Board Meeting Highlights

CDHA’s board of directors works year-round in service of all members, setting priorities for the association and advocating for the profession and the importance of oral health to overall health. Twice a year, board members normally meet in person to discuss important operational and policy matters and review the association’s progress in meeting its strategic goals.

Winter 2024 Board Meeting Highlights

The CDHA Board of Directors met in Ottawa, February 22-23, 2024.

Key highlights from the Board meeting:

Policy and Procedure

The Board directs, controls, and inspires CDHA through the careful establishment of broad written policies reflecting the Board's values and perspectives. Another key role of the Board is monitoring and assessing policies and executive limitations prior to each Board meeting. The Board reviewed and accepted the CEO Monitoring and Assessment Reports. The Board completed a self-assessment on governance policies with the aim of continuous improvement.

Reports

The CDHA Board elects representatives to the International Federation of Dental Hygiene (IFDH). A report was received from IFDH Directors Wendy Stewart, Alexandra Sheppard and Donna Lee.

Written reports were also received from the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada, the CDHA Nominations Committee, and the President.

DEI Strategy

DEI Consultant, Shafana Mitha, joined the Board meeting and presented a high-level overview of key guides that she developed for the Board including: Guide for developing land acknowledgements, Guide for reviewing policies with a DEI lens, and a Guide for use of Pronouns. The board committed to taking DEI principles into consideration when new policies are developed. Directors will also have the option of adding their pronouns and traditional territory on CDHA’s website.

Audit and Budget

• One of the key roles of the Board of Directors is its fiduciary responsibility. The board approved the draft governance budget for the next fiscal year.
• In addition, Kathy Yerex, presented an update of the audit committee meeting.
• The Board reviewed the audit engagement proposal and approved the signing of the audit engagement letter with KPMG.

Discussion/Presentation with President of OHDQ

OHDQ President, Jean-Francois Lortie joined the meeting in-person to provide an overview of the profession in Quebec and answered questions by the Board.

Canadian Dental Care Plan

The board discussed the CDCP, the working groups that were being established and the Oral Health Access Fund.

Awards

The board approved moving the Board awards call out and selection process next year to April.

Award of Merit
The CDHA Award of Merit is given annually to a maximum of 4 individuals who have voluntarily made a meaningful contribution to dental hygiene and their community on a regular basis in a selfless, professional manner.

The Board selected the following four nominees for the 2024 Award of Merit:
Sally Lockwood,
Lara Timler,
Denise Pawlyshyn, and
Leta Zaleski

Nominations

The Director from Saskatchewan will be completing her first 3-year term on the Board this year. The Board affirmed Kaylen Anholt’s position for a second 3-year term. An election will be held this year for the Director position in Alberta.

IFDH Delegate Election

The board held an election for the 2nd delegate to IFDH. Tayyaba Fiaz was elected and her term will begin immediately and end in Fall 2025. CDHA’s president is the other delegate to IFDH and her term will also conclude at the CDHA AGM in the Fall of 2025.

Date and times of future meetings

Summer 2024 Meeting - Virtual
July 30, 2024
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST

Fall 2024 Meeting
Niagara Falls, Ontario
October 20-21 Fall Board Meeting

AGM - Virtual
September 28, 2024

Winter 2025
February 20 – Lobby Day
February 21-22 – Board meetings

Student Ownership Linkage Session

On the Friday evening following the Board meeting, the Board hosted a session with students in Quebec to provide an opportunity to network with board directors, provide valued input about the future of dental hygiene, and hear about CDHA’s many member benefits. CDHA offered an AI translation tool so that participants to listen in the language of their choice.