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 meet in person to discuss important
operational and policy matters, and review the association’s progress in meeting its strategic goals.
Fall 2020 Board Meeting Highlights
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) hosted our first-ever virtual Annual General Meeting on October 3, 2020. The CDHA Board of Directors also met virtually October 2 and 3, 2020.
Key highlights from these meetings include:
Annual General Meeting
Over 1,100 members registered for the 2020 virtual AGM.
CDHA’s president introduced a video that showcased the highlights of the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Financial Statements and Appointment of Auditor
The chair of the audit committee, Anne Caissie, presented the 2019-2020 audited financial statements. KPMG was appointed as auditor for 2020-2021.
CDHA’s Board of Directors
Tracy Bowser, Past President and Natasha Burian, Director from the North, completed their terms on the Board at this meeting. Tracy also served as president (2018-2019).
Tracy Bowser
Outgoing Past-President
Natasha Burian
Outgoing Director North (NU, YK, NWT)
CDHA welcomed one new Director,
Donna Lee (North: NU, YK, NWT)
Tiffany Ludwick was installed as
the new president of CDHA.
New CDHA Board of Directors
The presentation of the new CDHA Board of Directors for 2020-2021:
Front Row (left to right): Kathy Yerex – Manitoba; Beth Ryerse – Ontario; Rae McFarlane – British Columbia
Middle row (left to right): Wendy Stewart – Nova Scotia & President-elect; Leanne Huvenaars – Saskatchewan & Past-President; Anne Caissie – New Brunswick; Francine Trudeau – Quebec
Back row: (left to right): Lana Clow - Prince Edward Island; Donna Lee – North (representing Nunavut, Yukon & Northwest Territories); Tiffany Ludwicki – Newfoundland & Labrador & President; Alexandra Sheppard – Alberta
2020 Awards
CDHA recognized 2020 award winners.
Dental Hygiene Superhero Competition
- Lisa Enns, Francine Leach and Marisa Mannarino
Oh Canada! Readers’ Choice Award
Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene Awards
- Best Original Research Article: Susanne Sunell, Denise Laronde, and Zul Kanji
- Best Literature Review: Kimberly Haslam, Heather Doucette, Shauna Hachey, Teanne MacCallum, Denise Zwicker, Martha Smith Brillant, and Robert Gilbert
- Student Essay Award (sponsored by Philips Sonicare): Mystica Lopez de Leon (UBC)
25-Year Member Recognition
CDHA honoured our loyal, longstanding members. A total of 241 members were recognized this year for having maintained membership in the Association for 25 years (since 1994).
Kelly Antosh
Chantal Beauseigle
Mahnaz Brachmand
Dayna Braham
Jocelyn Burke
Josee Cossette
Lana Courtney
Indu Dhir
Gloria Doan
Kelly Greenlaw
Marl Grenier
Nancy Gribbons
Alana Holden
Patricia Kostyk
Donna Lee
Dean Lefebvre
Sherry Lerner
Judy Lochhead
Sheena Lukeniuk
Michelle Maloney
Alana Mandronis
Deanna Martell
Carol Matusiak
Nancy McKinnon
Careen McNeil
Anne Miller
Dawn Moon
Danna Munro
Elizabeth Pasquel
Nicole Pingert
Tracy Poirier
Karla Pollock
Michelle Reis
Karin Rutherford
Whitney Sander
Stephanie Sealy
Shushma Sidhu
Deb Spendiff
Christine Sternig
Donna Stewart
Celeste Sundquist
Michelle Thompson
Kim Tokarz
Melissa Toms
Jacqueline Vanderwijk
Nola Walker
Judith A. Williams
Donna Zmetana
- Dianne Roberts
- Lynn Rose
- Kimberly Ross
- Lynne Rossignol-Gould
- Jacqueline Russell
- Dagmara Rybak
- Kathy Sabourin
- Kalvinder Sangha
- Lisa Sardinas
- Jill Saunders
- Stacey Sayle
- Kimberly Saywell
- Tara Schaeffer
- Carmen Schaffer
- Deborah Schmidt
- Vicki Scratch
- Diane Sharp
- Joy Snesrud
- Nicole Solway
- Renee Soucy
- Karen Spencer
- Charlene St. Arnaud
- Victoria St. Hilaire
- Heather St. Jacques
- Barbara Stewart
- Kristina Stianson
- Carol Stirton
- Gwendolyn Stopanski
- Aileen Strasky
- Christine Stricker
- Fiona Taylor
- Amy Tong
- Coralie Toronchuk
- Nancy Valliere
- Michelle Van Der Haegen
- Nicole Vanrobaeys
- Leslie Waldt
- Donna Watson
- Kimberly Wentrot
- Heidi Willett McBride
- June Williamson Steed
- Robin Witiuk
- Karla Yarie
- Jardina Yip
- Trisha Yost
- Stacey Young
Key highlights from the Board meeting included:
- Board members are the fiduciaries who steer CDHA towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as ensuring we have adequate resources to advance our mission. This was informed through the CEO’s presentation on an environmental scan and an update on the strategic plan, as they support the Board Ends (goals).
- One of the key roles of a Board of Directors is its fiduciary responsibility. To ensure ongoing competency in this regard, the Board had a thorough education session from Michelle Charest, CDHA’s Director of Finance and Operations on the audit process, and reading, assessing and monitoring financial statements.
- The Chair of the Audit Committee, Anne Caissie, presented an Audit Committee report.
- The Chair of the Ownership Linkage Committee, Tracy Bowser, presented a report.
- COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on CDHA and dental hygienists across Canada. CEO Ondina Love presented results from the recent COVID Member Impact survey, which included two questions drafter by the OL Committee, which focused on members worries/concerns both now and in the future.
- The Board directs, controls and inspires CDHA through the careful establishment of broad written policies reflecting the Board's values and perspectives. Thus, one of the key roles of the Board is monitoring and assessing Board policies and executive limitations at each Board meeting. The Board reviewed and accepted the CEO Monitoring Reports.
- The CDHA Board has two representatives to the International Federation of Dental Hygiene (IFDH)- Tracy Bowser and Beth Ryerse. The board reviewed the report from the IFDH delegates.
- The board is currently working on a CDHA definition of Oral Health. Initial feedback on the proposed definition was discussed and a final version will be released later this year.
- The Board transitioned the presidency from Leanne Huvenaars to Tiffany Ludwicki.
- The Board unanimously approved pursing work to ensure dental hygienists are considered essential workers. This is critical in ensuring access to PPE, which was the number one issue expressed by members; also, to safeguard primary access to a COVID-19 vaccine for dental hygienists.