A look back as the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians turns 40

This is a special year for the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians Inc. (CAPT) as it celebrates four decades as an association. The CAPT was formed by a group of four Humber College pharmacy assistant students—Lisa James, Patricia Sharpe, Laurie Kerling and Audrey Myers—with the help of their instructor. In 1983, they became a non-profit organization and they added chapters in some provinces as the association grew. The CAPT held its inaugural annual national conference in 2003, and rotates the event between western, eastern, and central Canada. At that time, there were seven directors on the board, all volunteers. They were also appointed to represent association at other related organizations such as the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC), Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy (CCCEP), Blueprint for Pharmacy, the Canadian Council for the Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), and many provincial working groups. In 2004, the chapters were dissolved and the association’s focus moved to more national pharmacy assistant/technician issues. “The most important milestone in which CAPT was involved was the regulation of pharmacy technicians,” says Robert Solek, CAPT president. “The first regulated technicians were in Ontario in 2010. This was an exciting time for CAPT and the profession of pharmacy.” The CAPT negotiated with McCaslin Horne Insurance to provide malpractice insurance for pharmacy technicians. Later, the CAPT’s membership database also moved online, which saved the board a lot of manual work, recalls Solek. The CAPT saw another landmark in 2015, as it hosted a meeting with a pharmacy technician or assistant representative from all 10 provinces at its annual conference. It was the first meeting of this kind, and from this endeavour, a Provincial Working Group was created. The CAPT continues to meet with this group three times a year. Also in 2015, the CAPT's representative to PEBC, Cathy Schuster, was elected president of that organization—the first technician to hold that position. In 2017, the board expanded to include three more positions, and the association expanded its web presence. In October 2018, it celebrated the first annual International Pharmacy Technician Day. COVID hit Canada in 2020 and a decline in membership followed. But, the board had time to work on some internal items—amending by-laws to include an executive committee to assist in succession planning. The year 2021 brought about the first—and rather successful—virtual conference for the CAPT, notes Solek. But in 2022, the web company hosting the CAPT’s online presence closed its doors, with very little notice— a major challenge since the CAPT was looking to host a second virtual conference in two months time. But, “after much innovative work with CAPT’s conference planner, the conference ran and was well received,” says Solek. In late 2022, the CAPT’s representative to the CCCEP, Sheena Deane, was elected president of the latter organization, becoming the first technician to hold that position. An RFP process for another website company started. This year, the CAPT also celebrates its 20th annual professional development conference. “The website and database were launched without any glitches in March, and the board is looking forward to another successful event,” says Solek, noting that there will be some “extra events” at this year’s conference to celebrate the CAPT’s 40th birthday. “CAPT is looking forward to continuing to help the pharmacy profession move forward in the Canadian healthcare landscape,” says Solek. “CAPT is the only national organisation whose mandate is to represent pharmacy technicians and assistants. Its voice is only as strong as its members as it works collaboratively with multiple pharmacist associations moving the profession forward.”

A look back as the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians turns 40

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