The business of giving back

Colette Miller, ’82 BCom, can still recall how her palms would sweat watching the totals add up on the cash register at the grocery store. She would only ever buy the essentials for her young family of four — skipping high ticket items like disposable diapers — but as a full-time student every penny counted. 

So, you can imagine what a difference it made when she received the $600 Birks Family Bursary at the end of her second year at the Alberta School of Business in 1978. While it may seem like a small amount today, it meant everything to the budding family.    

“It took so much pressure off when it arrived,” says Miller. “It meant that we could cover the cost of tuition without having to take on more student debt or get a part-time job — on top of having a family.” 

Ever since, giving back has been inscribed into the Miller family DNA. 

As a long-time supporter of the School, Miller recently teamed up with her daughter, Ashley Bodnarchuk, ’06 BCom — who works with her at the family’s accounting firm Wilde & Company — to establish a student scholarship at the Alberta School of Business. 

The Wilde & Company Chartered Accountants Graduate Award is meant to help students who are juggling the responsibilities of parenthood on top of their studies. Preference is also given to students on a study permit, a cohort that is near and dear to Miller’s heart. 

“University not only opens doors, but it opens your mind to new perspectives and ways of seeing and being in the world,” says Miller, who moved from the small town of Vegreville to Michener Park, a residence for students with children and home to many students new to Canada. 

“Our kids had a babysitter from India and a schoolteacher from Belgium. There were so many people that exposed them to a much bigger world than we ever could have,” says Miller. 

By living in Michener Park, Miller also saw first-hand the unique challenges confronting immigrant families, who did not have the same local support systems on which she and her family depended.

“Quite honestly, we couldn’t afford to buy groceries then. I don’t know how people from other parts of the world did it without a family close-by. At least we always had beef from my in-laws, so a big part of our diet was covered.”

While the nature of the gift to the U of A may be uniquely tied to Miller’s student experience, giving back is commonplace for the U of A grad who has imbued her family business with a culture of philanthropy. 

“I always say that mom is the best business mentor,” says Bodnarchuk. “The values of generosity and abundance have always been core to Colette – and you see that in how we run the business.”

Employees at the Wilde & Co. office are encouraged to get involved with causes that matter to them  — whether it’s the Food Bank, Rotary Club initiatives or School Advisory Councils, says Bodnarchuk. Through paid volunteer days, they give back to their communities and share their expertise with a whole host of nonprofit boards.

“One of the things the clients say is, we want to work with you because we see you out in the community. They’re aligned with wanting to make the world a better place,” explains Miller.  

“It’s so much more than just financial statements. It’s about helping the client, helping the community, and having impact at a higher level. We approach our work very holistically rather than confined to the traditional accounting role.” 

Miller understands the importance of the ripple effect of generosity and hopes that by sharing her family’s story she inspires others to do what they can to support their communities.  

“For a long time, I couldn’t talk about it much because it’s so personal. Sharing our story now will hopefully motivate others to say, ‘Jeepers, that person had a rocky start and needed a leg up — maybe I could do the same’.”