Dear CDABC members,

Every two years, there is a changeover in the leadership of your member association. I have had the honour of being your president since 2013, and now that honour passes to our new president, Chelsie Trask-Soltez. 

In the two and a half or so years I have been president, the board and I have kept our association and our profession in the view of both our regulator, the CDSBC, and our employers’ association, the BCDA.  While this sounds like a minor thing, the actuality is quite different. 

Because we have had a presence at almost every College board meeting since September 2013, the College cannot pretend that CDAs don't care about their regulatory body, and how that body interprets the health professions act as it relates to dental assistants. Our board members are now invited to the workshops that help develop college policy – our voices are heard. They no longer believe that there is no one to talk to about CDA issues. These bodies may not always like what we say, but they listen to us and they respond.

Because we are present, the BCDA has been receptive to ideas that might lead to some, if minor, improvements in the benefits that dental offices offer to their employees. These small successes open the door to stronger collaborations that can and will make the working life of all CDAs, and therefore all dental offices, better.

Because we have followed the good examples set by earlier boards, we continue to advocate for our association, especially with the dental assisting students in as many of the schools as we can, and with those CDAs who have not chosen to join us yet. We do our very best to be mindful that the money we spend on anything for the association comes from our members hard work and, as CDAs ourselves, we know what went to getting those dollars!

Because your board cares about our members, we have worked (and continue to work) to find a great benefits package we can offer to our members. This will happen, and sooner rather than later! Because we all care about our profession, the board will be working towards ensuring that all clinical staff in dental offices is licensed. 

Not all of our goals will be accomplished in President Trask-Soltez’s term, just as I was not able to accomplish all of mine (I really, really wanted that benefit package!). But every step forward, no matter how small, is still forward and I count my term as a success. I am proud of what I was able to accomplish, and very proud of having represented you all.

Thank you all so much for the support and encouragement you offered me so generously over my term as president.

Arlene Cearns, CDA, Past President of CDABC