College Board Information

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College Board Information
 
What does the College of Pharmacists of BC Board do?

The College has a mandate to protect the public by licensing and regulating pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and the pharmacies where they practice. We are committed to being an inclusive and collaborative regulator, dedicated to regulating pharmacies and pharmacy professionals in support of public safety, optimal health, and culturally-safe, equitable care – free from Indigenous-specific and other forms of racism.

The College is responsible for making sure every pharmacist and pharmacy technician in BC is fully qualified and able to provide the public with safe and ethical pharmacy care. The College’s work is focused on regulating pharmacies and pharmacy professional in the public interest and not on advocacy for registrants or pharmacy owners. Learn more about the College, its values, and its strategic plan here and here.

The Board’s role is to provide governance and direction to the College through communication with the Registrar, the Board’s only employee, who in turn operationalizes and implements this guidance. The Board has a fiduciary relationship with the College which means that it (through each Board member) has a legal duty to act in the best interests of the College and to follow the College’s legal mandate.

Key responsibilities of the Board include leading and guiding the College in upholding its mandate and its duties to serve and protect the public. The Board conducts its work in the public interest within the authority provided to it and the College by the Health Professions Act (HPA), the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA), the regulations and the College bylaws. Its work involves many responsibilities which includes, but is not limited to, ensuring the following are in place and appropriate for the College:

  • The College’s strategic plan,
  • Financial health and risk management policies,
  • Good governance practices,
  • Oversight of the Registrar’s performance and succession planning,
  • Practice standards and processes to ensure the public receives ethical, competent care from BC’s pharmacies and pharmacy professionals.

Above all else, the Board is accountable to the public and, once elected, Board members are responsible for protecting the public and to adhering to the legislation governing the College. Board members do not represent, nor are they accountable to, the registrants within their electoral district.

Why run for the Board?

The success of self-regulation is due to the contribution of the many individuals who bring valuable experience and perspectives in serving the public interest. Sitting on the Board is an opportunity to:

  • Be involved in health service delivery to the public at a higher strategic level,
  • Gain experiences in supporting success in pharmacy regulation,
  • Participate in strategic business discussions of an organization within health regulation,
  • Contribute to an organization that is making positive changes for British Columbians receiving pharmacy care including by reducing Indigenous specific racism in pharmacy care, and
  • Utilize your skill sets and experiences outside of your usual pharmacy practice environment.
What experiences and qualifications are required to be a Board member?

The Board’s Composition Matrix articulates the ideal Board composition, and it takes a team of Board members with a mix of these attributes to do the Board’s work. This year, the Board is choosing to focus on the following priority areas to strengthen their composition:

  • Indigenous Membership (First Nations, Métis or Inuit)
  • Governance
  • Cultural Competence
  • Financial Literacy
  • Government Relations
  • Technological Competence

The Board aims to reflect the diversity of the lived experiences in our province in its composition. Indigenous applicants, people of color, all genders, 2S/LGBTQNIA+, and persons with disabilities as well as those with the noted attributes above are encouraged to run.

What is the term length?

Due to the anticipated transition from the HPA to the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) in 2025, which will have an impact on the Board and how it is composed, Board terms may be shortened as a result. Note that the exact date of implementation for the HPOA has not yet been established by the provincial government.

What are the expectations of Board members?

Board members are expected to:

  • Maintain their focus at a strategic level and act in the best interest of the College and public safety,
  • Conduct themselves in line with the Values of the College,
  • Contribute to an open, respectfully objective and culturally safe environment with awareness, acceptance, and fairness for the different ways that people discuss and share their perspectives,
  • Deepen their understanding of the role over time and to meet the role’s obligations,
  • Maintain the personal conditions necessary to conduct the role and come to the table prepared (e.g., taking time off work/other commitments to attend meetings, ensuring access to internet and technological tools needed to obtain and read Board materials, scheduling time in your personal life for Board work etc.),
  • Support the Board’s decisions once made, publicly and privately,
  • Maintain confidentiality of the workings and discussions related to the role,
  • Participate equally in discussion and decision-making, and
  • Abide by and conduct themselves against related legislation, Bylaws, and Board policies.

All Board members are equal around the table. Likewise, they are each bound to their fiduciary duty and to the policies set forth by the Board which includes the Board’s Code of Conduct.

How much time is involved?

Being a Board member is a significant commitment. Substantial time is spent outside of meetings to prepare, learn, and conduct aspects of the role. This time is clustered around the months of or prior to Board meetings. Board members engage in:

  • Board orientation learning,
  • Five one-day or two-day meetings at the College office with Board dinners in November, February, April, June and September (8am – 5pm each day),
  • The College’s Annual General Meeting,
  • Participation on one or more College committees which have varying time commitments, and
  • External education and/or conferences for professional development some of which are mandatory (e.g., governance training, cultural safety and humility training).

In addition to this, Board members require the technological and time capacity to:

  • Check and respond to College emails on a regular basis (i.e., multiple times a week),
  • Prepare and review materials for meetings, and
  • Travel to and from meetings and possibly stay overnight for Board business if out of town.
Is there compensation?

Board members receive an honorarium for preparing for and attending meetings. Mileage is also reimbursed, and honoraria is provided for travel time greater than 50 kilometers, or one hour. Other reasonable expenses will also be reimbursed consistent with the Board’s reimbursement policy.

Other information:

Conflict of Interest: Board members must not vote on or participate in discussions about matters where they have a direct or indirect personal, occupational or financial interest that may affect or appear to affect objectivity or fairness of decisions.

Confidentiality: The Board has a fiduciary duty to maintain confidentiality on Board business and the College falls under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

Oaths: Board members are required to take and sign an Oath of Office and an Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Declaration indicating their understanding and commitment to their role and cultural safety and humility.