www.nspharmacy.ca, the official website of the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator (NSPR), provides information about the pharmacy regulator, pharmacist and pharmacy technician registration, pharmacy licensure, and pharmacy practice in our province.
The information on this site is intended as a resource to pharmacy professionals and future pharmacy professionals, and to the public.
Public interpretation of health information on this site should not be substituted for the advice of a healthcare professional. For specific health matters, visitors to this site are encouraged to consult their pharmacist or other appropriate healthcare provider.
Occasionally, alternate websites are referenced on this site. This does not imply an endorsement by NSPR. The Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator does not endorse specific organizations, products, or therapies.
Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, and we acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.
We respect and honour the Peace and Friendship Treaties that were signed in this territory, setting the terms of coexistence between settlers and the Mi’kmaq people. These Treaties remain in place today.
We recognize our responsibility to uphold the Treaties in the spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration. We acknowledge the harms that have created and continue to create health inequities for Mi’kmaq People, and we commit to moving forward in partnership.
We are all Treaty People.
We recognize the histories, legacies and contributions of African Nova Scotians, a distinct people with connections to the original 52 land-based Black communities. African Nova Scotians have been a key part of enriching the culture and history of Mi’kma’ki for more than 400 years.
Mi’kma’ki includes all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, part of New Brunswick, the Gaspé region of Quebec, part of Maine, and southwestern Newfoundland.
NSPR Board & Committees
NSPR Board
Providing Guidance and Oversight
The NSPR Board serves as the governing body of the NSPR, responsible for establishing and monitoring the regulator’s fulfillment of its mandate, including overseeing its strategic plan to ensure it meets its objectives.
The Board’s leadership ensures the NSPR is effectively working in the public’s interest and maintaining standards in pharmacy practice. The Board brings together pharmacy professionals and members of the public to ensure a balanced perspective.
For 2025, the NSPR is governed by an Initial Board. The membership includes:
Three Public Representatives
Eight Pharmacy Professionals
Dalhousie College of Pharmacy Director (non-voting)
Starting in 2026, the membership of the Board includes:
Four Public Representatives
Five Pharmacy Professionals
Board Members
Babatunde Awoyiga
Chair
Public Representative
Michael MacDonald
Vice-Chair
Pharmacist
Sabrina McLean
Pharmacist
Craig Conolly
Pharmacist
Stephen MacInnis
Pharmacist
Michelle Stewart
Pharmacist
Rami Saaloukeh
Pharmacist
Lisa Nodwell
Pharmacist
Lynn Corkum
Pharmacy Technician
Kyle Wilby
Director, Dalhousie College of Pharmacy
Habiba Onuorah
Member-at-Large
Public Representative
Deepak Prasad
Public Representative
Board FAQs
What are the roles and responsibilities specific to public members?
Every Board member has a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the public and to uphold the NSPR’s mandate.
Public members bring an essential perspective to the Board’s work. They are not expected to have a background in pharmacy; rather, their primary role is to represent the public’s viewpoint and ensure it remains central to all discussions.
Eligibility for Public Members | The following individuals are ineligible to serve as public members:
Current or former pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Currently licensed regulated health professionals
Individuals who have served as a board member of a health professional association within the last 24 months
Generally, public members may not be formerly licensed regulated health professionals
Core Responsibilities | In addition to the duties shared by all Board members, public member responsibilities include:
Sharing the Public’s Perspective: Consistently providing insights from a public standpoint during the Board’s discussions and decision-making.
Enhancing Public Involvement: Reviewing how the NSPR engages with the public and recommending ways to better incorporate the public’s perspective into the Board’s governance.
Understanding the Patient Experience: Developing a general understanding of how the public experiences pharmacy services.
What are the roles and responsibilities specific to registrant members?
Every Board member has a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the public and to uphold the NSPR’s mandate. Registrant Board members must bring their unique professional perspective to discussions while making decisions that benefit the public as a whole.
Core Responsibilities of Registrant Members | In addition to the duties shared by all Board members, registrant members are expected to:
Contribute Practice Knowledge: Offer perspective on the diverse settings where pharmacy is practiced to ensure decisions are well-informed and practical.
Provide Professional Insight: Share their understanding of the current challenges, opportunities, and risks facing the pharmacy profession during Board discussions.
How often do Board appointments take place?
Appointments to serve on the Board take place annually, when needed. The term of appointment for a Board Member is three years.
Statutory Committees
Complaints Committee
The Complaints Committee is tasked with reviewing and deciding on matters related to a registrant’s behavior, skills, and ability to practice.
Pauline Tran-Roop, Pharmacist (Chair) Lynn Guscott, Public Representative (Vice Chair) Julie Berkshire, Pharmacist Gary Clarke, Public Representative Kristen Pulsifer, Pharmacy Technician Greg Richard, Pharmacist Thoko Zhakata, Public Representative
Professional Conduct Committee
The Professional Conduct Committee addresses issues referred to by the Complaints Committee, often requiring a hearing – a formal process akin to a trial. During the hearing, both perspectives are heard, and a decision is reached. Depending on the case, the Committee may dismiss the charge(s) or, if professional misconduct is found, may take actions such as suspending or revoking the registrant’s license, limiting their practice rights, imposing fines, or issuing a reprimand.
Harriet Davies, Pharmacist (Chair) Susan Halliday Mahar, Pharmacist (Vice Chair) Haitham Fathalla, Pharmacist Lisa Johnston, Pharmacy Technician Desiree Jones-Matthias, Public Representative Annette Marshall, Public Representative Edith Menzies, Public Representative Leigh Noftle, Pharmacist Ellen Purves, Pharmacist Kayla Ransome, Pharmacy Technician Tena Taylor, Pharmacist Krista Trider, Pharmacist
Fitness to Practise Committee
The Fitness to Practise (FTP) Committee receives referrals involving a registrant’s possible incapacity from the Registrar or Complaints Committee. The FTP Committee confirms the registrant’s consent and willingness to participate fully, including to adhere to any Interim and/or Remedial Agreement.
Trina Organ, Pharmacist (Chair) Brian Wilbur, Public Representative (Vice Chair) Serena Bruce, Pharmacy Technician Julia Green, Pharmacist
Registration and Licensing Committee
The Registration and Licensing Committee reviews applications for registration and licensure when requested by the Registrar and makes a determination if applicants meet the necessary qualifications and criteria to practice pharmacy in Nova Scotia.
Registration and Licensing Review Committee
The Registration and Licensing Review Committee hears and determines appeals by a person (1) whose application to register or license with NSPR has been refused, or (2) who disagrees with the conditions placed on their licence by the Registrar when they apply. The Committee is composed of at least three people, one of whom is a public representative.
Ashely Hamp-Gonsalves, Public Representative (Chair) Susan Ferguson, Pharmacist Sarah Norris, Pharmacy Technician Heather Penney, Pharmacist
Registration Reinstatement Committee
The Reinstatement Committee reviews applications for reinstatement of registration or licence following a revocation or a resignation authorized under the Act.
Standing Board Committees
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee oversees business that arises from and between Board meetings in accordance with the goals, objectives, and policies of the pharmacy regulator.
Babatunde Awoyiga (Chair) Michael MacDonald (Vice-Chair) Habiba Onuorah (Member-at-Large)
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee oversees the pharmacy regulator’s financial reporting process and the integrity of its financial statements. They are responsible for ensuring that the NSPR is compliant with the appropriate legal and regulatory requirements related to financial matters. This Committee also reviews the financial performance information which is provided to stakeholders via the Annual Report.
Deepak Prasad (Chair) Bernard Oche, Public Representative Craig Connolly Stephen MacInnis Rami Saaloukeh
Governance Committee
The primary role of the Governance Committee is to review and/or develop the internal governance policies of the pharmacy regulator so that the Board performs optimally and is accountable to the public of Nova Scotia.
Lynn Corkum (Chair) Michael MacDonald Sabrina McLean Lisa Nodwell
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Committee
The EDI Advisory Committee’s purpose is to uphold the NSPR’s dedication to enhancing the safety and quality of pharmacy care for Nova Scotians in underrepresented groups, with a particular focus on African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities. The Committee aims to elevate the voices of equity-seeking groups to the Board, striving to recognize and address any health inequities.
Habiba Onuorah (Chair) Kristy Barnaby Samantha Darville Kenneth Oguzie Michelle Patrick Greg Richard Leeann Walling
