volunteering. Last year we raised $860,000 in the same event, for our local hospital. This year, I do hope, we surpass that amount. As of now, we are still counting. I am so grateful to all my co-volunteers and colleagues from RBC to be a part of this great event. I am super thankful to my colleague Gracy Jamieson, who crocheted baby blankets and sent them all the way from Calgary and two of my dear friends from my personal friend group, who came and joined me on Saturday night, volunteering for the Gala! What a beautiful way to start the festive season in Fort McMurray!