Provincial Council
Guiding the future of
Guiding the future of
speech and hearing in BC
The elected Provincial Council has 14 elected positions.
Executive Committee (4 positions)
Oversees the day-to-day operations of the association.
- President
- Vice President (second year of President’s term)
- Past President (first year of President’s term)
- Treasurer
- Secretary
Professional Directors (6 positions)
Represent key areas of professional practice.
- Audiology – Public Practice
- Audiology – Private Practice
- Speech-Language Pathology – Early Intervention
- Speech-Language Pathology – Adult Services
- Speech-Language Pathology – School Practice
- Speech-Language Pathology – Private Practice
Committee Directors (4 positions)
Provide direct connections between committees and Council.
- Area Representative
- Professional Education
- Public Education
- Social Media
The Vice President, and Past President serve one-year terms (alternating). All other members of PC serve two-year terms.
Organization History
Founded in 1953 by three speech therapists, Speech and Hearing BC began as the Speech Therapy Association. Efforts to establish a regulatory body started in 1966 and culminated in 2010 with the creation of the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC—now the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (as of June 2024). Following this milestone, Speech and Hearing BC transitioned into a membership-based association supporting professionals across the province.
Incorporated in 1957, the Association was founded to:
Increase public awareness of the professions and their expertise
Develop membership standards and pursue professional licensing
Establish a training program at UBC (realized in 1967 under John Gilbert)
Governance
Speech and Hearing BC is guided by a member-driven governance structure outlined in the Association’s bylaws. An elected Provincial Council oversees operations with support from committees that provide research, resources, and representation.
Members elect the Council during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) each October. Nominations may be submitted in advance, and uncontested positions are filled by acclamation. Governance documents, including Gov I-12: Election of Directors, are available to members via Google Drive.
