Governance

The COA’s various Committees are an integral part of the Association’s governance structure. They lead projects, policies, programs, and initiatives that support the COA’s Mission and Vision.

Each Committee is made up of a Chair and Members selected by the COA’s Nominating Committee. Together, their interests and expertise contribute to both the COA’s and the Committee’s goals and mandates.

All Committee positions are on a volunteer basis and serve a mandate of approximately three years, with the possibility of renewal. The Board of Directors or Executive Committee positions may involve longer mandates.

COA Committees meet either in person or via teleconference at various times throughout the year. Committees are grouped under Councils named after the four strategic priorities of the COA: Education, Engagement, Advocacy and Quality. Each Council Chair serves as a member on the Board of Directors.

If you are interested in joining one of the COA’s Committees as a volunteer member, please contact
Chelsea Patriquin: chelsea@canorth.org or 514 874-9003 x 5.

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Ready to Get Involved?
Call for Nominations 2024 – Applications now closed

We invite eligible members to self-nominate or nominate a colleague for COA leadership!
Four positions are open this year, including 2nd President-Elect (2026-2027), Secretary, and Finance and Audit Committee Members. All applicants will be notified of their selection by the end of April.

Selected applicants will begin their mandate on June 14, 2024, at the Your COA Business Meeting. Executive positions – 2nd President-Elect and Secretary – will serve with Dr. Olufemi Ayeni during his presidency and Dr. Sukhdeep Dulai as President-Elect, along with more than 120 volunteer members of COA leadership.

Apply now and be a part of giving back to your community of practice. Want to know more before applying? Get in touch with us at policy@canorth.org.

 

Apply Now

Bias Considerations

Members in COA leadership positions (Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Committee Chairs) are strongly recommended to complete the following implicit bias and cultural safety training modules during their term.

All COA members are encouraged to complete these same modules at their own discretion.

  1. Harvard Implicit Association Test – Countries, Skin-Tone, Gender, Weight, Sexuality, Race, Age (Free)
  2. CIHR Unconscious Bias in Peer Review and Research – Applicable for Practice (Free)
  3. Indigenous Cultural Safety Training – Healthcare Module (Payable by COA for Board & Committee members upon request)
Nomination Process
  • An open call for nominations is issued annually.
  • Voting COA members* can nominate colleagues or themselves by completing the nomination form.
    • *Active or Active International membership categories are considered voting members.
  • A single nomination for an eligible candidate is all that is required to be considered for office. Multiple nominations or letters of support sent directly to the COA or Nominating Committee will not improve or influence a nominee’s candidacy.
  • Completed nomination forms are submitted directly to the COA head office. After the submission deadline, the list of candidates is sent to the Nominating Committee for review and selection.
Selection Process
  • Candidates are contacted by the COA to confirm their interest in being considered for the role, and to submit a copy of their CV when applicable.
  • Completed nomination forms and corresponding CVs are sent to the Nominating Committee for review.
  • A short list is compiled by the Nominating Committee. Short-listed candidates may be contacted for additional information or questions.
  • The Nominating Committee selects final candidates from the short list.
  • To become final, the Nominating Committee’s recommendation will be first voted on by the Board of Directors, followed by a vote from the general membership at the Your COA business meeting held at the COA Annual Meeting in June.
  • Short-listed candidates for 2nd President Elect are automatically considered in the following year’s iteration (unless withdrawn).
Candidate General Criteria
  • The COA is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are seeking candidates who reflect the broadest range of COA membership, including but not limited to diversity of leadership experience, geography, gender, age, race, cultural heritage, seniority, practice setting and subspecialty interest.
  • We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in any of the following areas:
    • Leadership development/mentorship
    • Principles of equity, diversity and inclusion
    • Continuing professional development
    • Advocacy
Governance

COA Organogram

Attributes of a Volunteer Leader
  • Leadership capabilities
  • Consensus building – supports and environment of participative dialogue and compromise
  • Openly facilitates problem resolution
  • Strategic planning and risk management
  • Change management – understands how to set and manage expectations associated with change
  • Manages consistency of purpose and sees commitments through to completion
  • Clear sense of business acumen
  • Commitment to the COA and its Mission
  • Global perspective on professional issues
  • Professional temperament
  • Effective communication skills
  • Institutional knowledge – brings a considerable understanding of the COA, its core initiatives and its stakeholders
  • Acceptance and adhesion to the respective Committee’s Terms of Reference

COA Leadership Opportunities

 

COA Board of Directors

Olufemi Ayeni

President

Sukhdeep Dulai

President Elect
(2025-2026)

Robert Litchfield

Second President Elect
(2026-2027)

Pierre Guy

Past President

John Grant

Secretary

Ted Tufescu

Treasurer

Hans Kreder

President, COF

Pascale Thibaudeau

Member at Large

Cynthia Vezina
CEO
Chelsea Patriquin

Strategic Initiatives

Duncan Smith

Atlantic Representative

Véronique Godbout

Québec Representative

Cassandra Lane Dielwart

British Columbia Representative

Allan Woo

Prairies Representative

Henry Broekhuyse

Council Chair, Education

Jean-François Joncas

Council Chair, Engagement

Kishore Mulpuri

Council Chair, Advocacy

Timothy Daniels

Council Chair, Quality
Ontario Representative

Marcia Clark

Chair, Finance & Audit Committee

Matthew Teeter

President, Research Society

David Yen

Chair, Ethics

Helen Crofts

Co-Chair, Canadian Orthopaedic Residents Association

Eryck Moskven

Co-Chair, Canadian Orthopaedic Residents Association

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee addresses issues related to planning, programs, staffing, and the implementation of the Board’s strategic direction. It is also responsible for overseeing the Association’s order and structure during the periods in between Board meetings. The Executive reviews financial statements on a monthly basis and receives staff reports on all COA operations. This ensures that the COA leadership remains current on the relevant issues in a timely manner.

The Executive Committee is chaired by the COA President, and is made up of the President Elect, 2nd President Elect, Past President, Treasurer, Secretary, as well as the Chair of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation. The CEO and Manager of Strategic Initiatives also support the Executive Committee.

The Executive meets a minimum of ten times annually, primarily by teleconference, with at least two in person meetings.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is chaired by the COA President and is made up of the members of the Executive Committee, regional representatives, and Council Chairs. The Board oversees the general direction of the organization, represents the interests of the membership, and upholds the Association’s reputation on a local, national and international platform. The Board is responsible for setting long-term goals and objectives that govern the future direction of the Association.

Education Council

The Education Council is composed of the Continuing Education, Orthopaedic Chairs of Canada, and COA Global Surgery (COAGS) Committees and their Sub-Committees. All Committees have national representation and strive to be equitable in their makeup, while adhering to COA by-laws and upholding individual and specific mandates. The Council is Chaired by a member of the COA Board of Directors.

 

Engagement Council

The Engagement Council is composed of the Membership Committee, the Exchange Fellowships Committee and the Emerging Leaders Committee. Committees have national representation and strive to be equitable in their makeup, while adhering to COA by-laws and upholding individual and specific mandates. The Council is Chaired by a member of the COA Board of Directors.

 

Quality Council

The Quality Council is composed of the Standards Committee and two sub-Committees: Evidence-based Research and Knowledge Translation. Committees have national representation and strive to be equitable in their makeup, while adhering to COA by-laws and upholding individual and specific mandates. The Council is Chaired by a member of the COA Board of Directors.

 

Advocacy Council

The Advocacy Council is composed of the Communications Committee and Provincial Associations Committee. Committees have national representation and strive to be equitable in their makeup, while adhering to COA by-laws and upholding individual and specific mandates. The Council is Chaired by a member of the COA Board of Directors.

 

Standing Committees

The Standing Committees of the COA are the Finance and Audit Committee, Nominating Committee, Ethics Committee, Subspecialty Council and Presidents’ Council. Committees have national representation and strive to be equitable in their makeup, while adhering to COA by-laws and upholding individual and specific mandates. Each Standing Committee is Chaired by a member of the Board of Directors.

Who are the COA Committees and What Do They Do?

Learn more about what the COA’s committees do, and how to get involved.

A brief description of each Committee is outlined below each Council. If you would like further information or terms of reference for any of the Committees, please contact chelsea@canorth.org.

COA Past Presidents 1945-2023
2024Pierre Guy
2023Laurie Hiemstra1984John W. Hazlett
2022Kishore Mulpuri1983Hans K. Uhthoff
2021Mohit Bhandari1982Edward H. Simmons
2020Mark Glazebrook1981Robert B. Salter
2019John Antoniou1980Glen E. Edwards
2018Kevin Orrell1979Carroll A. Laurin
2017Peter B. MacDonald1978Richard L. Cruess
2016Robin R. Richards1977Ian Macnab
2015Bas Masri1976W. Robert Harris
2014Edward J. Harvey1975Jacques Robichon
2013Geoffrey Johnston1974David G. Landells
2012Emil H. Schemitsch1973Robert N. Lofthouse
2011Ross K. Leighton1972Jean-Marc Lessard
2010Cy Frank1971Olav Rostrup
2009Peter J. O’Brien1970Frederick P. Dewar
2008Marc J. Moreau1968F. Robert Tucker
2007Brendan D. Lewis1967Roger Gariépy
2006Robert B. Bourne1966R. Gordon Townsend
2005Alain Jodoin1965George F. Pennal
2004Robert M. Hollinshead1964Frank P. Patterson
2003William R. J. Rennie1963Ian W. Davidson
2002Clive P. Duncan1962Ulric Frenette
2001Cecil H. Rorabeck1961E. Wilson Ewart
2000D. William C. Johnston1960William B. MacKinnon
1999David P. Petrie1959J. Gordon Petrie
1998James P. Waddell1958George W. Armstrong
1997Robert F. Martin1957Louis-Phillipe Roy
1996André Beaupré1956Harold H. Boucher
1995Michael A. Simurda1955John L. McDonald
1994R. Merv Letts1954John R. Naden
1993Morris Duhaime1953J. Calixte Favreau
1992Marvin Tile1952R. Graham Huckell
1991Reginald H. Yabsley1951Freeman A. Brockenshire
1990Robert W. McGraw1950Alexander Gibson
1989David E. Hastings1949Robert I. Harris
1988James W. Wiley1948Joseph Édouard Samson
1987Charles Sorbie1947Joseph Édouard Samson
1986John R. Huckell1946John A. Nutter
1985Gordon W.D. Armstrong1945John A. Nutter

 

COA Past Presidents

The COA presidency has been maintained by a long list of leaders, visionaries and pioneers from across the country.