Our History

Prior to 1948

City assessors – primarily Calgary and Edmonton – formed an association under the title Alberta Association of Assessing Officers (AAAO).

It seems there was no attempt to incorporate or have any further meetings, as the name was never found with provincial registries.

1950

The discovery of oil in 1947, and the resulting demands on municipalities for services (roads, infrastructure to provide for industrial development, warehousing, etc), led to the municipalities wanting more consistency in assessment.

The three assessors from the rural municipalities most affected, Leduc, Assessor Alec Hughes, Strathcona, Assessor Ernie Cook and Stony Plain, Assessor Bill Whiteside, invited all rural assessors to a meeting in Calgary, in November 1950.  More than 50 assessors attended the meeting and it was agreed to form an association.

They had their 1st annual convention a month later in Edmonton on December 1st, 1950.  They formed under the name of the Alberta Municipal Assessors Association (AMAA), incorporated December 10, 1951 under the Societies Act.

1953

The city and rural groups amalgamated under the title Alberta Association of Assessing Officers (AAAO).

1958

The Public Administration Division of the University of Alberta Dept. of Extension began offering correspondence courses in Municipal Assessment. 

Beginning as a three-year Certificate program, by 1970, it was a four year course and included an in-service training program.

1960

An attempt was made to form a Canadian Association of Assessing Officers that would parallel the U.S. organization, but was abandoned in 1967.

The Alberta Government carried out assessments under two branches:  the Assessment Services Branch, Director Ernie Mills, which provided assessment services to the incorporated municipalities and the Field Services Branch, Director Al Isbister, which provided assessment services to the unincorporated municipalities and improvement districts.

They had their 1st annual convention a month later in Edmonton on December 1st, 1950.  They formed under the name of the Alberta Municipal Assessors Association (AMAA), incorporated December 10, 1951 under the Societies Act.

The impetus for a province-wide association seemed motivated by a couple factors.  Firstly, joining the Canadian Association required that members belonged to a bonafide provincial association.  Secondly, there was growing need to have standards of assessment that were provincial in scope and that could be overseen by a central body.

The Assessment Commissioner of the day, Mr. Bruce Laidlaw, had provincial responsibility for provisional assessment and strongly supported the formation of an association that could be province wide.  Following executive meetings on April 13 and June 5, 1961, the term “Government” was dropped from the title.  A letter was sent to all practicing assessors in the Province inviting them to join the new Alberta Assessors’ Association.

• This merger took place with some trepidation

• The government of the day made it clear that only one association would receive grant money, and that seemed destined for the Government assessors group

• The municipally employed assessors were viewed as being part time and under-qualified compared to the government-employed assessors who were full time and better trained.  The government assessors also had a yearly convention in which they could share assessment issues.

• There was reluctance to give up the idea of an independent organization of assessing officers 

Despite these concerns, it seems there was a large response to the invitation, particularly from the urban assessors, and the majority of the members of the previous Alberta Association of Assessing Officers were recruited.

There remained a small splinter group of rural assessors that chose not to join and they continued on for a couple of years under the title of the Association of Municipal Assessing Officers.

1953

The Association roster has 144 member names

1964

The remaining splinter rural group, the Association of Municipal Assessing Officers, merged with the Alberta Assessors' Association in June, 1964.

1965

A testimonial lunch was held on April 8, 1965 at Lister Hall, University of Alberta Campus, Edmonton, to honour all pioneer assessors who had contributed to the high standard of assessment throughout the province of Alberta. The luncheon was sponsored by the Alberta Assessors’ Association (AAA) and honorary life membership scrolls were presented to 70 pioneer assessors.

The Certification Committee held its inaugural meeting on September 3, 1965 and proposed amendments to the Association bylaws for the authority to designate certification to assessors in Alberta.

1967

The Alberta Assessors’ Association approves a proposal put forward by the Certification Committee for a certification program that would standardize qualifications for “certified assessors” and the Certification Committee becomes the “Accreditation Committee” with the certification authority of members and candidates. The Association approves the designation of “Accredited Municipal Assessor of Alberta” and adopts the Alberta Assessors’ Association Code of Ethics.

1969

A resolution was passed at the annual convention that the history of Assessment in Alberta should be archived. Contributions were solicited and a section was opened under private collections at the Provincial Archives of Alberta.

1971

Alberta Assessors approved a resolution to create an interprovincial assessment liaison of the four western Assessors’ Associations to consider the potential for a western group.

1972

The Association is 300-members (262 :regular members) strong and is considering a fee increase to cover the cost of a permanent paid secretary.

1976

The Municipal Assessment Course which had run from 1957 to 1975 received an overhaul with recommendations to become a more rigorous Program with 200 hours of classroom instruction.

1977

By 1977, the Alberta Assessors’ Association was realigning its education and interest with the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). The Association’s pursuit of “professional” status for its certified assessors was stymied by sub-standard education requirements – according to advice received by the Executive of the day

A constitution for a western Canadian partnership had been adopted by Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, but BC would not commit. The plans for pan-Canadian equity among assessments and professional assessors had both supporters and dissenters in all provinces, including Alberta.

1978

The most import task taken on by the Association was the Educational Program and the accreditation and professionalization of its members.

1980

Lakeland College in Vermillion, Alberta, offers an Assessment and Appraisal Diploma program. Amendments proposed to the Association Bylaws regarding the post-secondary education requirements for Candidates were established as a two-year diploma from a post-secondary institution in an assessment related field of study or, university entrance qualifications.

1982

The Association serves more than 500 members.

1985

The Alberta Assessors’ Association celebrates its 25th Anniversary with the “25 Years of Progress” Conference in Jasper, Alberta.

Assessors began seriously discussing a national training program and formed the Trans-Canadian Assessment Program Steering Committee to develop a comprehensive national training program; to produce an inventory of resource persons and materials relevant to such a program; to facility the exchange and sharing of resources; and, to define academic standards for a proposed assessor training program.

1986

The Association’s newsletter began publishing the Member’s Code of Ethic, as follows:  

A Member of the Alberta Assessors’ Association shall:

• Conform to the Code of Ethics and the Constitutions, By-laws and Resolutions of the Alberta Assessors’ Association as the same may be amended from time to time.
• Fulfill the obligations of his office and membership with dignity, discretion and honesty.

It is Unethical for a Member of the Alberta Assessors’ Association to:

• Advance his membership or candidacy as evidence of professional qualification.
• Undertake assessments for which he is not fully qualified by reason of his lack of education or ability.
• Contravene the provisions of legislation under which an assessor is bound.
• Record biased assessment to the prejudice of favour of the municipality or ratepayer.
• Disclose the contents of confidential reports, records, or other submissions except where required by legislation or by written policy of the employer, or make any irresponsible public statements of value.
• Fail to report to the Association conduct by any member that may be considered unethical.
• Knowingly injure directly or indirectly the professional reputation of another member.

1988

The Association considered and approved a Notice of Motion put forward by the Accreditation Committee to make application to register the Alberta Assessors’ Association under the Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act.  This marked the beginning of a six-year process.

1990

The Association locates itself in leased office space and hires a part time administrative manager.

1991

The Trans Canadian Assessment and Training Program Committee became the Canadian Assessment Directors Advisory Committee and approved the UBC Certificate Course as meeting the core requirements of the Canadian Assessment Standard, following the cancellation of the University of Alberta’s certificate program in Municipal Assessment and Property Taxation.  In response, the Association formed an Education Committee which put forward a proposal for Educational Standards that included a diploma in a two year program (800-1500 hours of instruction), with three assessment-related topics.  Major topics for such a diploma program would include

• Economics; 
• Math and Statistics; 
• Accounting Fundamentals; 
• Real Estate Finance; 
• Land Use Planning and Development; 
• Real Estate Law; 
• Property Tax Assessment in Alberta; 
• Building Design and Construction; 
• Computer Science; 
• Management courses, including Communications; 
• Local Government administration and legislation; and, 
• Property Valuation

1992

1994

The Association’s application for registration under Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act (POARA) was finally by approved Order in Council on March 8, 1994, providing legitimacy to the profession and the authority and responsibility for maintaining professional standards of the Association’s regulated members.  As an association registered under the Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act (POARA), the Alberta Assessors’ Association continued the process of developing bylaws and striking committees to abide by the regulations prescribed in Section 14 of the legislation.

The previous education standards were reviewed and the Association adopted the following as meeting the core education requirements:

• Two year certificate program from UBC
• Income Approach 1 and 2 (St. Francis Xavier University)
• Property Tax Assessment in Alberta
• Building Construction – Residential and Commercial 
• Real Estate Law
• Micro and Macro Economics
• Land Economics
• Communications I and II
• Introductory Accounting.

1995

The new Municipal Government Act that had received Royal Assent in 1994 came into force and effect; 24 regulations became six, ostensibly offering municipalities more flexibility and autonomy.  The 25% provincial subsidy to municipalities for property assessment – other than linear assessment - services ended and municipalities became solely responsible for this revenue stream.  The provincial government retained the assessment services for major plants and linear properties.

The Association began the organization and implementation of a 5-year recertification program as required by POARA; accredited Assessors who had been participating in a voluntary re-certification program began accumulating education credits in 1998 towards a mandatory recertification program set to begin in 2001.

1998

The Alberta Assessors’ Association and the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) sign an agreement providing for the waiver of IAAO education requirements for AAA members seeking CAE or RES designations.

1986

2001

Following consultation and planning, the Association’s Accredited Members were required to attain a pre-determined number of credits over a five year period, beginning in 2001 and renewing each year following the fifth year of a cycle. (2001-2005; 2006-2010; 2011-2015, etc.).

The first cycle of Mandatory Recertification, beginning in 2001 required members to accumulate 30 valuation credits over the five year period.  Valuation credits were defined by the Practice Review Committee and were generally comprised of courses offered by industry organizations such as the Association itself, the IAAO, the Canadian Property Taxpayers Association, the Appraisal Institute of Canada, the International Property Tax Institute and the University of British Columbia, Real Estate Division.

Members could also accumulate General Credits for “each hour of general-based participation in assessment or appraisal based activities” approved by the Practice Review Committee.

2004

The Association adopted a new Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics which remain in effect:

Code of Conduct and Ethics

A regulated member shall:

• Be dedicated to the profession,
• Perform the practice of assessment with fairness, honesty and integrity,
• Apply expertise and due diligence in performing the practice of assessment,
• Work toward earning the respect and confidence of all of those served through the practice of assessment,
• Maintain professional competence by keeping informed of and complying with developments in the acknowledged standards of the profession in which the member practices,
• Disclose to all affected parties any potential conflict of interest that arises or is likely to arise during the performance of their duties,
• Always act in accordance with the duties and responsibilities associated with being a member of the Association,
• At all times act in a manner that will enhance the image of the profession and the Association, and
• Report to the Association conduct by any member that may be considered unethical.

A regulated member shall not:

1. Undertake assessments for which they are not qualified through either lack of education, experience or ability,
2. Advance their membership or candidacy as evidence of professional qualification,
3. Claim professional qualifications that are misleading or not factual,
4. Put forward membership or any designation granted by the Association as authority to undertake the practice of assessment in areas in which they are not fully qualified,
5. Allow the interests of outside parties to take precedence over their professional duties,
6. Make any irresponsible public statements of value,
7. Disclose any information of a confidential nature to any person except where required by law, and
8. Contravene legislative provisions, bylaws, and/or standards of practice under which they are bound.

2008

The Executive Committee approves a recommendation from the Practice Review Committee as follows:

that as of September 2008 the core education requirements for the AMAA designation be the completion of the Lakeland College Appraisal and Assessment Diploma, with the inclusion of the UBC BUSI 331 course beginning September 2008, or the University of British Columbia Diploma in Urban Land Economics.

This decision is currently in effect and, as noted on the website, the Association accepts either Lakeland College’s Appraisal and Assessment Diploma or the University of British Columbia Diploma in Urban Land Economics (DULE) as fulfilling the core education requirements.

In addition to the above Candidates must achieve a passing grade n the Tools for Practicing Assessment in Alberta online course and for a written Demonstration Report (UBC BUSI 499 – Income Property Guided Case Study)

Also in 2008, the Association adopted a process for self-reporting of re-certification credits whereby members access their individual profiles on the website and make changes to the credit history.

2009

The Association approves the purchase of a condominium office space in its current location at 10555 172 (Unit 7) Street, Edmonton and a move is completed by June 1, 2009.

2010

The Association celebrated 50 years since it's inaugural general meeting in 1960 at the Chateau Lake Louise.  There were 489 regulated members in 2010.

Approval was given for a planned increase in the number of credits required for re-certification moving from 20 valuation credits and 10 general credits to 40 learning credits and 10 general credits.  The change from valuation to learning credits would provide members more latitude in reporting assessment-related learning opportunities.  The Association also created two online Farmland Courses, strengthening its relationship with Lakeland College. Outreach continued with municipalities via the AAMDC and AUMA (rural and urban municipal associations).

2011

Currently, we are in the first year of a new 5-year re-certification cycle and a new credit reporting process.  The core education requirements remain Lakeland College and UBC DULE and the Association is diligent in its service to its members to ensure the qualifications, knowledge, skill and professionalism required of the industry are met by its regulated members.

There are currently 487 regulated members, 193 of whom are Candidates, either having achieved a two-year diploma from Lakeland College or currently enrolled in UBC DULE with varying levels of credentials/education.