ABOUT
History
The Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF) was established by the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) in 1977. A registered charitable organization, the COETF supports optometric research, education and professional development through unrestricted cash awards to individuals and institutions. Since 1977, the COETF has awarded over two million dollars in grants and financial support. In 2014, the COETF moved to an independent management structure and is currently managed by the Board of Trustees and various Provincial Fundraising Chairs. The Board of Trustees consists of five members of the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) and the term for each Trustee is three years.
Please click here to review the COETF Bylaws revised in 2020.
Board Of Trustees:
Dr. Joan Hansen
Chair (214-1077 56 St., Delta, BC)
Joan Hansen was born and raised with three sisters on a small beef farm in Lundar Manitoba. Joan graduated from the School of Optometry in Waterloo, Ontario in 1979. Upon graduation, she worked in Winnipeg with Bruce Rosner and Steve Mintz until 1982. She moved to Tsawwassen in 1982 and opened her practice in January 1983.
Joan was president of the BC Association of Optometrists from 1995-1997and served as President of the Canadian Association of Optometrists 2004- 2005. Joan also chaired the Optometry Giving Sight in its early years and currently chairs The Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF).
Joan was also an elected member of the BC Board of Examiners in Optometry (2000 – 2003) and is currently an elected member and serves as Vice President of the BC College of Optometrists. Since 2009 she has organized and run a small Continuing Education program for Optometrists. Joan is also community-oriented with past involvement as the director of the Tsawwassen Business association, Director of the Business Improvement Association, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Retirement Centre Foundation. She has been a member of the Rotary Club of Tswassen since it chartered in 1992 – serving as president 1999 – 2000.
She has been a TV Colour commentator for the local Summer Sun Festival Parade and hosted a weekly hour long open line radio show 1997 – 1999.
Joan loves to putter in her garden in her spare time.
Dr. Alexandra Fortier
Optometrist
Dr. Fortier has been working as an optometrist for the past three years in an optometrist owned private practice in Gatineau. She completed her Doctorate in optometry at the University of Montréal in 2019. That same year she was named student of the year by the Quebec Optometric Association. During her studies she was co-author on two research papers in the field of dry eyes . Before pursuing her Doctorate of Optometry she also completed a Bachelor's in Business Administration at University Laval in Quebec City.
Dr. Fortier works with a diverse clientele in her practice ranging from young children with amblyopia to elderly patients with chronic conditions like Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy. She enjoys working in an environment where each patient’s condition has its own specific requirements. This has shown her the importance of research in optometry since, in order for every patients needs to be fulfilled, optometry has to constantly move forward. Therefore she is thrilled to participate in an organization that supports the optometric profession and it's development through education and research.
Sean Ng is a third-year optometry student studying at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science. He completed a 3-year B.Sc. at the University of Western Ontario in 2020. Sean currently sits as the Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS) UW chapter president. As the president, he wishes to enhance the school experience of his fellow colleagues and to promote the optometric profession at the institution, public and government levels.
Ambitions of his is to pursue a contact lens and cornea residency upon graduation and further down operate in a group-owned private practice near his hometown in the Greater Toronto Area. The continuing advancements in the technology of contact lenses is what fascinates him and is the reason why he intends to pursue a residency in that specialty. For him to contribute to that, would be a dream come true!
This year, Sean is excited to work alongside the amazing COETF team to continue supporting optometric research and education.
Dr. Michael York
407 1st Ave. N, Saskatoon, SK
Dr Michael York received his Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1992. He is currently in private practice with FYI doctors – Atrium Optometric Group in Saskatoon, SK where he has been since 1994 with his wife Diane and their three children. Throughout his time in Saskatchewan, Dr York has been actively involved in his provincial optometry Association. He was elected to Council in 2002 and held every available portfolio including SAO president from 2009 to 2011, and continues to serve on a number of Association committees and advisory boards. Dr York was awarded Saskatchewan’s Optometrist of the Year in 2007.
Dr. Martin Spiro
CAO Liaison (940 Boul Saint-Jean, Pointe-Claire, QC
Dr. Martin Spiro completed his doctorate of optometry at the University of Montreal in 2014 and was the recipient of the Quebec Optometric Association’s student of the year award. He additionally holds a bachelor of science in human physiology from McGill University, where he also completed an internship in cancer research.
Dr. Spiro practices and is a co-owner of Optika Eye Care Center in Montreal Qc. He also shares his time with the Montreal Association of the Blind (MAB-Mackay) Rehabilitation Center working with patients suffering from visual impairment.
Dr. Spiro is an active participant in the optometric community. He is the representative for the province of Quebec and the current Vice President at the Canadian Association of Optometrists. He is also involved at an academic level as a clinical educator at the University of Montreal School of Optometry.
Dr. Joshua Smith has been in private practice in eastern Ontario since 2013, primarily in the rural township of Alexandria. Dr. Smith completed his Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Waterloo in 2013 after completing a M.Sc. at the University of Calgary and a B.Sc.(Hon.) at Mount Allison University. He has a special interest in visual neurorehabilitation, particularly in cases of stroke, working with the stroke rehabilitation unit at the Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria. Dr. Smith served on the board of the Ontario Association of Optometrists from 2014-2021, including as President from 2018-2020. He also served for three years as Ontario’s representative on the Council of the Canadian Association from Optometrists and is currently a Trustee of the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund. Dr. Smith takes a pause each year from practice to serve on medical mission trips abroad, with his seventh mission having been to Ghana in November 2019.
Anne Stacey
Executive Director
Anne Stacey has been supporting non-profit associations for almost 20 years. Her career started at Chambers of Commerce in both Lindsay, ON and Mission, BC and extended to multiple National non-profit associations over the past several years. Anne built a knowledge around business affairs, supporting members and donors, and developing both communication and marketing strategies. She looks forward to working with COETF Trustees to maximize the positive impact of COETF initiatives.