Member Q&A - Corina Weigl TEP

Tell us about your career

As a child, I watched the movie The Paper Chase. It is about the challenges of a first-year law student. I found the study of law, as portrayed in the movie, fascinating. I also very much enjoyed ‘debating’ in high school with friends and members of my family. Ultimately, I went to Osgoode Hall Law School. In my first year, I enjoyed my property course above the rest. It led me to take more courses in the property law area, such as estates, trusts, real estate and taxation.

Why did you get involved with STEP in the beginning?

Throughout my career, I have made a point of being involved in one professional organisation of relevance at any given time. At about the time when my tenure on the executives of one of these organisations was ending, I put my hand up to become involved with STEP Toronto. I have not regretted doing so. STEP Toronto and STEP Canada are great organisations. I am proud to be involved in an organisation that stays true to its core objectives of providing educational programmes tailored to the needs of its members, while also fostering networking and doing so in a manner that focuses on the public benefit of having access to experienced and qualified practitioners.

In what ways have you been involved with STEP?

I have been an active speaker and writer at STEP Toronto events, STEP Ottawa events and STEP Canada National Conference events. I have been on the STEP Toronto Executive Committee for a number of years, currently serving as Past Chair. I have been involved in various committees, including the Programming Committee, the STEP Inside Editorial Committee and the STEP Canada Tax Technical Committee.

I am the current Past Chair of the STEP Canada National Conference Committee, having served as Chair for the past few years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were required to pivot our 2020 conference. Most recently, I was elected to the STEP Canada Board and am currently serving as Secretary.

What have been some of your highlights with STEP?

Chairing the STEP National Conference Committee. I loved being on a committee where everyone is moving with one direction: the delivery of a high-quality programme of relevant topics, delivered by excellent speakers. I love collaborating with a group of volunteers dedicated to achieving an outcome others are excited to participate in.

And challenges?

Although no longer a challenge, the pandemic has definitely left its mark on much of the work that STEP Canada does. While our 2023 National Conference programme confirmed our ability to continue to attract large in-person delegate numbers, our virtual numbers also confirmed that we will need to continue to provide for a membership base that will want to be virtual. Related to this, the work-from-home model will continue to have an impact on how we deliver our programmes.

You recently won a STEP Founder’s Award. What does this mean to you?

It’s a huge honour! There is such a large pool of dedicated volunteers among the global STEP family. To be nominated and selected among such a talented group of recipients, including my fellow Canadian colleague, Paul Taylor TEP, was not only a surprise but also a humbling experience.

What has been your greatest professional achievement?

My greatest professional achievement will hopefully be something judged with hindsight. If I have truly achieved something, it will be because there are individuals behind me whom I have had the pleasure of working with and perhaps in whom I have ignited enough of a spark for them to want to pursue a similar path, thereby ensuring a pipeline of talent continues to exist in the estate-planning world.

What do you think makes a successful, trusted advisor?

Judgement, experience, patience, humility, being a good listener and having compassion.

What would you say to members considering getting more involved?

As the saying goes: ‘Just do it.’