Meet Palmer Leslie's Accountants
Company Philosophy
We believe that no client is too small and that everyone deserves enough time and attention to fully understand their accounting and tax returns. We strive to explain things to you in terms you understand without talking down to you. We also hope that you will feel you are as much a part of the process of preparing your financial reports and tax returns as we are. We feel that no one understands your business better than you do and you should have a say and be knowledgeable about any and all reports we prepare on your behalf.
We also believe that you are entitled to the best service we can provide in a timely manner so you don’t feel forgotten. We strive to return your calls in a timely manner and meet with you whenever convenient for you whether you have an appointment or not if it is in our power to do so. We also believe you are entitled to be treated fairly and pleasantly every time we see you.
We believe in the need for constant upgrading and training. We are constantly sending the members of the firm for professional development to ensure we can offer you the latest and greatest knowledge and technology.
We believe that we are just like you. We live here, work here and play here. We are as diverse as you are. We love what we do and enjoy doing it for you.
About You
You are any client who requires accounting, bookkeeping, tax or other related services. PL is a full-service accounting firm and can help you with any need you may have.
About Us
Tammy Leslie
Tammy was born and raised on the West Coast. Her family lived in a logging camp up Indian Arm when she was born and moved to various logging communities on the West Coast including Courtenay and Oyster River on Vancouver Island. Her family also spent over two years living in a logging camp at the top of Toba Inlet, eventually settling in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.
In high school Tammy always found Math was her strongest subject and Algebra just seemed to make sense to her, so an accounting career was an easy choice. Tammy attended Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC graduating in 1985 as class valedictorian for Business Management Diploma. It was during this time that she fell in love with accounting, and specifically, The Tax Act. After college, she returned to Sechelt and commenced her first job in public practice working for Cameron & Associates CGA for the next 15 years and earned her CGA in 1989 while working there.
She moved back to Vancouver Island in 2001 and in 2006, she obtained a position as a senior manager at Atchison Palmer Chartered Accountants in Duncan. Not satisfied to hold just one accounting designation, Tammy went back to school to obtain her Chartered Accountant’s designation. The whole family (and most of the neighbourhood) cheered when she found out she had passed the 3-day Uniform final exam in 2009. This opened the door for her partnership in the firm that now bears her name.
Tammy currently lives in Yellowpoint with her dog, three cats and assorted goldfish. She has two grown children currently finishing university in various parts of the country who come home for holidays and fill the house. When not at the office she can be found riding horses with her fellow horse lovers, going to horse shows, riding her bike, walking her dog, and driving her two Camaro’s during drag race/car show season.
Tammy’s volunteer activities include sitting as a director for a variety of local community organizations including the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, Ladysmith Show and Shine Society, and Ladysmith Festival of Lights.
Lori John
Lori John was born in Lethbridge, AB and moved to Duncan, BC to attend Queen Margaret’s School at age 15. Lori has called the City of Duncan home for over 35 years, where she met
and married her husband, Jeremy and raised her three sons.
Lori started her career as a bookkeeper in 2007 and, with encouragement and support from her grandmother, decided to return to school and obtain her CPA/CGA from Laurentian University in 2017. Shortly after receiving her designation, Lori joined Palmer Leslie to further her career and gain more experience working with local businesses. She was excited to start working with the people of Palmer Leslie because they provided a high level of knowledge, and the firm’s priority to help their clients navigate complicated issues align with her own.
It is a well-known fact at Palmer Leslie and amongst her long-time clients that Lori’s favourite time of year is personal tax season. It brings her great joy connecting with her clients and helping them understand how their success has come together.
When Lori is not at Palmer Leslie she can be seen helping as the treasurer of the Cowichan Exhibition Society or walking with her loyal companion Bella, the English Bull-dog.
Sarah Brimacombe
Born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, Sarah grew up in the Cowichan Lake area. Sarah attended the University of Victoria, where she graduated with distinction. She began her journey with Palmer Leslie in 2014, where she obtained her Chartered Professional Accounting designation while working for the firm.
Sarah is passionate about helping small business owners minimize tax as well as increase profits. She is no stranger to the risk and effort that operating a small business requires. Her parents have owned and operated an automotive business in Cowichan Lake for decades, and her husband runs a local excavating business. Sarah strives to provide her clients with valuable tax advice to help them succeed.
Sarah is the firm's Assurance Partner; she was mentored by now-retired partners Alex Palmer and Tavish Annis, and has been preparing Audits on Vancouver Island since 2014; Sarah enjoys Audits and the opportunity to work with organizations on Vancouver Island that continue to provide valuable services.
When not working, Sarah is likely to be found chauffeuring her children around the Valley for various extracurricular activities. Sarah volunteered as a Skating Instructor and Treasurer for the Cowichan Lake District Skating Club for eight years and now volunteers as the Treasurer of the Duncan Skating Club.
Jaime Court
Jaime was born and raised in the Duncan area. She attended Vancouver Island University and Thompon Rivers University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She began her accounting journey with a firm based out of Nanaimo and joined the Palmer Leslie team in 2021, where she finalized her Chartered Professional Accounting designation.
Jaime understands that every business is unique and strives to provide tailored tax services to all her clients, big or small.
When not working, Jaime enjoys spending time with her extended family or touring any number of the beautiful vineyards that the Cowichan Valley has to offer. Jaime lives in Duncan with her partner Devin
Jaime volunteers her time as the treasurer of the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society.