Winnipeg Office
GTP Welcomes Del Halliday as our newest Partner
CloseSaul Targownik graduated from Red River College’s Business Administration program in 1969, obtained his CMA designation in 1972, and subsequently obtained his CGA designation in 1982. Prior to joining the GTP team in June of 1980, Saul was a Special Investigator with the Criminal Division of the Canada Revenue Agency for over 10 years. He has provided accounting, auditing, taxation, and business advisory services over the last 38 years to business owners in various sectors: medical, dental, and not-for-profits to name a few. In addition, Saul provides U.S. tax services for individuals. Saul has served various community organizations such as The Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education and the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council and also instructed and provided seminars for CMA and CGA associations. Saul and his wife keep very busy with their three daughters and eight wonderful grandchildren; any leftover spare time is spent on the golf course.
CloseMel L Verin is a life-long resident of the Winnipeg area, where he received his BA and CA designations. Mel has been in the accounting industry since 1971. He picked the accounting field because he has always enjoyed numbers and wanted to apply that in a business environment. He was President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for the 1995-1996 year, and was awarded his FCA designation in 1995. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and bowling. An interesting fact about Mel is he was in a rock and roll band as a teenager and is knowledgeable in 60’s rock trivia.
CloseReese Feder is born and raised in the Winnipeg Area, where he graduated from Asper School of Business in 2011 and received his Chartered Accountant designation in 2014. Reese spent 5 years working at a national CA firm and brings much of his prior experience and knowledge to support his client base at GTP. He has been a partner at GTP since 2022. He has a passion for working with young entrepreneurs and professionals, whether it’s helping solve their tax needs or providing clients with accounting solutions to their business. Away from the office, Reese spends time on the golf course where he has a low single digit handicap, and winters supporting the Winnipeg Jets.
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Dale Gislason joined the firm as a student in January of 1980. He obtained his CGA designation in 1983 and was awarded the gold medal for fifth-level performance. He became a partner in the firm in 1983 and currently manages the Winkler office. He received an FCGA designation in 1997 and was awarded a life membership in 2006. He has been involved in both the provincial and national CGA associations in various senior capacities. He is a past-president of the CGA Association of Manitoba and Chair of the Board of CGA-Canada. Following involvement with the Canadian associations he served as the Canadian representative to the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Small and Medium Practice Committee providing input to the international accounting and auditing standard setting processes. Until 2018 he was a member of the Accounting Standards Oversight Council of Canada. In recent years, Dale’s focus has been providing professional services consisting of high-level tax work, corporate reorganizations, mergers, and finance.
CloseDarren Funk is originally from Winnipeg but has been working at GTP in Winkler since 1996. He received his designation in 1999 and became a partner in the firm in 2006. Darren specializes in GTP’s owner-managed business accounts. He became an accountant because he enjoys assisting others in managing their resources. An interesting fact about Darren is that he studies martial arts and holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Kyusho. In his free time, he enjoys cheering on the Winnipeg Jets.
CloseRobert Friesen grew up in Morden and from the early age of 14, he knew he wanted to be an accountant. He pursued his goals and graduated in 1989 from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree. He immediately began public practice and worked as a senior accountant with a national firm in their audit practice. In 1997, Robert received his designation and joined the GTP team, then was invited to partnership in 2006. Robert’s favourite part of his job is working directly with clients and helping them achieve their personal and business financial goals. Robert has served as treasurer on numerous local boards and in 2012, was appointed to the Board of Directors for the CGA Association of Manitoba. In 2018, Rob was recognized as a fellow and was awarded an FCPA designation. When he’s out of the office, you’ll find Robert on the golf course. He plays in the Minnewasta Golf Club Tuesday Night Men’s League, winning the 2012 league championship with his brother. Robert is also a noisy Winnipeg Jets fanatic and a true Blue Bombers fan, with a license plate to prove it.
CloseBrian Derksen grew up in Morden and joined GTP as a student in 2001 after receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Briercrest College. He received his designation in 2005 through CGA Manitoba, and in 2013 became a partner at GTP. Brian enjoys working with a large variety clients in various industries and especially enjoys working with non-for-profit organizations. In his free time, Brian enjoys cheering on the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers, as well as studying theology. He currently serves as the chairperson of the board of directors for a local agency that provides services to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
CloseKenton Doerksen moved to Winkler in 2002, shortly after receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Providence College. He joined the GTP team in 2004 and received his designation in 2009. He became a partner in 2013 and currently works with a wide range of clients, with a passion for working with young entrepreneurs. This is a segment he has been in himself, having been threatened with suspension from high school for selling Coca-Cola from his locker in a Pepsi sponsored Gimli High School. In Kenton’s spare time, he finds himself getting his nails painted by his three daughters, although whether or not he enjoys it is up for debate. Kenton enjoys serving the community; having served as the treasurer and president of the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of the Winkler Bible Camp and Winkler Amateur Soccer Association and serving on the ministerial and council of Bethel Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Kenton was honored to receive the Early Achievement Award from CPA Manitoba in 2018.
Keith Gislason grew up in Winkler with a desire to work in technology. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Computer Science, he worked as a software consultant in Winnipeg for several years. Desiring a new challenge, Keith decided to pursue an MBA, graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2007. Keith worked for several large corporations in the United States filling key roles in IT, Strategic Planning, and Software Management & Marketing. Keith joined GTP in 2017 to lead the new Consulting Services practice. In his spare time Keith enjoys playing sports with his 2 sons, outdoor activities and running obstacle course races.
CloseBrock Heinrichs has been working in public practice since 2012. He graduated from the Asper School of Business in 2014 and obtained his CPA designation in 2015. Over the years Brock has worked with a wide range of clients, helping them to meet their goals. In his spare time he enjoys being with his wife and kids, tending to their yard, reading a good book and playing hockey.
CloseChloe Knautz was born and raised in the Winnipeg Area, where she graduated from Asper School of Business in 2016 with a major in marketing and accounting and received her Chartered Professional Accounting designation in 2019. Chloe spent 3 years working at a national accounting firm, where she specialized in auditing of public, private, and non-profit organizations. Chloe enjoys working one on one with clients to assist with their accounting needs. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, golfing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
CloseJustin Funk grew up on a cattle and hog farm south of Winkler. He acquired his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University in Ontario, and in 2014 completed his designation from CGA Manitoba. He has been in the accounting industry since 2005 and provides management services for GTP’s corporate clients; specifically farming engagements, not-for-profits and audit services. In Justin’s free time, he enjoys playing hockey and golf, as well as spending time with his family.
CloseAndy Friesen joined the GTP team in 2012, after having completed his Business Administration diploma at Red River College. He received his CPA, CGA designation in fall 2016, with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University. Andy is expanding his knowledge for various types of industries, with a passion for working with clients in the agricultural segment. In Andy’s spare time, he enjoys watching sports and spending time with friends and family.
CloseJayson Hamm grew up in the Winkler area and enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as cheering on the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Blue Jays. He completed the Business Administration diploma at Red River College in 2012 and the Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree at Laurentian University in 2018. He received his CPA designation in January of 2019. Jayson enjoys being part of a team that helps clients reach their personal and business goals.
CloseDianne Hayduk grew up in Alberta and started her career in industry, before transferring to Manitoba and joining the firm in January 2021. She obtained her CMA designation in 1989, received her Masters of Business Administration from the University of Calgary in 2015, and started working in public practice in 2019. Dianne has since completed her CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Program, and enjoys helping clients in various stages of their personal and corporate life navigate their current and future tax needs. In her free time, she enjoys being with her husband, Mark, gardening (which is considerably more fruitful here than gardening in Calgary!), and cross-country skiing on Manitoba’s lovely flat terrain.
CloseEphraim Gertner was born in Kazakhstan and was raised in Germany and the Plum Coulee Area. Ephraim spent 7 years working in industry accounting and finance before joining GTP in 2019. He received his CPA designation in early 2023. Ephraim enjoys working with clients in a variety of industries and helping them reach their personal goals, business goals, and solve their accounting-related problems. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys motorcycling, bicycling, and travelling.
CloseErnest Peters has lived in Winkler and the surrounding area his whole life and joined the accounting industry in 1982. He has always had a passion for people and numbers, and found accounting to be a perfect combination of the two. After 33 years of being one of the name partners of GTP, Ernest has retired as a partner but has continued with GTP as a senior consultant. In 2011 he was awarded the FCGA designation. He spends his free time enjoying his convertible with his wife. He also enjoys spending time with his five granddaughters.
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Shaun Harder grew up in Steinbach and has worked in accounting since 2010, becoming a partner at GTP in 2022. His interest in entrepreneurship and finance led him to pursue a career as an accountant. After obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Athabasca University, Shaun completed his CGA designation in 2015 where he received the Professional Level Award of Excellence for achieving the highest average grade in his class. He has since completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Program and currently focuses on identifying and implementing tax solutions for clients across a variety of industries. In his free time, Shaun enjoys reading and watching Formula 1 with his family.
CloseSarah Loewen Beaver was born and raised in Steinbach, and has been in the accounting industry since 2002. She received a BA Honours from Providence College and became a CGA in 2007; winning the Professional Level Award of Excellence for top marks upon graduation. During the graduation ceremony, Sarah had the priviledge of reading the CGA Oath of Obligation on behalf of the graduating class, and has a copy of it on her wall as a reminder of the opportunities that she has. Sarah worked for her family’s business for many years, and enjoys being able to relate to her clients, as they discuss their challenges and successes. Sarah manages the newest GTP office in Steinbach, and as such, is well versed in Agriculture and small to medium sized enterprises. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, reading military science fiction and acknowledges that she is a geek. Her kids are just old enough to agree, but still think she’s next to perfect. At the age of 12, with her first paycheque from her family’s business, Sarah purchased a statue of a business woman leaning against her desk. That statue is still in her office today.
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