Canadian CPA Student wanting to break into IB

So I have decided to give this forum a try and see if it can help me break into IB. Brief background about myself; I am a CPA student in an accredited Canadian university. Unfortunately, I discovered my passion for M&A and CF in my last year of undergrad studies in accounting. I wish I knew more about finance when I was enrolling myself for university.

I really want to break into IB or PE, not only for the money, but because these LOS really interest me. Unfortunately, I lack the qualities of a typical IB analyst - i.e. 3.8 GPA+, summer intern at a Big 5, etc. I was told to pursue the CPA/CA designation (note that the CPA stands for Chartered Professional Accountant and not the US equivalent Certified Public Accountant). I was told that one way for me to break into IB is to work in audit at a Big 4 for 1-2 years and switch into mid-market advisory and finally make it into IB. So far, I have been interviewed at two Big 4 accounting firms with one rejecting me and the other one getting a hiring freeze right after my interview (yea lucky me).

At this point, I'm really fed up. Now before some of you scream "Do you MBA!!"...I can't! As much as I want to, I don't have the relevant work experience nor the money. I have one year left before finishing my CPA and I was wondering if it is even worth it to continue at this point. I hate audit and the last thing I want to do is endure 2 years of pain at a Big 4 collecting pocket change.

Any suggestions for a lost and desperate chimp?