The BC Pharmacy Association returns to downtown Vancouver for our 2026 Annual Conference at the Westin Bayshore overlooking Coal Harbour and Stanley Park. The event will be a multi-day event with two days of speakers on Friday and Saturday along with a tradeshow and our annual Excellence in Pharmacy Awards gala.
Register NowThis presentation explores the transformative and human dimensions of genomics through the dual lens of a scientist and a breast cancer patient. Drawing on personal experience navigating diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, the talk illustrates how genomic and innovative technologies move from abstract concepts to life-shaping tools at the bedside. It highlights the role of genomics in precision oncology, from tumor profiling and treatment selection to risk assessment and long-term care, while also addressing real-world gaps in access, interpretation, and implementation. By bridging science and lived experience, this session invites reflection on how genomics can be delivered not only with technical excellence, but with empathy, clarity, and equity—ensuring that precision medicine truly serves the all people.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify how genomic insights can influence cancer diagnosis, treatment decisions, and patient outcomes through real-world examples.
- Analyze the challenges and opportunities of integrating genomic medicine into patient care, drawing from both professional and personal perspectives.
Speaker:
How can we re-imagine community pharmacy practice that honours Indigenous and western medicines? This panel discussion and presentation will share the results of an action research project aimed at bringing together Indigenous and western medicines under one space. The panelists will discuss barriers and facilitators to culturally safe pharmacy care, key considerations when re-defining team-based care to include Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and traditional medicines knowledge, and provide an example of a team-based practice model that brings together these two worldviews.
Learning Outcomes:
- Define worldview and Indigenous worldviews in a health and healing context
- Discuss examples of Indigenous models of practice in medicine and pharmacy
- Describe a team-based practice model for bringing together Indigenous and western worldviews
- Discuss five key considerations when working with traditional medicines knowledge
Speakers:
University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC) will share updates on the new Health Professions and Occupations Act, including highlights of what has changed as part of the new Act and what it means for regulation and licensees. The presentation will also highlight key initiatives including work related to the impact of business metrics on pharmacy practice and actions to address drug diversion. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of CPBC’s role as a regulator, how these initiatives support public safety, and what to expect moving forward.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the key updates related to the Health Professions and Occupations Act and describe what they mean for licensed pharmacies and pharmacy professionals in British Columbia.
- Identify CPBC’s current regulatory initiatives, including work related to business metrics and drug diversion, and describe how these initiatives support public safety and CPBC’s role as the regulator.
Speaker:
HPV-related cancers are largely preventable, and pharmacists are uniquely positioned to close the gap. This session grounds participants in the cancer burden of HPV, the current immunization landscape in B.C., and the latest BCCDC guidelines. It moves from evidence to practice: practical counselling approaches for diverse populations, strategies for addressing hesitancy, and integration of HPV prevention into everyday pharmacy workflow. The goal is to equip pharmacists not just to vaccinate, but to understand that they have the power to change the HPV related cancer outcomes.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe the burden of HPV-related cancers in B.C. and identify populations and vaccination gaps where pharmacist intervention has the greatest potential impact.
- Apply current BCCDC HPV immunization guidelines and supporting clinical evidence to individualized patient care, including catch-up vaccination in adults and under-vaccinated groups.
- Explain recent changes to HPV vaccine access and HPV point-of-care cervical testing, and their implications for community pharmacy practice.
- Use evidence-informed counselling strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and common misconceptions across patients of all ages and genders, with a focus on framing vaccination as cancer prevention.
- Identify practical opportunities to integrate HPV vaccination into pharmacy workflow and collaborative care pathways to support both publicly and privately funded program uptake.
Speaker:
The new Hypertension Canada guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in adult primary care aims to provide clinicians with streamlined, evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and managing hypertension in Canadian primary care, addressing declining control rates and improving population-level outcomes. This session will review the changes to the new guidelines and through a case based approach will outline the role of the pharmacist in supporting the management of hypertension in primary care.
Learning Outcomes:
- Following this session, participants will be able to identify at least three key updates in the 2025 Hypertension Canada guidelines relevant to primary care practice, including changes to blood pressure thresholds, first-line pharmacotherapy recommendations, or monitoring targets.
- Following this session, participants will be able to apply a stepwise approach to selecting or adjusting antihypertensive therapy for at least two patient case scenarios reflective of common presentations in BC community pharmacy practice, in alignment with the 2025 guidelines.
Speaker:
