2025 NSCFP Annual Awards Banquet

You are cordially invited to the NSCFP Family Medicine Awards Banquet on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Pier 21 in Halifax.



This elegant evening is dedicated to honouring the exceptional contributions of our award recipients and celebrating the many achievements within the discipline of family medicine. Join us as we recognize clinical excellence, leadership, teaching, and service that continue to advance the health and well-being of our communities.

The NSCFP Family Medicine Awards Banquet is proudly held in conjunction with the Dalhousie Department of Family Medicine Awards!

NSCFP Family Physician of the Year 2025

Dr. Timothy Holland, CCFP(EM) 

Halifax

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is proud to recognize Dr. Tim Holland as the 2025 Family Physician of the Year for Nova Scotia. A dedicated clinician, preceptor, and leader, Dr. Holland’s career exemplifies both compassion for patients and commitment to advancing the specialty of family medicine.

He co-founded and continues to serve as Medical Director of the Newcomer Health Clinic, which provides comprehensive primary care for refugees and refugee claimants in Halifax.

As Head of the Department of Bioethics at Dalhousie University, Dr. Holland brings thoughtful leadership to some of medicine’s most complex ethical issues. He previously served as Chair of the Canadian Medical Association’s Ethics Committee, playing a key role in the landmark 2018 revision of the CMA Code of Ethics. A recognized leader in Medical Assistance in Dying, he has contributed to provincial and national guidance and curriculum development, ensuring this care is delivered with both expertise and compassion.

Dr. Holland provides culturally safe care to Indigenous patients through his ongoing work at Sipekne'katik Health Centre.

He has also championed equity and social justice more broadly, co-founding Doctors for Decriminalization to advocate for evidence-informed drug policy and address the disproportionate impact of criminalization on marginalized communities.

Through his scholarship, teaching, and advocacy, Dr. Holland has made an enduring impact on patients, medical learners, and health policy in Nova Scotia and across Canada.

Dr. Charles & Mrs. Jean Gass Lifetime Achievement Award 2025

Dr. Robert Oliver, MDCM, FCFP 

Dartmouth

The Dr. Charles & Mrs. Jean Gass Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025 is proudly presented to Dr. Bob Oliver, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to family medicine in Nova Scotia.

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Dr. Oliver has embodied the very best of comprehensive family practice. He has cared for patients across the full spectrum of life, from obstetrics and pediatrics to geriatrics, emergency medicine, inpatient care, and surgical assistance.

As the driving force behind the Woodlawn Medical Clinic, he not only provides exceptional care but also demonstrates visionary leadership, ensuring his clinic was among the first in the region to adopt an electronic medical record system.

Dr. Oliver is a dedicated teacher and mentor. He has served as a Lecturer in the Department of Family Medicine at Dalhousie University, where he has guided countless medical learners. His excellence in teaching was recognized when he was named Preceptor of the Year, reflecting the profound impact he has had in shaping the next generation of family physicians.

Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Oliver has been an influential leader provincially and nationally, serving as President of the Board of Maritime Medical Care, President of the Nova Scotia College of Family Physicians, President of the Dartmouth Medical Society, Chief of Family Practice at Dartmouth General Hospital, and as a board member of both the Medical Society of Nova Scotia and the College of Family Physicians of Canada, in addition to serving on numerous committees at Dartmouth General. 

Dr. Oliver’s commitment to his patients and his community has remained unwavering throughout his career, exemplifying a deep sense of duty, compassion, and leadership in family medicine. This award celebrates his lifetime of excellence, service, and the lasting impact he continues to make on both his patients and the profession.

NSCFP Award of Excellence 2025

Dr. Ash McCormick, CCFP(EM)

Digby

Dr. Ash McCormick is being recognised for his dedication to full-scope rural care and tireless advocacy for his patients.

NSCFP Award of Excellence 2025

Dr. Michele Saxon, CCFP 

Middleton

Dr. Michele Saxon is being recognised for her commitment to comprehensive care and her dedication as a preceptor.

NSCFP Patient’s Medical Home: Outstanding Team-Based Family Practice Award 2025

Clare Health Centre

Meteghan Centre

Clare Health Centre Recognized for Excellence in the Patient’s Medical Home Model

The Nova Scotia College of Family Physicians is proud to recognize Clare Health Centre as the 2025 recipient of our inaugural Patient’s Medical Home: Outstanding Team-Based Family Practice Award.

Located in the Acadian region of Nova Scotia, the Clare Health Centre has been a vital part of the community since opening its doors in 2008. The clinic embodies the principles of the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Patient’s Medical Home model through a truly collaborative, team-based approach to patient care.

Clare Health Centre offers comprehensive, continuous, and coordinated care to approximately 10,000 patients in the Municipality of Clare and surrounding areas. Their interprofessional team is comprised of 11 family physicians, 1 nurse practitioner, 3 nurses, and 3 allied health professionals, all working together to improve health outcomes and patient experiences.

The clinic exemplifies the PMH vision by:

• Offering timely access to care through advanced access scheduling
• Supporting comprehensive care with a range of in-clinic and community services
•  Maintaining strong relationships with patients and their families
• Using EMRs and quality improvement initiatives to continuously enhance care delivery
• Prioritizing continuity and coordination through close collaboration among providers

This award celebrates the Clare Health Centre’s commitment to innovation, teamwork, and excellence in primary care – a true model of what family medicine can look like when it centers on the needs of patients and communities.

Congratulations, Clare Health Centre!

Dr. Michelle Dow, CCFP

Dr. Giselle Dugas, CCMF

Dr. Jean-Luc Dugas, CCMF, FCMF

Dr. Alain Blinn, CCFP

Dr. Erica Lasher-Coates, CCFP(EM)

Dr. Emma Leon, CCFP

Dr. Kristen Melanson, CCFP

Dr. Emma LeBlanc, CCFP

Dr. Joel Arsenault, CCFP

Dr. Dylan Engell, CCFP

Dr. Amanda Glenn, CCFP

Crystal Thibodeau, NP

Steven Baggs, RN-AP, Family Practice Nurse

Catherine Smith, RN, Family Practice Nurse

Nicole Meritt, Social Worker

Marsha Arnburg-LeBlanc, Dietitian

Amanda Thibodeau, RN, Diabetic Clinic

Jessica Eisener, Kinesiologist & Wellness Coordinator

We are proud to celebrate this year’s Dalhousie Department of Family Medicine award winners, whose dedication to teaching and mentorship shapes the future of family medicine!

• Dr. Jennifer Lange – Undergraduate Preceptor of the Year Award
• Dr. Kyarash Safakish – Undergraduate Preceptor of the Year Award
• Dr. Janet Green – Ted Atkinson Award (Postgraduate Preceptor of the Year)

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Friday, October 17, 2025

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax

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Conference Information:

2025 NSCFP Family Medicine Conference

Friday, October 17, 2025

Family Medicine Conference: 8:50 am - 4:15 pm | More Info

Annual Meeting of Members: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm | More Info

Awards Banquet: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm | View Recipients! | Get Tickets!

Hotel Information

Make the most of your conference experience by staying at The Westin Nova Scotian—steps from Pier 21 and the Halifax waterfront. Enjoy the convenience, comfort, and charm of downtown Halifax right at your doorstep!

Last Day to Book: Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Book at $279 CAD per night

Visit Halifax

The Discover Halifax Show Your Badge Program is a conference delegate appreciation program. Simply show your badge at participating local businesses, and earn special offers. From local food tours to souvenirs to local experiences, you’ll save on the best the city has to offer!  

Halifax Visitor Guide | Dining in Halifax