Investing in Canada’s future pharmacists

Pictured above: CFP’s Executive Director, Linda Prytula, with the winners of the 2025-2026 Guy Genest Award. Photo by © Agence Voltaic Inc

With pharmacists’ scope of practice expanding across Canada—and more opportunities still emerging—the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy (CFP) is championing the next generation of pharmacists.

Among the Foundation’s various initiatives for students is its sponsorship of the annual Guy Genest Passion for Pharmacy Award, which recognizes one individual from each Faculty/School of Pharmacy in Canada who has demonstrated a notable passion and dedication to the profession.

CFP Executive Director Linda Prytula recently joined the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI) to present the awards to 11 exemplary students during CAPSI’s annual Professional Development Week, held in Quebec City this past January. This year’s winners are:

Max Albrecht (University of Alberta)

Jade Brassard (Université Laval)

Carolane Boisvert (Université de Montréal)

Sarah Darch (University of Waterloo)

Divya George (University of Manitoba)

Elizabeth Lamarche (University of Ottawa)

Tanisha Misra (University of British Columbia) 

Anica Shafiq (University of Toronto)

Carlos Zapien Verdugo (University of Saskatchewan

Alexis Young (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Andrea Young (University of Dalhousie)

“At CFP, supporting pharmacy students is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of the profession,” says Prytula. “These award recipients are already demonstrating the leadership, dedication and curiosity that will help shape pharmacy practice and patient care across Canada in the years ahead.”

Essential management resources

The Foundation also continued its draw for free copies of the Pharmacy Management in Canada textbook—made possible through the support of Shoppers Drug Mart/Loblaw Companies Limited—to second-year pharmacy students at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. This marks the third consecutive year students have received this comprehensive resource dedicated to pharmacy management in Canada.

Beyond these initiatives, Prytula says she is always looking for new ways to connect with pharmacy students and raise awareness of the Foundation’s grants and awards and events that support innovation and leadership within the profession. For example, the Wellspring Pharmacy Leadership Award is an excellent opportunity for new pharmacists to attain financial aid for career development. This year’s deadline for Wellspring applications is May 16.

Prytula will also be connecting with students—and offering giveaways—at CFP’s booth at the upcoming Ontario Pharmacy Student Integrative Summit, hosted by University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and University of Ottawa from March 27–29.

“I welcome opportunities to meet pharmacy students and connect with the newest members of our profession,” says Prytula. “These conversations are incredibly important as we look toward the future of pharmacy in Canada.”