CMTBC is governed by a Board that receives its authority from the Health Professions Act. The Board consists of eight individuals: four elected RMTs and four public appointees, all of whom are sworn to uphold the College’s public interest mandate. The Board’s responsibilities include establishing policy, setting strategic goals, and ensuring CMTBC is managed in a way that enables it to carry out the objects specified in the Act.
The Board holds four to five regular meetings per year, and posts minutes of its meetings on CMTBC’s website.
For more information
Jonathan Norton, RMT, Chair
Jonathan Norton (he/him/his) graduated from Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy and has been an RMT since 2008. Jonathan has gained extensive regulatory knowledge by not only practicing, but also through professional roles at the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, and also serving on the CMTBC Board, along with the Governance and Registration committees. Jonathan would like to continue to apply his skills and knowledge to support the Board to meet their mandate of regulating the profession of massage therapy in British Columbia for the public interest.
Deborah Charrois (Public Representative), Vice-Chair
Deborah Charrois holds a Master of Laws from York University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta. Deborah is the Director, Legal & Labour Relations at the British Columbia Nurses’ Union. She specializes in administrative law and labour law, with a focus on professional governance and regulation. In her work with BCNU, Deborah has assisted many nurses with health issues related to return to nursing practice. She has been active in her local union for over 15 years. Deborah is currently a practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Cameron Barker, RMT
Cameron Barker graduated with honours from the Vancouver College of Massage Therapy. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, and worked with local government prior to becoming an RMT. His professional practice focuses on providing compassionate, inclusive, and effective patient-centred care. Cameron believes massage therapy is a vitally important part of a comprehensive, holistic approach to overall wellness. He is committed to ensuring RMTs are informed via clear, consistent language in order to improve the profession in a meaningful way, while protecting the public interest.
Kristen Burrows, RMT
Kristen Burrows has served the public as an RMT for more than 20 years. She was a clinical supervisor for 15 years and classroom instructor for five years at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. Kristen has served the public as a CMTBC Board member since 2020. While advocating for the public, Kristin tries to be realistic about the challenges that RMTs may face in their drive to ensure compliance with CMTBC standards.
Joti Dhesi (Public Representative)
Joti Dhesi has a degree in marketing from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and has specialized in digital marketing, leading many innovative national campaigns. In 2004, she sat on the inaugural Board of Directors of the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society. She has also participated in the Sikh Centennial Gala Committee and the Ad Club Committee. In 2012, Joti joined the CORSA Foundation Board, and since 2018, she has been on the Board of the Indian Summer Festival. She was appointed to the CMTBC Board as a public representative in January 2019.
Jennifer Lie, RMT
Jennifer Lie has been a BC RMT since 2005 and has previous Board and committee experience at CMTBC. During her previous term on the Board (2018-2020), amalgamation was an ongoing discussion. Jennifer draws on her previous experience and understanding of public-centred governance to help navigate this change in the regulation of the massage therapy profession in British Columbia.
Barbara Martin (Public Representative)
Barbara Martin is a retired resident of beautiful Ladysmith, BC, having lived and worked in Saskatchewan for most of her career. She spent the majority of her working life in health care, including as a CEO of several health care facilities. She was also a board member and then board chair of one of Saskatchewan’s health regions during the turbulent years of health reform. Barbara currently serves as a committee member with two other health regulatory colleges, and volunteers as a patient voice on some health-related projects. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother, a semi-professional singer, and enjoys sailing with her husband. She is passionate about health care in all sectors and finds end-of-life care particularly meaningful and rewarding.
Harman Pandher (Public Representative)
Harman Pandher graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts, and is currently an elementary school teacher with the Surrey School District. Harman’s passion for education and community service led him to become a school trustee with the Burnaby Board of Education for over seven years. He is also a board member of the Punjabi Language Education Association of BC, and was appointed to the CMTBC Board as a public representative in January 2019.
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