2024 COO Board Elections
Call for nominations opens Monday March 25 and closes April 24, 2024 

 

An election will be held for Board of Directors positions in District 2 (Eastern) and District 3 (Northern) from June 7 to June 21, 2024. The successful candidates will begin serving a three-year term of office starting January 1, 2025.  

If you are a registered optician interested in using your knowledge and skill in the interest of public protection, consider seeking a nomination. 

As the governing body of the College, the Board of Directors is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that is reflective of the diversity of its registrants and the patients that they serve.  Eligible registrants from equity-deserving groups are encouraged to seek a nomination, including indigenous persons, racialized persons/ persons of colour, women LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. 

How do I seek nomination? 

  1. Find out if you’re eligible by reviewing the Preliminary Eligibility Checklist.
  2. Download and review the Election Guidelines, Nomination Instructions, and FAQs. Please read all information in the nomination package and follow the instructions carefully. 
  3. Complete the Pre-Election Training Module (Jurisprudence Chapter 4 RHPA) before completing your nomination form. 
  4. Complete the Candidate Consent and Nomination Form and submit with the required attachments to the College during the nomination period which opens on March 25 and closes at noon on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 to elections@collegeofopticians.ca. Nomination packages must be accurate, complete and received by the deadline. 
  5. Participate in an interview with the College’s screening Committee. Interviews will be held via zoom in May. 

What skills and attributes make a great Board member?

Anyone seeking election to the board will be interviewed by a screening panel of the College’s Governance Committee. During the interview, candidates will be asked to demonstrate the following core competencies: 

  • Passion – Public Service Oriented: Demonstrates outstanding initiative and commitment towards the practice of opticianry. Committed to service the College’s mandate to regulate the profession of opticianry in the public interest. 
  • Exemplified Integrity: Demonstrates a conviction to do what’s right and to reject what’s wrong, regardless of the consequences.
  • Unbiased and Open Minded: Demonstrates the ability to self identify and set aside conscious biases. Proactively reflects on the impact of unconscious biases in all situations. Actively listens and absorbs all information to make an informed and open-minded decision.  
  • Critical Judgment and Decision Making: Makes good decisions based upon a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and sound judgment. Comfortably deals with concepts and complexity and looks beyond the obvious to avoid ‘group think’ and/or the status quo.
  • Collaboration and Inclusion: Demonstrates an open mindset, listens without judgment, and embraces diversity of others and of thought. Seeks to understand and build on the strengths of others. 

Thinking of running for election to the board but need more information? 

To learn more about what is involved, join us for a virtual information session on April 10, 2024 from 12:15 to 1:00 pm. Hear first-hand from board directors and committee members on their experience and ask questions in real-time. Click here to register for the webinar. 

 


Electoral District Information

DISTRICT NAME DISTRICT
ENCOMPASSES
MEMBER TERM NEXT ELECTION

1

Southern

The County of Brant, the City of Hamilton, the regional municipalities of Halton and Niagara and the counties of Haldimand and Norfolk, or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

P. Imola 

2024 -2026

2026
(for 2026 - 2028)

2

Eastern

The City of Kawartha Lakes, the counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton, Hastings, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Renfrew, Prescott and Russell, Stormount, Dundas and Glengarry, the regional municipality of Durham and the City of Ottawa, or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

D. Summers

2022 - 2024

2024
(for 2025 – 2027)

3

Northern

Territorial districts of Kenora, Rainy River, Thunder Bay, Cochrane, Temiskaming, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Algoma, Manitoulin, and Muskoka, and the District of Sudbury, or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

K. Cloutier

2022-2024

2024
(for 2025 – 2027)

4

Western

Counties of Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin, Kent and Essex, or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

T. Nahmabin

2023-2025

2025
(for 2026 - 2029)

5

Toronto

City of Toronto, or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

G. Sepczynska 

           2024 -2026 2026
(for 2026 - 2028)

6

Contact Lens Mentor

Whole province of Ontario

R. Vezina 2023-2025 2025
(for 2026 - 2029)

7

Central Western

The counties of Dufferin and Wellington and the regional municipalities of Peel and Waterloo, or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

S. Modhera 2023-2025 2025
(for 2026 - 2029)

8

Central

County of Simcoe and the Regional Municipality of York or the equivalent geographical areas and names, as substituted by statute from time to time.

C. Pacheco 

2024 -2026 2026
(for 2026 - 2028)

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