Call for Nominations opens Wednesday, April 23, and closes Friday, May 23, 2025 

An election will be held for Board of Directors positions in District 4 (Western), District 6 (all Ontario; Contact Lens Mentor), and District 7 (Central Western) from September 29 to October 14, 2025. The successful candidates will begin serving a three-year term of office starting January 1, 2026.   

If you are a registered optician interested in using your knowledge and skills in the interest of public protection, consider seeking a nomination.  

As the governing body of the College, the Board of Directors is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, reflective of the diversity of its registrants and the patients they serve.  Eligible registrants from equity-deserving groups are encouraged to seek a nomination, including Indigenous persons, racialized persons/ persons of colour, women, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities.  

How do I seek nomination?  

1. Find out if you’re eligible by reviewing the Preliminary Eligibility Checklist. 
2. Download and review the Election Guidelines, Nomination Instructions, and FAQs. Please read all the information in the nomination package and follow the instructions carefully.  
3. Complete the Pre-Election Training Module (Jurisprudence Chapter 4 RHPA) before completing your nomination form. Note: if you already completed this module as part of your annual Professional Portfolio within the last three years, you will need to contact the College at elections@collegeofopticians.ca to reset your access to the test.  
4. Complete the Candidate Consent and Nomination Form and submit it with the required attachments to the College during the nomination period, from Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to Friday, May 23, 2025, at noon, to elections@collegeofopticians.ca. Nomination packages must be accurate, complete, and received by the deadline.  
5. Participate in an interview with the College’s screening Committee. Interviews will be held via Zoom on June 12 and June 16.  

What skills and attributes make a great Board member?

Anyone seeking election to the board will be interviewed by a panel of the Screening  Committee. During the interview, candidates will be asked to demonstrate the following core competencies: 

• Passion – Public Service Oriented: Demonstrates outstanding initiative and commitment towards the practice of opticianry. Committed to service the College’s mandate to regulate the profession of opticianry in the public interest. 
• Exemplified Integrity: Demonstrates a conviction to do what’s right and to reject what’s wrong, regardless of the consequences.
• Unbiased and Open Minded: Demonstrates the ability to self-identify and set aside conscious biases. Proactively reflects on the impact of unconscious biases in all situations. Actively listens and absorbs all information to make an informed and open-minded decision.  
• Critical Judgment and Decision Making: Makes good decisions based upon a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and sound judgment. Comfortably deals with concepts and complexity and looks beyond the obvious to avoid ‘group think’ and/or the status quo.
• Collaboration and Inclusion: Demonstrates an open mindset, listens without judgment, and embraces diversity of others and of thought. Seeks to understand and build on the strengths of others. 

Thinking of running for election to the board, but need more information?  

On May 6, the college held a webinar to answer questions about the role of board members and the election process. If you missed the Election Information session, you can watch it by clicking this link, or reach out to us at elections@collegeofopticians.ca.