Council Elections results
Congratulations and welcome to the candidates elected to Council in 2026:
- Kristen Neilipovitz, RN, elected in the Eastern region
- Nicole Melnyk, RN, elected in the Eastern region
- Sophie Viau, RPN, acclaimed in the Eastern region
- Lori Reitze, RN, elected in the Northeastern region
- Kimberly Wagg, RPN, acclaimed in the Northeastern region
- Madison Boudreau, RN, elected in the Northwestern region
- Michael Hogard, RPN, acclaimed in the Northwestern region
We are grateful to all the candidates who put their names forward for election, and for all the nurses who voted.
The new members will begin their terms in June 2026. At that time, we will also bid farewell to several members of Council whose terms will end. CNO thanks the following members of Council for their commitment and contributions:
- Helen Anyia, RPN
- Grace Fox, NP
- Sylvain Leduc, NP
- Patricia Sullivan, RN
What's Council?
Council is CNO’s board of directors, and it’s composed of nurses and members of the public. Council makes important decisions that shape the regulation of nursing and promote public safety. Together, Council and CNO have one purpose: to protect the public by promoting safe nursing practice.
Is Council for me?
If you’re passionate about safe client care, then sitting on Council will be a personally and professionally rewarding experience. This is your opportunity to contribute your perspective to a diverse group of nurses from all types of positions and settings along with members of the public, while supporting decisions that promote safe nursing practice.
For more information, please watch our six-part video series about Council.
Time Commitment and Expectations
Serving on Council requires a meaningful commitment of time and attention. If elected to serve on Council you will be expected to fulfill the following responsibilities and time commitments:
- The term of office for a Council member is three years, effective June.
- Council meets quarterly for 2–3 days per meeting. Two meetings are held remotely and two are hybrid (in-person attendance is encouraged; however, remote participation is supported for all meetings).
- Members also serve on at least one statutory committee, with additional time required for preparation and meetings (1–4 days per month, mostly remote). We recommend having employer support for participation.
- CNO provides a stipend for Council and committee work, including travel time. For committee work, members may also claim for preparation time. Please note that the stipend is not a salary replacement.
- Members must be able to review materials in an online portal (equipment and training are provided) and participate in remote meetings in a private, uninterrupted space.
Review the Council Member Role description to learn more.
Competency-Based Elections
Competency-based Council elections support Council’s commitment to effective governance and regulating the nursing profession in the public interest. This approach helps ensure that Council members collectively have the attributes and competencies to effectively serve on Council.
The Council Attributes and Competencies Profile helps:
- guide potential candidates in understanding the desired competencies
- inform voters about the experience and strengths of candidates
- support Council members’ ongoing development
Review the Council Attributes and Competencies Profile to learn more and reflect on the attributes and competencies needed on Council.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to run as a candidate, you must:
- work in the electoral district holding an election, or if you are not employed in nursing, reside in that district
- be registered in the General or Extended Class
- be in good standing with CNO
For the full list of eligibility requirements, please review Article 52 of By-Law No. 1: General.
In addition, please review Article 6 of By-Law No. 3: Council and Committee Code of Conduct to confirm you meet the requirements regarding prohibited positions.
Steps to run for council
Once you have confirmed you meet the eligibility requirements, please follow the steps below.
After completing the compliance form, if you are an eligible candidate you will receive a link where you will do the following:
- Review the Council Attributes and Competencies Profile and complete a self-assessment form to reflect on your skills and attributes. The profile outlines all of the skills and attributes required on Council. Collectively, Council members will demonstrate the required skills. No single member is expected to bring all of these competencies to Council.
- Respond to questions and voluntarily share aspects of your identity and lived experiences (optional). Candidate responses to the questions and information shared about your lived experiences will be shared with voters to help them make an informed choice.
How to find your electoral district
If you live and work in different districts, here’s how to find your electoral district.
| If you... |
Your electoral district is based on |
| Work in nursing in Ontario |
Your primary employer's address as listed on CNO's register |
| Not currently working in nursing, but live in Ontario |
Your home address as listed on CNO’s register |
| Work in nursing in another province, but live in Ontario |
Your home address as listed on CNO's register |
| Do not work or live in Ontario |
You are not eligible to participate in the election |
Questions?
Send an email to elections@cnomail.org. Please include your name, registration number and electoral district.