One of my favorite vacations–this was long before I became an Accredited Senior Appraiser–included long summer Canadian days strolling the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. We stayed in the old city, ate a stunningly delicious tomato quiche in a small restaurant with cats in the upstairs windows, admired a troupe of skateboarders as they assembled and employed a portable skate park in a downtown square, explored neighborhoods of architectural delight and inventive sorbets, and happened upon an Irish music jam our last night in town. We’ve always planned to see more of Canada, but haven’t done it yet.
Imagine my delight this week, catching up on my GAAP/IFRS reading to discover that Canada, our neighbor to the north, will be switching to IFRS in just a matter of days. Decisions made in 2006 will come to fruition with adoption of IFRS for reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2011.
What this means, from the perspective of an equipment and machinery appraiser, is that many Canadian businesses will soon find themselves needing an annual comprehensive USPAP equipment appraisal.
From the Sacramento, San Francisco or Oakland airport, I can be in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton or Regina in just a matter of hours, ready to do an inspection for equipment appraisals of manufacturing and production equipment, rolling stock, heavy construction equipment, farm equipment, or transportation fleets. Doesn’t that sound like fun?
Of course, I’d have to schedule in a little free time around the equipment appraisal assignment. Vancouver? What kind of restaurant equipment appraiser would I be if I didn’t make time for a quick trip to the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts? Victoria? They might use some different kinds of agriculture equipment than the farming equipment I usually appraise, but how could I pass up the Butchart Gardens? Calgary? Glaciers and Banff National Park. Edmonton? Hang out in Elk Island National Park and see how many of the 350 bird species I can espy. Regina? If I can schedule the equipment appraisal to coordinate with the local Wednesday farmer’s market, that’s a must-do.
Did I ever tell you about the time I stopped in downtown Monterey for a cup of coffee on the way home from a manufacturing equipment appraisal and happened on the mid-week farmer’s market? I loaded up the car before I left with all the fresh produce it would hold.
Happy New Year!
Jack Young
NorCal Valuation
