At its most recent Council meeting hosted in Halifax, N.S, during CAO 39th biennial Congress, Dr. Allison Scott was officially appointed President of the Canadian Association of Optometrists for a two-year term.
A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry (2006), Dr. Scott has been a dedicated practitioner in the Halifax region for nearly two decades. Her work spans comprehensive family eye care – often treating multiple generations within the same family – as well as a growing specialty in contact lens services. Throughout most of her career, she has held numerous leadership roles with the Nova Scotia
Association of Optometrists and joined the CAO Council in 2011. Beyond her clinical and leadership contributions, Dr. Scott is also an official with Skate Canada and actively volunteers as a figure skating judge at local events.
“It’s an honour to represent optometrists from across the country,” said Dr. Scott. “As our profession evolves – through innovations in AI, telemedicine – CAO is committed to supporting optometrists through these changes. While reflecting on our new strategic plan in 2026, we will build on our momentum and shape the future of optometry in Canada.”
Dr. Scott assumes the presidency at a pivotal time for eye care in Canada. With the recent passage of Bill C-284, establishing a National Strategy for Eye Care – an initiative that aligns with CAO’s long-standing advocacy to prioritize vision health as a core component of Canada’s healthcare system – CAO remains committed to ensuring policy makers recognize the critical role optometrists play in delivering accessible, proactive eye care to all Canadians.
“As we move forward, there are challenges ahead – improving access in rural and remote communities, addressing ophthalmic drug shortages, closing research gaps, and raising public awareness about the importance of regular eye exams for early detection to improving eye care outcomes for Canadians”, she added.
With Dr. Scott moving into the role of CAO President, Dr. Mark Kepes joined the CAO Council as the new representative from Nova Scotia. Dr. Surjinder Sahota became CAO Vice-President, Dr. Troy Brady became Secretary-Treasurer, and Dr. Martin Spiro moved into the role of CAO Past President.
About the Canadian Association of Optometrists
The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) is the national voice of optometry. Optometrists are independent primary health care providers and represent the front line of vision health. Optometrists practice in a range of settings: most work in private practice, others work in clinics, hospitals, community health centres, corporate optometry, research, teaching, and administration. Recognized at home and internationally as a leading advocate for the profession, CAO is dedicated to providing leadership and support to its +8,400 members (Optometrists, Students, and Optometric Assistants) to enhance the delivery of healthy eyes and clear vision for all Canadians.
For more information, visit www.opto.ca.
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