National President and CEO

Pamela Fralick, ICD.D, joined the Canadian Cancer Society in January 2013. As President and CEO, Ms Fralick brings a wealth of leadership experience in the healthcare sector, along with a passion for healthy living, athleticism and volunteering.

Before joining the Society, Ms Fralick spent 5 years as president and CEO of the Canadian Healthcare Association (CHA), a federation of provincial and territorial hospitals and health organizations. Its advocacy activities include a focus on continuing care as well as illness prevention and health promotion. Ms Fralick has also been chair of the Quality Worklife Quality Healthcare Collaborative and co-chair of the Canadian Coalition for Public Health in the 21st Century.

Before joining the CHA, Ms Fralick was CEO at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association for almost 7 years. Prior to this, she held executive positions with the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Health Canada’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Unit. She has been active in many organizations as a senior volunteer, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Triathlon Canada and the International Triathlon Union. She is on the boards of Outward Bound Canada (chair, governance committee) and the Canada Dance Festival (chair).

Ms Fralick has a BA in French and psychology and an MA in research psychology from Carleton University as well as a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Queen’s University. She is trilingual – in English, French and German – and is an accomplished athlete, having competed in numerous triathlons.

BC and Yukon Chief Executive Officer

Barbara Kaminsky has made a significant contribution in cancer control in BC and the Yukon over the eighteen years that she has proficiently led the organization as Chief Executive Officer.

During her tenure a fourth lodge for cancer patients was constructed in Prince George, a Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention was created and a Cancer Prevention Centre was established in partnership with UBC.

She is an impassioned spokesperson on good health and protective behaviours to reduce the risk of cancer, and the responsibilities of governments to ensure healthy communities. Under her leadership there were important changes to the Tobacco Act and provincial legislation to prevent youth under 18 from using tanning beds. A workplace wellness initiative, WellnessFits, was launched successfully and was expanded with support from the BC Healthy Families.

Barbara is the current Chair of the Prevention Working Group for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation 2020 initiative—The Future without Breast Cancer and Past Chair of the Primary Prevention Action Group of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

In addition to certification as a health executive, Barbara has three degrees from the University of British Columbia—a BA in English, a Master of Social Work, and a Masters of Science in Health Services Planning and Administration. She is currently an adjunct professor at UBC.