2025: The Year In Review
In 2025, we made it our mission to further increase the value of OPA membership and enhance the member experience. With a focus on supporting members through both their professional journey and personal lives, we introduced a range of new benefits to better serve our diverse membership and help them thrive in their practice and at home.
2025: The Year In Review
In 2025, we made it our mission to further increase the value of OPA membership and enhance the member experience. With a focus on supporting members through both their professional journey and personal lives, we introduced a range of new benefits to better serve our diverse membership and help them thrive in their practice and at home.
Diverse Membership, One Unified Voice
Diverse Membership, One Unified Voice
New in 2025
New in 2025
OPA Lifestyle Perks
Early-Career Pharmacist Membership Category
Group Savings & Pension Program
Group Travel Insurance
To help recent graduates make a strong and confident start in their pharmacy journey, we launched a dedicated membership category designed specifically for early-career pharmacists in their first two years of practice.
Includes $10,000 in complimentary life insurance coverage to give peace of mind from the start.
Access to the Early-Career Pharmacist Committee to have a platform to influence the future of the Association.
Free enrollment in our LEAD leadership development program to gain confidence and career-readiness.
Exclusive access to networking events, mentorship opportunities, and member-only benefits designed with early-career needs in mind.
Momentum That Moves the Profession Forward
Momentum That Moves the Profession Forward
In 2025, we saw some great achievements that reflect the persistence and purpose behind our advocacy. Notable highlights include:
Any Willing Provider (AWP) Legislation That Addresses Preferred Provider Networks (PPNs)
OPA delivered a significant advocacy win for the profession this year regarding Any Willing Provider (AWP) legislation. After nearly a decade of OPA-led stakeholder engagement, government relations, education and submissions, the government introduced legislation that represents a major step forward in protecting patient choice, strengthening the pharmacist-patient relationship, supporting pharmacy professional autonomy, and promoting fair and sustainable financial conditions for all pharmacies across Ontario. Bill 68, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 (No. 2), received royal assent on November 27, 2025, and enables an AWP framework that would allow any pharmacy willing to match a PPN’s financial terms to join, in addition to creating a standardized and transparent exemption process from PPNs for patients where appropriate. This success marks an important step forward for pharmacy and leads the way for other healthcare professionals facing similar challenges to patient choice.
Scope Expansion
This year also marked another milestone in our long-standing efforts to expand the scopes of practice for pharmacy professionals. If approved, new regulations will:
- Authorize pharmacists to assess and prescribe for 14 additional minor ailments
- Authorize pharmacists to administer injectable buprenorphine
- Enable pharmacists to provide additional vaccines beyond those currently listed in Schedule 3 of O. Reg. 256/24
- Enable pharmacy technicians to administer all vaccines listed in Schedule 3 of O. Reg. 256/24
The government is also consulting stakeholders on the administration of potential laboratory tests and point-of-care tests by pharmacists to support the implementation of additional minor ailment prescribing.
Looking Ahead
We are focused on strengthening the long-term sustainability of the pharmacy sector. This includes advocating for a dispensing fee increase and securing funding for currently unfunded services, such as prescription renewals.
These efforts are aimed at supporting pharmacy professionals to thrive in patient-focused practice environments, with fair and equitable compensation that reflects the value of the care you provide.
We are also continuing to push for further scope expansion, with the goal of autonomous prescribing that enables pharmacists to practice to their full potential. At the same time, we are advocating for community pharmacy to play a greater role in improving access to primary care by unlocking the value of pharmacists in managing chronic disease and supporting ongoing patient care.
Every advocacy success represents years of behind-the-scenes work. Negotiations, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, submissions, and government and public campaigns are just part of the journey; what truly moves the needle is unity. It is the persistence and consistency of our voice and the firm belief in the critical role of pharmacy professionals within the health care system that turns possibility into progress.
Every advocacy success represents years of behind-the-scenes work. Negotiations, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, submissions, and government and public campaigns are just part of the journey; what truly moves the needle is unity. It is the persistence and consistency of our voice and the firm belief in the critical role of pharmacy professionals within the health care system that turns possibility into progress.
Insights and Support to Strengthen the Profession
Insights and Support to Strengthen the Profession
Wage and Benefits Report
OPA released an updated Wage and Benefits Report this year, reflecting input from over 1,700 pharmacy professionals. This comprehensive snapshot of compensation, benefits and workplace dynamics will help inform our advocacy for fair pay and promote greater equity, transparency, and long-term stability across the pharmacy sector.
Practical Tools to Support Pharmacy Professionals
In 2025, OPA developed and updated a range of tools and resources to help pharmacy professionals deliver safe and effective care. These tools are designed to enhance practice, streamline workflows, and ensure pharmacy teams stay informed in a constantly evolving healthcare environment.
Spotlight on Tomorrow’s Leaders
During this year’s Pharmacy Appreciation Month (PAM), we profiled the next generation of pharmacists, celebrating their fresh perspectives and contributions.
This video series featured inspiring stories of early-career pharmacy professionals in action, highlighting their impact on patient care.
Celebrating Excellence in Pharmacy – OPA Awards 2025
Every year, we proudly recognize individuals who go above and beyond to advance the profession and improve patient care. Our 2025 award recipients represent the best of pharmacy through their innovation, leadership, mentorship, and impact.
Governance Modernization
The 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) ushered in key reforms to the Association’s governance. Members approved changing regional board districts to province-wide general board seats. This makes leadership opportunities accessible to all pharmacist members. Voting rights are now extended to Pharmacy Technician and Hospital Pharmacist members, making OPA’s leadership more inclusive and representative of the whole profession.
Fueling Growth Through High-Impact Education
Fueling Growth Through High-Impact Education
In 2025, we continued to make our professional development more accessible and affordable by providing complimentary access to some of our most in-demand programs, many of which are CCCEP accredited. With over $1,600 in free courses, we made lifelong learning more accessible than ever. We also developed 6 new accredited online courses to further enhance our PD offerings. Here are some highlights of our programs:
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Minor Ailments Workshop
This year also marked the launch of our in-person Minor Ailments Workshop. In collaboration with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, this interactive experience helped pharmacy teams streamline operations, build confidence in minor ailment assessments, and strengthen care delivery. More programs are in development to support our members as the scope continues to grow.
Supporting Advanced Practice
We continue to enhance and expand our advanced practice programs to ensure they reflect the latest practice standards, evidence, and clinical practice guidelines. In 2025, we updated important programs such as the Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) course, and invested to overhaul our popular Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE®) exam preparation course. Our goal is to give you the resources and credentials you need to grow your expertise and expand your impact.
RxTalks Regional Events 2025
We hit the road with RxTalks Regional Events across Ontario, bringing OPA directly to local communities. Four events in 2025 drew 200+ registrants, delivering valuable education sessions, advocacy conversations, and networking opportunities. These regional meet-ups strengthen member engagement at the local level and foster community connections in every corner of the province.
EPIC Program
EPIC Program
Our EPIC program continued to unite industry leaders, pharmacy influencers, and advocates in dynamic ways. In 2025, EPIC hosted three virtual sessions and one in-person summit, connecting change-makers from across the profession. These forums fostered high-level discussions, fresh ideas, and ongoing collaboration on how to advance pharmacy practice and patient care in Ontario.
Thank You to Our OPA Members Corporate Sponsors Affiliate Partners Insurance Partners Education Program Developers
Thank You to Our OPA Members Corporate Sponsors Affiliate Partners Insurance Partners Education Program Developers
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Don’t miss out on being part of our exciting plans and transformative initiatives for the upcoming year.
Don’t miss out on being part of our exciting plans and transformative initiatives for the upcoming year.
