Category: Board & Committees

2022-2023 AGM Q&A Follow Up

The College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia held its 2022-2023 annual general meeting via Zoom on Thursday, November 16, 2023.  You can listen to an audio recording, including answers to questions the College received in advance of the event.

Responses to questions posed during the virtual AGM are provided below.

“How have the clinical OTs represented in our current board sought to uphold the OT code of ethics principles of Informed Consent and Confidentiality in response to Bill 36 (which doesn’t uphold these principles)?”

As a Board member, my role in upholding the current code of ethics is to ensure that the College has the appropriate resources, including staff, to continue the work of protecting the public.

I support the ongoing work of the College staff to meet the goals identified in the strategic plan, which includes providing practice supports and ensuring a Quality Assurance Program is in place to support OTs who may need additional assistance to demonstrate competent practice.

The College operations under the amalgamated college will have to comply with the requirements of the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) once it is proclaimed in force; however, we do not see that the HPOA will diminish the importance of informed consent and patient confidentiality which are fundamental requirements for the protection of clients/patients.

– COTBC Board Member

 “You mentioned there would be webinars in the new year. Will these be on competencies content? Or on processes (such as about amalgamation, ACCR)? Thanks!”

Webinars will be provided on the changes to the ACCR, including the eLearning Module developed by the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) to support registrants in implementing the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada. The eLearning module will replace the Professional Performance Quiz in the 2024 ACCR.

Webinars may be provided on amalgamation. Updates are posted to the Amalgamation 2024 section.

“Will it be June 2024 or June 2025 that we must be vaccinated in order to be licensed to practice?” and “How does Bill 36 mention of vaccine requirements relate to the ACCR competencies to be eligible for licensing?”

Thank you for your questions regarding the HPOA. Based on the information available to us at this time, we understand that the HPOA will not be proclaimed in force and take effect until sometime in 2025. The College does not make policy decisions regarding the need for vaccination or impose requirements for it. Any direction for mandatory vaccination falls within the jurisdiction of the Provincial Chief Medical Officer and/or individual employers.

For your reference, please see the 2022-2023 Annual Report.

2023 AGM: Registration and Call for Questions

COTBC’s 2023 AGM will be held Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

This year’s AGM will be conducted virtually. Your questions are important to us and given the online format, participants will be able to observe the proceedings, and listen, but will not be able to talk directly to the presenters during the meeting itself.

The following is provided for your reference:

Your questions are important to us. If you wish to submit a question to be answered during the AGM, please email it to info@cotbc.org by November 7, at 5:00 pm, and enter ‘AGM 2023 Question’ in the subject line.

Questions will be themed and where possible, answered during a scheduled Q&A portion of the agenda.

To attend, please register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkcumgrzIuGdTtndfixZn2hd2dAvsrX1uX.

Following the AGM, the College will upload a video of the proceedings to our website.

We hope to see you on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Volunteer Position on Inquiry Committee

We’re seeking a registrant to join the College’s Inquiry Committee (IC).

The IC hears complaints filed against licensed occupational therapists under the Health Professions Act. Its activities serve the College’s public protection mandate by helping to ensure that occupational therapists in BC practice safely, ethically, and competently.

If you are interested, you must be a full registrant in good standing and understand the College’s public protection mandate. Learn more about this volunteer role, including necessary qualifications, time commitments, honoraria and more, in our Careers & Partnerships section.

 

 

 

Register for COTBC 2022 Annual General Meeting

The College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia is pleased to inform registrants that the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held during cOnnecT Day.

Saturday, November 5, 2022, 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel
1180 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC

For those that are unable to attend in-person, the cOnnecT Day events, including the AGM, will be offered virtually as well.

We are pleased to provide the COTBC 2021-2022 Annual Report and the Agenda for the AGM:

Following the AGM, the College will upload a video of the proceedings to the website.

    We are thrilled that cOnnecT Day is able to resume this year! Plan to join us for a day of learning, reflecting, and connecting. We are pleased to have Harmony Johnson, vice president of Indigenous Wellness & Reconciliation at Providence Health Care, as this year’s speaker on “Bringing Positive Changes into Practice”, reflecting on the In Plain Sight report and its calls to action to improve equity in health care. Joined by a panel of two occupational therapists, speakers discuss the importance of delivering anti-racist culturally safer care.  View this agenda to learn more about the event.

    To attend the AGM or cOnnecT day in person or to attend virtually register today.

     

     

     

     

    The following is provided for your reference:

    Important Senior Leadership Changes at the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia

    Long-time Registrar & CEO Kathy Corbett will leave the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) at the end of December 2022 to pursue other opportunities. The Board wants to acknowledge Ms. Corbett’s extensive contribution to the College, the sector, and our province, and we wish her the best in her next chapter.

    The Board is delighted to announce that now former Board Chair, Carin Plischke, has been appointed as Interim Director of Transition and Chief Executive Officer. She will join the COTBC team starting Tuesday, October 11, 2022 and step into the role as CEO on January 1, 2023. The COTBC has a long history of ensuring that the public receives safe, ethical, and effective occupational therapy services. That will continue under the leadership of Ms. Plischke and the Board of Directors.

    As the title reflects, this key senior leadership role has been adjusted in anticipation of the upcoming amalgamation of health regulatory bodies, which is expected to change the model of health profession regulation in the province.

    Along with deep experience in senior leadership roles, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Lead, Special Projects at the Office of the Seniors Advocate for the Government of British Columbia, Ms. Plischke has more than six years as a Board Member at the COTBC. She brings exceptional organizational knowledge about the College, our registrants, and the sector as a whole. Along with being a Registered Occupational Therapist in good standing with the College and the former Board Chair, Ms. Plischke is an Accreditation Canada Surveyor, a Leading Practice Reviewer with the Health Standards Organization, and a Member and (former) Chair of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

    The Board is grateful that Ms. Corbett has agreed to stay on as Registrar and CEO until December 31, 2022, which provides an overlap with Ms. Plischke. Given the, as yet, undefined upcoming changes, this will provide a key opportunity for knowledge transfer and planning.

    In her new role, Ms. Plischke will lead a change management throughline as the amalgamation transition occurs, supporting the College and its registrants, while continuing to ensure that the public receives safe, ethical, and effective occupational therapy services.

    Board Welcomes New Elected Members

    We welcome two new Board members, Tysen LeBlond and Philipp Santiago, whose terms began on February 1, 2022. They will join the other Board members including appointed public representatives Mary O’Callaghan, Gayle Nye and Ian Wanke, and elected registrants Debbie Ruggiero, Carin Plischke and Jeff Boniface.

    A big thank you to the outgoing Board members Catherine Wu and Joy Parsons, elected registrants who completed their terms on January 31, 2022.

    Catherine Wu served on the registration committee and then moved to participate on the inquiry committee. Joy participated on the governance panel, the registration committee and served as Chair of the Board for two years. We know board members balance many roles in their day-to-day lives and we appreciate their dedicated service to the College’s public protection work. We thank you and wish all the best to Catherine and Joy.

    Learn more about our members’ backgrounds on our Board page.