G’day! I hope you are all enjoying the warmer weather and sunshine. This message is a little bittersweet for me as it marks my final task as your President. Sitting on Council has been one of the highlights of my career and I’m very thankful to have had this opportunity. I would like to end my term sharing one last update on Council and the College’s operations.
Last month we hosted the Annual Members’ Meeting on May 15. Thank you to those who joined us live. For those who were unable to attend, you can view the AMM here until September 30. We received 48 questions and most of those were answered live. The remaining ones that we didn’t get to have been answered here. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to the College at Communications@ABparamedics.com. Don’t forget to submit your questionnaire at the end of the presentation to receive your certificate of completion to claim 6 CE credits for this renewal.
Renewal is just around the corner and we want to make sure everyone is adequately prepared. In this issue of the Pulse, the College has provided an updated list of approved CE courses that are free and online. We also have the new Documentation for Prehospital Professionals available on the LMS platform for 24 CE credits. We have received excellent reviews on the content and quality of the course; I encourage you all to take it and provide feedback at the end so we can continue to improve our learning opportunities. Please make sure you have given yourself enough time to complete your CC activities and submit your renewal application. Many things can arise at the last minute and we don’t want to see anyone miss the deadline.
Council met earlier month to discuss some important governance matters. One area that was discussed was the registration fees. Over the last six years, we have cut the registration fees by $80, dropping them from $525 to $445. In addition, we have established a Fee Freeze Fund which functions as a way to stabilize fees for years to come. This ensures that any surplus goes to supporting our goal of keeping fees the same or lowered. All of this is due to strong fiscal responsibility by both Council and the College. Council reviewed the current financials at our June meeting and I’m happy to announce in my final message another cut to registration fees by $5, bringing them to $440 effective August 1. This may feel like a conservative change, but it’s important to understand that when we deliberate about fees, we aren’t just looking at one year. We are looking at the finances for years to come. It is imperative to Council that any decrease we offer can be maintained over the next few years. We do not want to offer a decrease only to increase the fees the following year.
The other update I’m pleased to share is the new Council appointments. This year, we had three, three-year term vacancies. We received 25 applications and our third-party HR firm shortlisted five candidates. Our Selection Committee met with each candidate and presented their recommendations to Council. I would like to extend a huge welcome to our newest appointment, Joe Acker, and our two returning members, Stephen Underhay and Jay Parsons. It has been a pleasure working alongside Stephen and Jay and I look forward to seeing what Joe brings to the table.
I would also like to introduce Stephen as your newest Council President. Congratulations! I’m honored to be passing the torch on to you and wish you all the best.
Serving as your President has been an incredible privilege, and while my time on Council is coming to a close, my pride in this profession and the people who drive it remains as strong as ever. Looking back at what we have accomplished together, I know the College is in an incredibly strong position. With Stephen taking the helm and a fantastic Council beside him, the future of paramedicine in Alberta is in exceptionally capable hands. Thank you to my fellow Council members, the College staff and all of you across the province for the honor of letting me serve you. Keep pushing the boundaries of what our profession can achieve.
Cheers,
Harrison Stein, ACP
Council President