From Austria to Alberta: New accounting award honours a legacy of resilience

When Mike Christ (2000 BCom) was a student at the Alberta School of Business, he was often struck by the tenacity of his peers. On his path to becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant, he watched classmates tackle grueling coursework while simultaneously navigating life as newcomers to Canada.

"As hard as it was for someone who had English as their primary language, I couldn't even fathom how difficult it must have been for them," he says. "That's when I started thinking about what my dad had to go through."

Bernhard with sons Alexander (standing) and Mike on ferry to Victoria, B.C. — summer 1981

His father, Bernhard Christ, emigrated to Canada from a small town in southern Austria in the early 1970s. Arriving with limited English, Bernhard’s relentless work ethic propelled him to a successful career as a Chartered Accountant, first at PricewaterhouseCoopers and later at Alberta Energy (now Encana).

Even while balancing a demanding career and raising three children, Bernhard never lost his passion for sport. An exceptional, naturally gifted athlete, he was a fixture in local tennis, soccer, skiing and hockey communities.

Though Bernhard’s life was tragically cut short in a 1985 car accident, his presence is still felt decades later. But his legacy of dedication and perseverance lives on through his family.

“Amazingly, if you can think it’s been over 40 years since he died but there are people who still remember him from the firms he worked for and the sports he played,” says Mike.

To honour that impact, the Christ family — including Bernhard’s brother, Dieter, in Germany — has established the Bernhard Christ Award in Accounting. The award, which will provide $25,000 to accounting students over five years, is a tribute to Bernhard’s well-rounded legacy as a devoted family man, a passionate athlete and a dedicated CPA.

Bernhard with son Alexander and wife Susan in Vienna, Austria — summer 1975

The primary goal of the award is to support accounting students as they navigate the rigours of the program. Mike explains that it is intended to offer a “leg up” to students facing modern hurdles, including the rapid integration of AI in accounting. More importantly, it offers them a sense of belonging.

“For someone who’s working to get into the profession, I would like them to see a story like my father’s — someone who showed up with nothing and minimal language — and know they’re not alone.”

— Mike Christ

“It’s an aspirational story to say ‘if you need motivation when you’re struggling, here’s Bernhard Christ – he went through this and succeeded.’”