BCPhA Conference Speakers: May 1, 2026

Conference venue: The Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver

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.

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More speakers will be announced soon.
The conference will be submitted to the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy (CCCEP) for accreditation.
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00–9:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8:00–9:30 a.m. Territorial Welcome and Opening Remarks

Our 2026 Annual Conference will be taking place in the Coal Harbour area of Vancouver, British Columbia, on the traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We thank the Squamish Nation for opening our conference with a territorial welcome and drum performance.

9:30–10:30 a.m. Keynote Address Pulling Together: How Purpose and Connection Create Stronger Teams

Like a rowing crew that must work in perfect sync, the best teams are united by trust, shared purpose, and real human connection. Kevin’s Arctic expedition shows how these qualities build powerful cultures where people—and performance—thrive.

Learning Outcomes:

  • How to create a shared purpose that inspires and unites your team.
  • How trust, openness, and vulnerability build strong relationships at work.
  • How inclusive teams perform better by drawing on diverse strengths.
  • Practical ways to build a team culture where people feel they truly belong.

This keynote inspires teams to work better together—and achieve more—by connecting with purpose.

Architect and Explorer
 
10:30–11:00 a.m. Break and Student Posters
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Updates from BC PharmaCare

Discussion of the recent work in the Ministry of Health's Pharmaceutical, Laboratory and Blood Services Division.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Update on Ministry of Health initiatives regarding pharmacy.
  • Vision for pharmacy future role regarding primary care.
Assistant Deputy Minister
Pharmaceutical, Laboratory and Blood Services Division
Ministry of Health
12:00–1:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:00–2:00 p.m. Payer Insights: A Panel Discussion

Join us for a multi-perspective discussion on the role the public and private payers in Canada’s health-care system. This session features insights from industry leaders Anar Dossa (Pacific Blue Cross), Erin Crump (Sun Life Health), and John Capelli (Ministry of Health).

Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe the critical economic and health-care trends affecting plan sponsors, public and private payers, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).
  • Describe how these stakeholders are adapting and responding to financial and health-care system challenges, and what that means for pharmacies.
  • Describe initiatives by payers and PBMs to integrate pharmacist expertise, expanded scope of practice, and professional services into their operating models.
Vice President, Pharmacy Services
Pacific Blue Cross
Vice President, Market Development
Sun Life Health
Executive Director
PharmaCare Policy & Health Technology Assessment Branch,
BC Ministry of Health
2:00–3:30 p.m. Clinical Session – TBA
3:30–3:45 p.m. Break
3:45–4:45 p.m. Clinical Session – TBA
5:45–8:45 p.m. Tradeshow, Networking & Happy Hour