Council and Committees
Council of Directors
The Council of Directors (the “Council”) governs the COA. Council members include Registered Opticians appointed by the COA Council and Public Members appointed by the Minister of Health.
The Council is responsible for setting the governing policies and strategic direction of the COA, monitoring the fiscal health of the organization, and ensuring the College meets its mandated obligations under legislation and regulations. Through careful analysis of changes in eye care and the healthcare sector, the Council approves policies and practice standards for opticians to maintain and enhance patient protection.
The Council works together with the Government of Alberta, other provincial regulatory bodies, and post-secondary institutions.
Members of Council
RO, RCLP
President
RO, RCLP
Vice President
Public Member
Public Member
Public Member
Public Member
Jennifer Bertrand
CEO & Registrar
Council Appointments
In 2022, the Council adopted an appointment process for registered members as part of the transition of the former ACAO to the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA) with a single mandate to protect the public. In accordance with the COA Bylaws, registered members are appointed for a 3-year term and may serve a maximum of 2 terms. Public members are appointed by the Minister of Health. Current terms of office for the Council are as follows:
Council Member | Appointing Authority | Appointed | Term | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lana Bentley (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2020 | 1 | 2023 |
Sandra Blanchette (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2022 | 1 | 2025 |
Todd Bolokoski (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2021 | 1 | 2024 |
Margaret Cayenne (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2022 | 2 | 2025 |
Assad Choudhry (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2022 | 1 | 2025 |
Stacey Dube (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2022 | 1 | 2025 |
Christina Logee (Registered Member) | COA Council | 2022 | 2 | 2025 |
Chinedu Ogbonna (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2021 | 1 | 2024 |
Olatunde Olatona (Public Member) | Minister of Health | 2021 | 1 | 2024 |
Vacant (Public Member) | Minister of Health |
Nomination Process
Registered opticians may apply to serve on the COA Council by submitting a nomination package for review by the Governance and Audit Committee. Nominees are reviewed and approved by the Council in accordance with the COA Bylaws and the COA Council Recruitment and Selection Policy.
The Council has adopted a Council Composition Matrix that represents the skills, knowledge, and values that individual Council members and the Council as a whole strive to apply in their governance roles.
Council Committees
In addition to the Council, the COA establishes committees to determine policy and procedures, as well as set guidelines in several areas that are critical to the continued regulation of opticians in Alberta. These committees are comprised of Council members and volunteers who receive a per diem for service in accordance with the COA’s Finance Policies.
Executive Committee
- Margaret Cayenne, RO, RCLP (Chair)
- Christina Logee, RO, RCLP
- Lana Bentley, Public Member
- Jennifer Bertrand, CEO & Registrar
Governance and Audit Committee
- Sandra Blanchette, RO, RCLP (Chair)
- Christina Logee, RO, RCLP
- Stacey Dube, RO, RCLP
- Lana Bentley, Public Member
- Chinedu Ogbonna, Public Member
- Margaret Cayenne, RO, RCLP (Ex-Officio)
- Jennifer Bertrand, CEO & Registrar (Ex-Officio)
Registration and Competence Committee
- Christina Logee, RO, RCLP (Chair)
- Assad Choudhry, RO
- Stacey Dube, RO, RCLP
- Todd Bolokoski, Public Member
- Olatunde Olatona, Public Member
- Chinedu Ogbonna, Public Member
- Sukh Garcha, RO, RCLP (Member at Large)
- Dierdre MacIntyre, RO, RCLP (Member at Large)
- Margaret Cayenne, RO, RCLP (Ex-Officio)
- Jennifer Bertrand, CEO & Registrar (Ex-Officio)
HPA Membership List (Tribunals)
- Dan Losey, RO, RCLP (Chair)
- Jasmina Miskic, RO
- Sukh Garcha, RO, RCLP
- Kathie Melzer, RO
- Laura Lazenby-Pashko, RO, RCLP
- Lois Stedel, RO, RCLP
- Bud Busenius, RO, RCLP
- Debbie Burgess, RO, RCLP