The following are highlights from Council’s meeting on June 17-18, 2025, in Edmonton:
Strategic planning
Work continues in the development of ACP’s 2026-28 Strategic Plan. Council was presented with a partial situation analysis which included input from internal interviews, a survey of regulated members, and feedback from a public focus group. Inputs will also be gathered from a survey of Albertans, a potential second public focus group, Council’s strategic planning session on June 17, and an ACP staff strategic planning session to take place in July.
Council will discuss key strategic planning themes that result from the above information gathering and analyses, with the aim for the Strategic Planning Committee to present a draft of the strategic plan to Council for approval at the December 2025 meeting.
Bylaw amendments
Council approved a series of proposed amendments to the ACP Bylaws to go out to regulated members for consultation this summer. The proposed changes to the bylaws include the following:
- discontinuation of the Executive Committee;
- removal of the Executive Member-at-Large position;
- transfer of the responsibilities of the Executive Committee to the Officers, Governance Committee, and Council through its Executive Limitations policies; and
- amendment of the dates for nomination processes, election timelines, and election procedures.
One of the key changes being proposed to the election procedures is to allow any eligible regulated member to vote in elections for both pharmacist and pharmacy technician positions on Council. In other words, eligible pharmacy technicians would be able to vote in elections for a pharmacist position, and eligible pharmacists would be able to vote in elections for a pharmacy technician position.
This is following changes that were approved by Council at the May 1, 2025, meeting, wherein Council rescinded Council districts, enabling regulated members from anywhere in Alberta to apply for nomination when a seat on Council (within their respective profession) becomes available for election, regardless of where the regulated member lives or practises.
Watch your inbox for more details about the upcoming consultation this summer.
Patrick Zachar completes second term as president
Airdrie pharmacist Patrick Zachar presided over his last Council meeting as president. After completing his first term as president in June 2024, Patrick stepped back into the president’s role in October 2025 after public member and president Deb Manz resigned from Council. Patrick said it has been a whirlwind two years, leading Council through significant progress towards achieving objectives identified in the strategic plan including implementing new standards, the launch of the Licensee and Proprietor Education Programs, and the introduction of CQI+.
Patrick gave kudos to the ACP administration team for completing this work and is excited for what Brad Willsey will bring to the registrar role. He said it has been an honour to serve two terms as Council president. Calgary pharmacist Pat Thomson will assume the president’s role on July 1, 2025.
