When I reflect on the journey that has led me to the presidency of CCO, I am both humbled and grateful. I have been a chiropractic patient since the age of 7, and over many years our family chiropractor helped me overcome knee problems, ankle injuries, low back pain and debilitating headaches.
As a practitioner and co-owner (along with my husband) of Elmira Family Chiropractic, I manage a thriving practice imbued with small-town values: integrity, respect, transparency and decency. Chiropractic has transformed my life, and I remain deeply committed to continuing to do all I can to serve the public interest, and to ensure that Ontarians have access to competent and ethical chiropractic care.
Over the past three years on Council, I have had the pleasure of serving on the Executive Committee — most recently as Vice-President — and as chair of the Inquires, Complaints and Reports Committee. I have approached the often challenging business of Council with an open mind, listened respectfully to all presented points of view, and carefully considered context and pertinent data and information without bias. My experience of procedure and policy-making on Council has been invaluable, as has been the ongoing orientation and training in governance best-practices, chairing, and regulation we have received as directors.
Still, I do not take the transition to the office of President, and all its attendant duties, lightly. As a mother of three young children, business owner, and dedicated healthcare provider, I balance these responsibilities with what I believe is a clear-eyed professionalism, a high degree of organization, and plain old-fashioned hard work. I am also aware that I am the first female President in the history of CCO, and while I recognize the significance of this, I am sure I will not be the last.
I am looking forward to working with all of Council and its committees over this next term to continue the excellent progress that’s been made toward strengthening CCO’s governance and delivering on our strategic objectives. I see a large part of the planning work and goal-setting at Executive Committee continuing to be informed by the Ministry’s College Performance Measures Framework, and the efforts of CCO to meet or exceed these benchmarks. Especially where there is a focus on the evaluation of the effectiveness of Council and committees, to obtain feedback on our strengths and weaknesses and how we can improve as an organization. I believe it is beholden on us to deepen CCO’s stakeholder relationships, and to clearly communicate how the decisions of Council best reflect the public interest.
Now that our new committee roles have been set (please see the
accompanying announcement), I would like to thank CCO’s Nominating Working Group for their comprehensive and detailed guidance to Council. The group reviewed all relevant CCO by-laws and best practices derived from the CPMF and several other colleges, and identified specific competencies required of nominees to Executive and other committees – ranging from seven to 27 competencies, depending on the committee. The Nominating Working Group’s rationales were instrumental in the nominating process. A big welcome to all new and returning committee members as we embrace our roles for the new term!
I would also like to offer my heartfelt appreciation to outgoing CCO President Dennis Mizel for his leadership over the previous term(s), and his personal availability and mentorship during my time as Vice-President. Fortunately, we will be continuing our collaboration as he now takes on the newly vacated role of Vice-President.
Thinking back on my time on Council, I am struck by how much positive change was accomplished despite the obvious challenges of the pandemic response which coloured the first two-and-a-half years of that term. Our ability to meet again in person, particularly in the context of our strategic planning meetings and AGMs, has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues and deepen our conversations about priorities. CCO Council and staff are genuinely passionate about the College’s public interest mandate, and I am thrilled to be working together to build upon this momentum and am feeling very optimistic about where we are headed in future.
