Committees of the College

Committees of the College

To assist the Board in meeting its legislated mandate, the College of Opticians of Ontario has seven statutory committees composed of:

  • Elected Members
  • Government Appointed Public Members
  • Appointed Professional Committee Members 

*Statutory committees are required under the Regulated Health Professions Act.

To assist the Board in meeting its legislated mandate, the College has seven statutory committees composed of both Elected Professional Board Members, government appointed Public Members and Non-board Professional Committee Members. Statutory committees are required under the Regulated Health Professions Act.

Statutory Committees

Executive Committee

Between Board meetings, the Executive Committee has all of the Board's powers to address matters that require immediate attention, except the power to make, amend or revoke a regulation or by-law (Health Professions Procedural Code, section 12(1)).

expand +/-
Chair (Public Member) Stephen Kinsella
Vice-Chair (Elected Member) Derick Summers 
Public Member Peggy Judge 
Elected Member Kevin Cloutier 
Elected Member Tonya Nahmabin 
 

 

Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee

The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee investigates complaints and considers reports about opticians. It determines whether an optician should be referred for discipline proceedings or incapacity proceedings. It may also order opticians to be cautioned or to undergo continuing education or remediation (Health Professions Procedural Code, section 26(1)). For more information about making a complaint, please click here.

expand +/-
Chair (Elected Member) Samir Modhera 
Vice-Chair (Appointed Member)  Jay Bhatt 
Elected Member Kevin Cloutier
Public Member Omar Farouk 
Public Member Peggy Judge 
Public Member Stephen Kinsella 
Appointed Member Jamuna Balaram 
Appointed Member Angelia Brown
Appointed Member John Battaglia 
Appointed Member Robert Quinn 
 

 

Patient Relations Committee

The Patient Relations Committee advises the Board with respect to the patient relations program, and administers the College’s program to provide funding for therapy and counselling for patients who were sexually abused by members (Health Professions Procedural Code, sections 85, 85.7(3)).

expand +/-
Chair (Appointed Member)  David Milne 
Vice-Chair (Appointed Member)  Daniela Schowalter 
Elected Member Neda Mohammadzadeh
Public Member Paul Wilk 
Appointed Member Stephanie Kelly 
   
 

 

Quality Assurance Committee

The Quality Assurance Committee administers the College’s Quality Assurance Program. It may appoint assessors to assess an optician’s practice, and, where warranted as a result of the assessment, may require an optician to undergo continuing education or remediation. It may also direct that terms, conditions and limitations be imposed on an optician’s certificate of registration (Health Professions Procedural Code, section 80.2(1)). For more information about the Quality Assurance Program, please click here.

expand +/-
Chair (Elected Member)  Tonya Nahmabin
Vice-Chair (Appointed Member)  Desiree Petralito
Public Member Henry Wiersema
Elected Member Angelia Brown 
Appointed Member Panos Petrides 
Appointed Member David Milne 
Appointed Member Panos Petrides 
Quality Assurance Accreditation Panel
Chair (Appointed Member)  Jay Bhatt
Vice Chair (Elected Member) Derick Summers 
Elected Member Kevin Cloutier
Appointed Member Dennis O'Hagan
Appointed Member Janice Mallette 
Appointed Member John Battaglia 
Appointed Member David Milne 
 

 

Registration Committee

The Registration Committee assesses applications for registration with the College. Where appropriate, the Registration Committee may require an applicant to meet additional examination or training requirements, or may determine that terms, conditions or limitations should be imposed on a member’s certificate of registration (Health Professions Procedural Code, section 18(2)). The Registration Committee also considers applications for reinstatement. For more information about registering with the College, please click here.

Fitness to Practise Committee

The Fitness to Practise Committee determines whether an optician has a physical or mental condition or disorder that affects, or could affect, her or his practice. If an optician is found to be incapacitated, the Fitness to Practise Committee may direct that the optician’s certificate be revoked or suspended, or that terms, conditions and limitations be imposed on a member’s certificate of registration (Health Professions Procedural Code, section 69(1)).

expand +/-
Elected Member (Chair)  Rob Vezina 
Appointed Member (Vice-Chair)  Daniela Schowalter 
Public Member Omar Farouk
Appointed Member Janice Mallette 
Appointed Member Panos Petrides 
Registration Appeals Panel
Public Member Diana Bristow 
Elected Member Stephanie Kelly 
Elected Member Dennis O'Hagan 

 

Discipline Committee

The Discipline Committee holds hearings into allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence. If an optician is found guilty, the Discipline Committee will make a disciplinary order, which could include penalties as severe as revocation and/or a fine of up to $35,000 (Health Professions Procedural Code, sections 51 and 52). For more information about disciplinary proceedings, please click here.

expand +/-
Chair (Appointed Member)  David Milne 
Vice-Chair (Elected Member)  Tonya Nahmabin
Elected Member Kevin Cloutier 
Elected Member Elsa Lee 
Elected Member Samir Modhera
Elected Member Neda Mohammadzadeh
Elected Member Dorina Reiz 
Public Member Diana Bristow
Public Member Omar Farouk
Public Member Peggy Judge
Public Member Stephen Kinsella
Public Member Henry Wiersema
Public Member Paul-Jozef Wilk
Appointed Member Jamuna Balaram 
Appointed Member John Battaglia 
Appointed Member Jay Bhatt 
Appointed Member Elliot Borins 
Appointed Member  Angelia Brown 
Appointed Member Stephanie Kelly 
Appointed Member Janice Mallette
Appointed Member Tapiwa Musewe
Appointed Member Dennis O'Hagan
Appointed Member Desiree Petralito 
Appointed Member Panos Petrides 
Appointed Member Robert Quinn 
Appointed Member Daniela Schowalter
 

Standing Non-Statutory Committees

Governance Committee
expand +/-
 
Chair (Public Member)  Diana Bristow 
Vice-Chair (Appointed Member)  Desiree Petralito 
Elected Member  Elsa Lee
Appointed Member Jamuna Balaram
Appointed Member Elliot Borins
 

 

Clinical Practice
expand +/-
Chair (Appointed Member) Dennis O'Hagan
Vice-Chair (Appointed Member)  Robert Quinn 
Elected Member Dorina Reiz 
Appointed Member Elliot Borins 
Appointed Member Stephanie Kelly 
Committee Terms of
Reference and Mandate
[PDF]
 

 

Screening Committee
expand +/-
Appointed Member (Chair)  David Milne 
Appointed Member (Vice-Chair) Jamuna Balaram 
Appointed Member  Elliot Borins
Appointed Member Panos Petrides 

Committee Terms of
Reference and Mandate
[PDF]

 

 

COO footer logo
The College of Opticians of Ontario
90 Adelaide Street W., Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 3V9

Find an Optician
Privacy Policy  |  Accessibility  |  En Français
© 2023 College of Opticians of Ontario