IPAC British Columbia (IPAC BC)

Welcome to IPAC BC: A chapter of IPAC Canada since 1987!

Our Chapter

Our Chapter has 195 members and covers all of British Columbia including Vancouver island. Of the IPAC BC members there is Infection Prevention and Control representation from all 6 health authorities including Providence Health Care, Industry Representation, the Good Samaritan Society, and Yale town House Society. There is representation from Acute Care, Residential Care and Mental Health and Substance Use programs. There is representation from Epidemiology, Medical Microbiologists and Health Canada - First Nations & Inuit Health. Our chapter was known as BCPIC until 2005 when we changed to CHICA BC, then to IPAC BC in 2014.

The goal of the chapter is to enhance the quality of health care by providing a forum for education and the exchange of information on communicable diseases, the control and prevention of infection in the patient/client/resident, the health care worker and the public at large.

Our Objectives

• Provide formal educational opportunities for chapter members, enabling an increase of knowledge and expertise in Infection Prevention and Control.
• Provide assistance and support to chapter members through the free exchange in ideas, information and expertise.
• Promote and facilitate a positive working relationship between chapter members and all allied health care professionals, including their representative professional organizations, in order that IPAC BC members may be seen as the primary resource persons in the field of Infection Control.
• Participate in the growth and strengthening of IPAC Canada by providing liaison persons and chapter input for committee deliberations and tasks

Our President

Hello, I am Janie Nichols, President of IPAC BC. I am also an Acute Care, Infection Prevention and Control Consultant with Fraser Health.

I have been an active member of IPAC BC since 2011, first serving as the Chapter webmaster/membership director in 2012 and then in 2015, I became President Elect.

The BC Chapter is dedicated to promoting excellence in IPAC. We manage this through education sessions at our chapter meetings, through the CIC support group and our annual education day usually held in the Autumn.

I believe IPAC BC is an excellent setting to share IPAC knowledge, to connect with other professionals across the Province and share IPAC knowledge, in an exciting and supportive venue. It is an honour and privilege to be part of such a passionate group of professionals where members can benefit from learning opportunities and collaboration.

Please feel free to contact members of the IPAC BC executive to discuss what IPAC BC has to offer.