Winter 2025 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.

The CDHA Board of Directors met in Ottawa and participated in a very successful press conference and lobby day on February 27, followed by board meetings on February 28 and March 1, 2025.

Press Conference

CDHA kicked off their Lobby Day with a press conference in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Focused on the positive economic impact of investing in oral health, the press conference attracted significant media attention, with the Canadian Press disseminating an article to multiple outlets generating over 1.2 million impressions and the Toronto Star reaching more than 4.4 million impressions. Radio also played a key role in promoting the event, with stations like CJBQ 800 Belleville and CBC 99 covering discussions. On social media, CDHA accounts on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X, have generated support and engagement, receiving many likes and shares. In total, 128 articles were generated, spanning, print, radio and TV. 

Lobby Day

In collaboration with Impact Public Affairs, the CDHA hosted a Lobby Day in Ottawa on Thursday, February 27th, 2025. This event saw CDHA board directors from across Canada volunteer their time to speak with key stakeholders in the federal government to continue investing in affordable and preventive oral health care. This Lobby Day event showcased CDHA’s commitment to advocating for federal investment in oral health care, emphasizing its critical role in improving public health, strengthening economic stability, and driving growth across Canada.

CDHA board directors and senior staff met with the following:

MP Yvon Baker (LBC)

MP Peter Julian (NDP)

Deputy Minister of Health, Greg Orencsak

And:

• Ministry of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities
• Ministry of Families, Children, and Social Development
• Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour

Key highlights from the Board meeting:

Policy and Procedure

The Board directs, controls, and inspires CDHA by carefully establishing 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 and had the opportunity to discuss the CEO’s update on accomplishments to date in the strategic plan. The Board completed a self-assessment of governance policies with the aim of continuous improvement. The Board approved new wording for a number of governance policies, including a change to the student membership category: Dental Hygiene student enrolled in an entry level dental hygiene program.

Reports

The CDHA Board elects representatives to the International Federation of Dental Hygiene (IFDH). A report was received from IFDH Directors Tayyaba Fiaz and Francine Trudeau.

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

Board’s Annual Plan of Work

The Board reviewed an environment scan, prepared by the CEO, to discuss the impact(s) of the external environment on CDHA’s strategic plan. The governance coach worked with the Board on developing their annual plan of work, which includes requesting that the CEO develop cost projections for a task force to develop a report on how CDHA can move forward on its journey to support Truth and Reconciliation. The Board also discussed a draft Board Charter, which will be brought forward for approval during the policy discussion at the Summer Board meeting.

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, Nicole Mainville, Chair of the Audit Committee, presented an update on the audit committee meeting.
• The Board reviewed the audit engagement proposal and approved the signing of the audit engagement letter with KPMG for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
• The board approved the audit committee recommendation for the members to approve at the AGM the Frouin Group as CDHA’s auditing company for the fiscal year May 2025 to April 2026.

US Travel

The Board discussed the rising concerns in the United States (US). They discussed the value of attending events with key association partners like ADHA, AAP, and ADEA. The Board also noted that we have a partnership with AAP for the dental hygiene symposium this Fall in Toronto (they are coming to Canada). CDHA values our relationship with our colleagues in the US and will continue to value and support our counterparts during these difficult times.

Ownership Linkage

The Board recognizes that, to be an informed agent of the ownership, it is obligated to seek to identify what the ownership values and be accountable for the integration of those values into the policies of the board. To support linkage with our owners (members), the Board has developed a short survey (5 questions) focused on DEI and TRC. This will be sent to members sometime in the Spring and the results will be presented to members at the AGM in September.

Nominations

The Director from Ontario and PEI will be completing their first 3-year terms on the Board this year. The Board affirmed Bev Woods and Heather Cassidy’s positions for a second 3-year term. An election will be held this year for the Director position in Newfoundland and Labrador and the North (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut). The president also noted that Kathy Yerex, Manitoba, and Francine Trudeau, Immediate Past President, are completing their terms at the 2025 AGM in September.

Election of President-Elect

The Board elected Wendy Wells as the president-elect. Her term will begin when elected by members at the AGM on September 27, 2025

Date and times of future meetings