Hello everyone and welcome to the 2026/2027 registration year. I’m Stephen Underhay and I am honoured to serve as Council President. It has been a privilege to serve on Council over the past three years, and I look forward to continuing our work in the year ahead.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our past President, Harrison Stein. Harrison’s contributions to Council and the College have been significant, and he will be missed at the table. On behalf of Council, I wish him all the best in his next endeavour.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Council member, Joe Acker. Joe brings valuable experience and perspective to Council, and I look forward to working alongside him in the years ahead.
During my first term on Council, I gained a deep appreciation for the role the College plays, especially during periods of change. EMS continues to evolve rapidly, creating new challenges and new opportunities for both you and the profession. Throughout that change, I have been consistently impressed by the professionalism, stability and long-term focus of the College. The work of Council and staff is grounded in the stewardship of the profession and a commitment to serving the public.
Earlier this month, Council held its first planning session of the new term. One of Council’s first priorities has been the development of a new Strategic Plan. There is no shortage of important work ahead for the profession, from advancing the degree program and introducing the CCP designation to continuing work towards national alignment. As we look ahead, Council is approaching these initiatives with a sense of optimism and opportunity. Our responsibility is not only to respond to today’s challenges, but to ensure the profession is positioned to succeed in the years ahead.
While we are currently faced with a great deal of uncertainty in many aspects of our lives, including political change, employment and economic pressures, the College is not one of them. We remain strong and steadfast in our work and continue to be stewards of the profession every day. We have a clear path forward, and our focus remains on providing stability and confidence in a time of change.
I wish you all the best in the year ahead and look forward to sharing future updates with you.
Stephen Underhay, PCP
President