- Announcing New CPhM Council Members and Executive Committee
- Continuing Competency Matters
- Get Involved in Pharmacy Regulation in Manitoba
- Employment Opportunity: Practice Consultant – Policy and Legislation
- Collecting Critical Patient Information: Key to Preventing Medication Incidents
- Health Canada Ministerial Order on the Sale of Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Announcing New CPhM Council Members and Executive Committee
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is pleased to announce the new slate of Council members for the 2025 – 2026 term, introduced at the CPhM Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 13, 2025.
Immediately following the AGM, the Council convened a brief meeting to elect officers and Executive Committee members. Officers and Executive Committee assume their duties immediately, with the first Executive Committee meeting scheduled in early June 2025. Council meets for its first meeting on June 23, 2025.
Executive Committee:
- Kathy Hunter, Pharmacist, Chair
- David Mullins, Pharmacist, Vice Chair
- Chantal MacDonald, Pharmacy Technician, Executive Committee Member
- Donna Forbes, Public Representative, Executive Committee Member
Council Members:
- Alanna Doell, Pharmacist
- Brendon Mitchell, Pharmacist
- Teryl Moore, Pharmacist
- Todd Derendorf, Pharmacist
- Dr. Lavern Vercaigne, Acting Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Ex Officio Member
- Amanda Jenkyns, Public Representative
- Don Himbeault, Public Representative
- Elizabeth Reimer, Public Representative
These Council members, composed of pharmacy professionals and public representatives appointed by the Minister of Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care, make up the 12-member Council. During the transition to staggered terms of service, the length of terms for pharmacy professional Council members varies, with all terms to be three years by 2027.
We look forward to the contributions and leadership of the new Council in advancing the mandate of CPhM.
Continuing Competency Matters
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is introducing Continuing Competency Matters; a regular update focused on the evolution of the Continuing Competency Program. As outlined in CPhM’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, CPhM is committed to updating the program to ensure it is evidence-based and meets the requirements of the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).
In early 2024, the Quality Assurance Committee conducted a comprehensive review of continuing competency approaches used by pharmacy regulators across Canada. This foundational work led to the engagement of Dr. Nancy Winslade, an expert in health professions education, research, and consulting to guide the revisions of the CPhM Continuing Competency Program.
A pharmacist by training, Dr. Winslade brings over 30 years of experience and holds a Master’s in Health Professions Education and a PhD focussed on community pharmacists’ improvement in quality care. She has played a key role in shaping pharmacy education, including work on the University of Toronto’s early BScPhm and PharmD programs, and has led national initiatives such as the Canadian Forces Physician Assistant Recertification Program and the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals’ Competency Assurance Program. Reflecting on her work with CPhM, Dr. Winslade shares:
“It is an exciting time to be working with CPhM as continuing competency programs across the professions are transitioning to supporting practitioners in their quest to continuously improve their practice in concrete ways that align with health system goals. A tagline I like that captures these principles is Empowering Pharmacists, Competence that Counts and I look forward to collaborating with Manitoba pharmacists as we put these principles into action.”
Stay tuned for future updates and opportunities to get involved through communications channels including the Friday Five, quarterly Newsletters, and a dedicated Continuing Competency Matters webpage.
Get Involved in Pharmacy Regulation in Manitoba
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) Committees provide a meaningful way for both community members and pharmacy professionals to get involved and make a difference in the regulation of pharmacy practice across the province. By volunteering and sharing your perspective, you can play a role in helping shape a safe, effective, and patient-centred pharmacy system in Manitoba.
Opportunities for Community Members
Individuals who are not registrants of CPhM or pharmacy owners are invited to apply to the Citizens’ Roster. The Citizens’ Roster is a valuable resource used to select public representatives for CPhM Committees. Relevant experience might include community service, volunteer work, or participation in non-profit or advocacy organizations. Your voice matters, and your perspective as a member of the public can help ensure pharmacy regulation remains accountable and transparent.
For more information about the Citizens’ Roster, please visit: https://cphm.ca/citizens-roster/
Opportunities for Pharmacy Professionals
If you’re a pharmacy professional, consider sharing your experience and insights by submitting an Expression of Interest to join a CPhM Committee(s). This is a great way to contribute to the profession and support high standards of practice across Manitoba.
All Committee members are eligible for remuneration and reimbursement of expenses incurred when attending meetings.
Please note submission of an application or Expression of Interest does not guarantee selection. All submissions are appreciated and carefully considered; interested candidates are selected, based on a number of criteria, to best meet the needs of the CPhM.
We encourage you to share this opportunity with others who may be interested in supporting pharmacy regulation in Manitoba.
To learn more about CPhM Committees and to access the Expression of Interest form, please visit: https://cphm.ca/about-the-college/committees/
Employment Opportunity: Practice Consultant – Policy and Legislation
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is presently in search of a part-time (0.8 FTE, based on a 37.5 – hour workweek, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Practice Consultant – Policy and Legislation to fill a leave of absence. This individual must be able to work independently in a self-directed environment while also having the ability to effectively collaborate with other staff. Assets include prior experience working in a regulatory environment, and a working knowledge of health-professions legislation.
For a complete description of the duties, qualifications, and required attributes for this position, and to apply, view the on-line posting: https://cphm.ca/feature-story/employment-opportunity-practice-consultant-policy-and-legislation/
Applications will be reviewed from all sources as received until the position is filled.
CPhM values diversity and inclusion and encourages all qualified people to apply.
Collecting Critical Patient Information: Key to Preventing Medication Incidents
Medication incidents can happen when patient assessments are incomplete or rushed. Communication gaps between patients, caregivers, and pharmacy teams may lead to missing crucial information, which can affect prescribing decisions and contribute to patient harm.
The recently published Safety IQ blog post, guest authored by Eunice Valencia, highlights:
- A real-life example of a medication incident caused by overlooked patient information.
- Strategies to prevent similar incidents.
- Tips for improving the collection of critical patient information.
By learning from real-world examples, pharmacy professionals can help prevent medication errors and ensure safer patient care.
Read the full blog post on the Safety IQ website: Collecting Critical Patient Information: Key to Preventing Medication Incidents – SafetyIQ-Academy
Health Canada Ministerial Order on the Sale of Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine
Health Canada has issued a new Ministerial Order (SOR/2025-93), establishing supplementary rules for the sale of Natural Health Products (NHPs) containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which came into effect on May 18, 2025. This Order supersedes the 2024 Interim Order, which expired on May 17, 2025.
The Ministerial Order and the preceding Interim Order were deemed necessary by Health Canada as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were unscheduled by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) as of June 28, 2024.
The new Health Canada rules introduce place-of-sale restrictions for two categories of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine-containing NHPs:
1. Non-Combination Products
These are single-ingredient NHPs containing only ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. They must:
- Be sold only at pharmacy retail locations.
- Be sold exclusively by pharmacists or individuals* under their supervision.
- Not be accessible for self-selection by the public.
*Note that sections 84(1) and 84(2) of the provincial Pharmaceutical Regulation strengthen this requirement for single-ingredient pseudoephedrine products, requiring that:
- The sale be made only by the pharmacist;
- Pharmacists directly assess the patient to ensure appropriateness of therapy; and
- The quantity sold does not exceed 3,600 mg at the time of purchase.
2. Combination Products
These are NHPs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, combined with one or more substances listed in Schedule 1 of the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR)**. These products:
- Must be sold only at pharmacy retail locations; and
- May remain in the self-selection areas of the pharmacy, provided that a pharmacist is available upon request to discuss the product with the consumer before purchase.
**Note that this order does not apply to non-prescription drug products (i.e., those with a Drug Identification Number [DIN]) that combine ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with other medicinal ingredients. These DIN-holding non-prescription combination products will be addressed through a separate consultation process, as outlined in Health Canada’s Notice of Intent (published on Feb 1, 2025). Any resulting Ministerial Orders may impose further restrictions in the future. CPhM is also currently collaborating with the provincial government to implement further provincial restrictions on the sale of these DIN-holding non-prescription combination products.
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
University of Manitoba College of Pharmacy’s Essentials in Advanced Patient Care for Pharmacists Micro-Certificate Program
Interested pharmacists can visit the program website for detailed information and to begin the application process. For further inquiries, please email PharmacyPD@umanitoba.ca.
2025 Mandatory Professional Development – Advancing Equity in Pharmacy: Supporting Gender Diversity and 2SLGBTQ+ Patients
Pharmacy professionals who were unable to attend the live webinar on February 5, 2025, must view a recording of the 2025 mandatory continuing education session by clicking here.
Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes
- Click here to access the prerecorded webinar
- 1.0 CEU