2025 Board Election Candidate Biographies

I recently served on the Board for the College of Pharmacists of BC, where l contributed to the College work on legislation and regulations for the COVID-19 pandemic, the toxic-drug crisis, rural pharmacy, expansion of prescription adaptations, expansion of drug administration, and Minor-Ailment prescribing.

Most recently, my College work has focused on the updated Health Professions and Occupations Act. I have also served on several College committees, including the Pharmacist Prescribing and Minor Ailment Committee. As an active UBC Preceptor, I enjoy training the next generation of pharmacists. While not working, or advocating for the profession, or working towards public safety, I enjoy food and travel with my wile, playing golf and tennis, and spending time with my family.

I believe that pharmacy is a foundational profession in primary care. Having previous experience on the BCPhA Board and the College of Pharmacists of BC Board, I have a good perspective on government relations, and I have fostered many valuable relationships within the industry and government. 

In my past experience at the BCPhA and College, I am able to be effective by working well with fellow board members, and reaching consensus on key policies and priorities. I am advocating for a strong and healthy profession that will be professionally fulfilling and sustainable for pharmacists.

Steven has considerable board experience including: 4 years on the Board of Desert Valley Hospice Society, 6 years on the Board of CPBC including 1 year as Vice-Chair, 2 years as Chair, 2 years chairing the Registrar Evaluation Committee, 3 years chairing the Audit and Finance Committee, and was a member of the Pharmacy Advisory, Governance, Legislative Review Committees as well as the committee tasked with searching for a new registrar. He led the Board through much of the work on expanded scope, received considerable training in facilitation and managing of difficult conversations by governance experts such as The Regulator's Practice, and through the College, had many opportunities to meet MLAs and politicians. He was directly involved with on boarding the new CPBC Registrar and evaluating her performance. Steven has also had extensive training on cultivating safe spaces and has been a guest lecturer for UBC Pharmacy.

I bring a passion for advocacy and a strong desire to make things better for others. On the CPBC Board I advocated for public safety. On the BCPHA board, I will passionately advocate for all pharmacists and pharmacies across BC. I also believe what is good for pharmacists and the profession, including expanded scope, can strategically align with the government’s desire for better access to care for people in all communities.

Pharmacy should be the focal point of our healthcare system. To provide this, pharmacists must be compensated adequately. Fair compensation is key for us to continue to offer higher quality care.

We must use strategy when advocating for the profession and leverage our relationship with the government. The working relationships I developed with people in the Ministry can be an asset to the BCPhA. I have a unique perspective that can bridge the gap between regulation and advocacy.

I believe in healthy competition for our industry, free of PPNs so our clients have choice. However, we can still stand together on key points such as expanded scope and reimbursement.

I was taught by Coast Salish Elder and Knowledge Keeper Sulksun, about being “good medicine”. I believe that we have an incredible opportunity with the right advocacy, with the right scope of practice to be “good medicine” for the profession, for our clients, and for all of B.C.

As an owner, she led her store to become one of the first in BC to open a Pharmacy Care Clinic, enhancing patient access to clinical services and expanding the role of the community pharmacist. She is also a proud UBC preceptor and mentor, guiding future pharmacists in their training and professional development.

Horia has built a broad professional network of pharmacists and pharmacy owners across the province, leveraging these connections to share best practices and foster collaboration. Her work reflects a commitment to patient-centered care, operational excellence, and supporting sustainable pharmacy models that strengthen communities across British Columbia.

I bring business and clinical insight, a broad network of pharmacists and pharmacy owners across the province, and hands-on advocacy experience to support the Association’s strategic direction. My store was among the first in BC to open a Pharmacy Care Clinic (PCC), reinforcing my commitment to advancing patient-centered care and expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice.

I bring values of integrity, collaboration, and a patient-first perspective. I am committed to strengthening the voice of community pharmacy, supporting sustainable practice models, and ensuring pharmacists are recognized as essential, trusted health care providers. Serving on the Board will allow me to contribute meaningfully to the growth of our profession and the health of the communities we serve.

In 2015, my family moved to Winnipeg, where I gained a deeper appreciation for the varying clinical scopes of practice across Canada. By 2019, I advanced into a District Manager role overseeing pharmacy operations across Northern Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Leading during the pandemic reinforced for me the vital importance of advocacy and showed how empowered pharmacists can transform patient care in their communities.

In 2023, I received an opportunity to return to BC, and in 2024 I joined Neighbourly Pharmacy as a District Director. Today, I am proud to support pharmacists in rural and local communities across the province. My work involves helping pharmacists practice to their fullest potential, supporting pharmacy managers and maximizing their impact on the patients and families they serve.

As our health care system faces growing pressures and shifting demographics, I see pharmacists at a critical crossroads. We will increasingly be called to adapt, expand our clinical scope, and use our expertise to bridge the gap between patients and a system in need of support. I am passionate about elevating our profession’s profile and ensuring the public understands the value pharmacists bring.

As a District Director with Neighbourly Pharmacy, I support a large network of rural and community pharmacies and see firsthand the challenges our members face daily. These experiences give me perspective on the importance of advocacy and shaping policy that enables pharmacists to practice to their full potential. My experience in managing large, fiscally responsible operations will also aid in BCPhA’s governance and ensure our mandate is met efficiently. I am energetic, engaged, and committed to being a transparent voice for pharmacists across our province.

I have spent the last 20 years working in community pharmacy. I have completed by CDE certification in 2016 and provide comprehensive care to our local diabetic community specifically the South Asian Community. I also work to promote immunization by hosting flu clinic at our local temple, and have worked to bring diabetic awareness into the community through workshops and forums.

Pharmacy is at critical juncture with increasing spotlight on sustainable pharmacy services. I am dedicated, compassionate and have a diverse background which can provide a strong voice to this profession and would love to continue to see the value of pharmacists highlighted.

Bryan gained hands-on experience working in diverse communities, including serving as a pharmacy manager in Burns Lake, Kelowna, and the Lower Mainland. His passion for leadership and operational excellence led him to transition into a multi-unit leadership role, where he has spent the last decade overseeing both front store and pharmacy operations across multiple locations.

A strong advocate for the expansion of pharmacy practice, especially in rural and underserved areas, Bryan is committed to improving access to healthcare services. He believes pharmacists play a key role in bridging care gaps and enhancing patient outcomes. Bryan is particularly enthusiastic about immunization programs and takes pride in supporting communities during flu season through clinic coordination and public education. With a deep-rooted connection to rural healthcare and a dedication to advancing pharmacy practice, Bryan strives to be a strong advocate for the profession.

One of the most pressing issues we face is the lack of resources—especially in rural communities—combined with restrictive policies that limit our ability to fully support patients. Pharmacists are increasingly being called upon to fill critical gaps in the health care system, taking on responsibilities that were once the domain of physicians and hospitals. Despite this expanded role, our reimbursement models have not kept pace. Dispensing fees remain stagnant, and many of the clinical services we provide are either underfunded or not funded at all.

I want to be the voice for community pharmacists—the ones behind the counter, serving patients, managing teams, and doing it all with limited resources and mounting pressures. Pharmacy is a cornerstone of health care in B.C., and I am committed to being a strong, solutions-focused advocate for our profession.