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:

  • Board Professional Members who are elected
  • Board Public Members who are appointed by the Government 
  • Professional and Community Appointees

*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 Board Professional Members, Board Public Members, and Professional and Community Appointees. 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)).

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Chair (Board Professional Member) Derick Summers 
Vice-Chair (Board Professional Member) Kevin Cloutier 
Board Public Member Omar Farouk
Board Public Member Stephen Kinsella
Board Professional 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.

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Chair (Professional Appointee) Robert Quinn
Vice-Chair (Board Public Member)  Stephen Kinsella
Board Professional Member Kevin Cloutier
Board Public Member Omar Farouk 
Board Public Member Samir Modhera
Board Professional Member Jamuna Balaram 
Board Public Member Alicia Munian
Professional Appointee Elisabeth Roche
Professional Appointee John Battaglia
Community Appointee Elyse Jackson
Professional Appointee Melissa Campbell 
 

 

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)).

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Community Appointee (Chair) David Milne 
Community Appointee (Vice-Chair)  Jamuna Balaram
Board Professional Member Paul Imola                                   
Professional Appointee Parneet Dhillon 
Community Appointee Panos Petrides
   
 

 

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.

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Chair (Board Professional Member)  Tonya Nahmabin
Vice-Chair ( Board Public Member)  Omar Farouk 
Professional Appointee Parminder Kalsi 
Professional Appointee Lindsay Beriault 
Community Appointee Panos Petrides 
Quality Assurance Accreditation Panel
Chair (Professional Appointee)  John Battaglia 
Vice Chair (Professional Appointee) Robert Quinn 
Board Professional Member Derick Summers 
Professional Appointee Elisabeth Roche 
Professional Appointee Jay Bhatt
Professional Appointee Melissa Cambell
Community Appointee 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)).

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Board Professional Member (Chair)  Derick Summers 
Professional Appointee (Vice-Chair)  Jay Bhatt 
Professional Appointee  Stephanie Kelly 
Board Public Member Carlos Sicoli 
Community Appointee Patrick Mott 
Registration Appeals Panel
Board Public Member Alicia Munian 
Board Professional Member Robert Quinn 
Board Professional Member Melissa Campbell

 

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.

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Chair (Community Appointee)  David Milne 
Vice-Chair (Board Professional Member)  Tonya Nahmabin
Board Professional Member Kevin Cloutier 
Board Professional Member Paul Imola 
Board Professional Member Samir Modhera
Board Professional Member Carlos Pacheco 
Board Professional Member Grazyna Sepczynska
Board Professional Member Derick Summers 
Board Public Member Omar Farouk
Board Public Member Stephen Kinsella
Board Public Member Carlo Sicoli 
Board Public Member Alicia Munian 
Community Appointee Jamuna Balaram 
Professional Appointee  John Battaglia 
Professional Appointee  Lindsay Beriault 
Professional Appointee  Jay Bhatt 
Community Appointee Elliot Borins 
Community Appointee Patrick Mott 
Professional Appointee  Melissa Campbell
Professional Appointee  Parneet Dhillon 
Professional Appointee  Parminder Kalsi 
Professional Appointee  Stephanie Kelly 
Community Appointee Rebecca Forte 
Community Appointee Panos Petrides 
Professional Appointee  Robert Quinn 
Professional Appointee  Elisabeth Roche
Community Appointee Elyse Jackson 
 

Standing Non-Statutory Committees

Governance Committee
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Community Appointee (Chair) Elliot Borins
Professional Appointee (Vice-Chair)  Lindsay Beriault 
Board Professional Member Carlos Pacheco 
Board Public Member  Carlo Sicoli 
Community Appointee Elyse Jackson 
 

 

Clinical Practice
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Chair (Professional Appointee) Parneet Dhillon 
Vice-Chair (Professional Appointee)  Stephanie Kelly 
Board Professional Member Grazyna Sepczynska 
Professional Appointee Parminder Kalsi 
Professional Appointee Rebecca Forte 
Committee Terms of
Reference and Mandate
[PDF]
 

 

Screening Committee
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Community Appointee (Chair) David Milne 
Community Appointee (Vice-Chair)  Elliot Borins
Community Appointee Jamuna Balaram
Community Appointee Rebecca Forte  
Community Appointee Elyse Jackson
Community Appointee Patrick Mott 
Community Appointee Panos Petrides

Committee Terms of
Reference and Mandate
[PDF]

 

 

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