|
|
|
|
ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
April 2025 |
|
|
- Notes from the Chair
- Registrar’s Report
- NACOR Report
- Examination Committee
|
|
- Professional Development
- Nomination Committee
- General Annual Report
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR
Susan Long Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Registrants of the Nova
Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians,
I am honored to address registrants of the Nova Scotia College of
Dispensing Opticians as the newly appointed Chair of the Board. First and foremost,
I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to John Butler, who
continues to serve as Past Chair. His leadership and dedication have been
invaluable, and I feel privileged to build upon the strong foundation he has
helped create.
Thank you to all members of the NSCDO board and committees for their
hard work and dedication. Every member’s input is appreciated in supporting our
profession.
I’m also excited to welcome
two new board members, who have already played an important role in developing
on-board training for new members. This has included a competency matrix, an
education session on Robert’s Rules, and governance training, ensuring that we
are well-prepared to lead effectively.
We are at an important moment
in our profession, one filled with both challenges and exciting opportunities.
NSCDO has been actively putting plans into motion to strengthen our governance
and ensure that our profession aligns with the Regulated Health Professions Act
(RHPA), passed in November 2023. These changes are about more than just
compliance—they’re about ensuring our profession continues to evolve and
thrive.
As a board, we are committed
to fostering a culture of inclusion and collaboration, recognizing that diverse
perspectives are essential to our growth.
We are also working closely
with the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW), alongside other health
professions in Nova Scotia, to make the necessary transitions under the RHPA.
We remain on track to be phased into the new framework by summer 2026, and we
will keep you informed every step of the way.
Moving forward, we will
continue working alongside the NS Regulated Health Professions Network and DHW
to ensure a smooth transition. Transparency is a top priority, and we welcome
your questions, thoughts, or concerns at any time—please don’t hesitate to
reach out at registrar@nscdo.org.
I look forward to working
together, hearing from you, and continuing to build a strong, supportive, and
forward-thinking profession. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Sincerely,
Susan Long, Chair |
|
|
|
|
REGISTRAR'S REPORT
Cavell Ferguson
Registrar
|
|
|
|
|
2024 continued to be a
year of progress and growth for NSCDO. The college welcomed a new chair of the
board, Susan Long. Susan is a natural successor to John Butler, who is now the
past chair. Susan embraced the role of chair, implementing positive changes
for the college. In addition, Alicia Austin has replaced
Susan as vice-chair, and the college welcomed two new directors, Belinda Pace
and Sonja Walsh. I would like to thank John, for all his support and guidance as I navigated the role of Registrar.
The college continues to work
with The Regulated Health Professions Network (The Network) and be part of the
community of 22 regulated health professions in Nova Scotia to collaborate, on
a voluntary basis, in regulatory processes. The Network and collaboration with other regulated health profession has been instrumental
in assisting NSCDO navigate the continued challenges in legislation with the RHPA.
NSCDO will continue to update information and
resources on the NSCDO website. Any suggestions for improvement can be sent to registrar@nscdo.org. |
|
|
Licensed Opticians as of March 1, 2025
Total Membership: 264
Dispensing Opticians: 170
Contact Lens Fitters: 94
Non-Practicing: 16 |
|
New Members:
Total Students: 29
Dispensing Opticians: 26
Contact Lens: 3
|
|
|
Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 10am to 3pm
Available by phone and email Monday and Friday. |
|
|
|
|
The mission
of the National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR) is to work collaboratively through a national forum to support Canadian Provincial Regulators in areas such as:
- ·
Competencies for Opticians
- ·
Accreditation of Continuing Education
- ·
Professional Examinations
- ·
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
NACOR has three full-time staff members, Jody Dodds (Executive Director), Jaime Hay (National Examination Coordinator) and
Julie Therou Zechel (Director, Members Services)
The NACOR Board of Directors is comprised of a representative from each province.
National in person meeting this year was held in Ottawa in conjunction with CNAR. This meeting was attended by myself and the Registrar.
The PLAR process continues to thrive. PLAR assesses the skill level of candidates who do not
have recognized accredited education. To
pass the national exams, candidates should have the same knowledge and
skills as recent graduate. The PLAR process includes a skills assessment and
bridging modules; those who need additional training are assigned courses that focus on the skills they
need to improve. |
|
|
|
|
National Exam Committee Meetings
The National Exam
Committee meetings are held annually. One representative from each province is
usually present and is comprised of people with extensive knowledge of the
national exams, usually either as an examiner or chief examiner.
The exams are reviewed
regularly to ensure they are relevant, and cover required competencies. Changes
are implemented by NACOR for future exam sessions with enough notice to give
students time to prepare. Exams in Nova Scotia are held usually in the month of
May or June. Information regarding the national exams can always be found on
the NACOR website at https://nacor.ca. Belinda Pace, Chief Examiner |
|
|
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Shelley Smith-Bona
Continuing education credits are required as part of the licensing process. Continuing Education is an important part of any profession. As an Optician it is equally important to continue to do CE to keep in touch with your profession. We were pleased again this year to approve10 professional development credits for presentations attended during the NSAO conference on November 8th and 9th.
As a Licensed Optician, it is your responsibility to manage your CE Credits. You can upload any electronic files received for your credits to your profile on the NSCDO website. Once you have logged in remember to be in edit mode to view, make any additions or changes to your profile. The Edit Button is located directly under My Profile. If an electronic file is not available a form is accessible in the portal to manually enter credits. Credits can be added at anytime. There is no need to wait until March to add your credits to your online profile.
Make sure to keep a copy of all the credits that you achieve each year for your personal records. You can still submit credits by scanning and e-mailing to registrar@nscdo.org or by mailing them in to the NSCDO office. |
|
|
NOMINATION COMMITTEE Michelle Ashford NSCDO is asking for
Opticians interested in serving on the Board of Directors to submit their names
along with a bio/resume to Michelle Ashford, Chair of the Nomination Committee.
This year we have three positions available for a two-year term; all three of the current incumbents will be re-offering to serve. If you are interested in serving, please forward your intentions to us on or before May 8, 2025. The final slate of candidates will be confirmed by May 12, 2025 and communicated to you by email. Should we require an election, the survey will be emailed to you by May 26, 2025 and elections would take place on June 2, 2025. If you have any questions, please refer to our By-Laws or contact the College at registrar@nscdo.ca Mailing Address: Attention: Michelle Ashford, Chair of the Nomination Committee Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians Halifax Professional Centre 342 - 5991 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS B3H 1Y6 |
|
|
|
|
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT The Regulated Health Professions Act
(RHPA), passed in November 2023, does not require regulators to hold an annual general meeting. Instead of an annual meeting, NSCDO will publish an annual report that will be made available on the website once a independent financial audit has been complete for the college year end of March 31st. A notification via email will be sent to registrants when the report is available to view on the website. |
|
|
- Susan Long; Chair
- Alicia Austin; Vice-Chair
- John Butler, Past Chair
- Shelley Smith Bona; Treasurer
- Cavell Ferguson; Registrar
|
|
- Jim Gilks; Director
- Belinda Pace; Director
- Marion Ripley, Director
- Sonja Walsh, Director
- Betty Thomas, Director
- Obinna Esomchukwu, Director
|
|
|
|
