The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario is accountable to the public through its Board of Directors. The Board sets the strategic and policy direction for the College. It makes decisions to ensure the public receives ethical, competent care from Ontario’s occupational therapists. Based on the Board’s direction, a staff team led by the Registrar & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) carries out the College’s day-to-day work
Meetings of the Board are open to the public.
Board Directors
There are three kinds of Board Directors:
Elected Directors
These directors are registrants (occupational therapists registered with the College) who are elected to the Board by their peers. Being on the Board gives occupational therapists rewarding opportunities to contribute to both public protection and the future of the profession.
Public Directors
These directors are appointed by the provincial government.
Learn how to apply for appointment as a public director.
Academic Appointees
These academic professionals are appointed by the Chairs of the occupational therapy programs at five Ontario universities.
Directors are expected to attend four full-day Board meetings every year and serve on at least one regulatory committee.
Board Competency Framework
The Board of Directors sets the College’s strategic direction. Together, its members are accountable for the College’s good governance and its mandate of public protection. Fulfilling these roles requires that Directors have the optimal mix of skills, expertise, and experiences.
This Board Competency Framework represents the ideal composition of the Board. It recognizes that the Board and its committees need to reflect the diverse populations that use occupational therapy services in Ontario. This diversity includes culture, gender, race, age, geographical setting, and practice setting.
View the Board Competency Framework.
2023–2024 Board Directors
Professional Members
Stacey Anderson
Neelam Bal
Christine Funk
Elizabeth Gartner
Heather McFarlane (Vice-Chair)
Sarah Milton
Stephanie Schurr
Teri Shackleton (Chair)
Public Members
Nicholas Dzudz
Allan Freedman (Officer)
Lucia Kloosterhuis
Brittany O'Brien
Vincent Samuel (Officer)
Sabrina Shaw
Academic Professional Members
Donna Barker
Committees
The College has seven statutory (regulatory) committees. These are committees that the law requires the College to have. The College also has Board and subcommittees as needed.
Currently, each Committee includes a mix of occupational therapists elected to the Board, public appointees, and appointed occupational therapists.
Our Committee Competency Framework builds upon the idea of the Board Competency Framework. In addition to ensuring representation of the optimal skills, expertise, and experiences, committees need to reflect the diverse populations that use occupational therapy services in Ontario. This diversity includes culture, gender, race, age, geographical setting, and practice setting.
Regulatory Committees
These are committees that the law requires the College have to support the core regulatory functions of the Board. Currently, each Committee includes a mix of elected and public Directors, and professional committee appointees. In addition, the Board has also created subcommittees as needed.
Subcommittees
The College has two non-statutory subcommittees: Practice and Quality Assurance.
Learn more about the College's Regulatory Committees and Subcommittees
Board Committees
Board Committees allow the College’s Board to effectively address the diverse areas of its mandate. Each Committee is composed of a mix of Board Directors and Community Appointees who focus on a particular area and bring forward recommendations to the Board.
Finance and Audit Committee
The Finance and Audit Committee assists the Board of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario in fulfilling its obligations and oversight responsibilities relating to financial planning and reporting, external audit, internal control systems, investments, and risk management.
Number of meetings per year: 4 - 6
Preparation time per meeting: 1 - 3 hours
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing governance reform to enhance the quality of the Board of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario’s work through best governance practices.
Number of meetings per year: 4 - 6
Preparation time per meeting: 1 - 3 hours
Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee assists the Board of Directors in ensuring the Board and Committees have members with the necessary competencies and attributes to enable them to fulfil their roles and public protection mandate. They recommend to the Board candidates for appointment and re-appointment to Committees and Committee Chairs.
Advisory Committees
Equity Perspectives Advisory Committee
The Committee explores, discusses and provides recommendations on current occupational therapy practice issues relevant to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
Number of meetings per year: as required
Indigenous Insights Advisory Committee
The Committee explores, discusses and provides recommendations on current occupational therapy practice issues relevant to Indigenous Peoples.
Number of meetings per year: as required
Policies
Code of Conduct
Conflict of Interest Policy
Policy to Approve Agents of the College
Confidentiality Policy
To learn more about the College Board and committees, please contact:
Elinor Larney, Registrar & Chief Executive Officer (CEO): [email protected]
Andjelina Stanier, Executive Assistant - Executive Office: [email protected]