APEX Awards
About the APEX Awards
The Alberta Pharmacy Excellence (APEX) Awards recognize excellence in pharmacy practice in Alberta. Initiated in August 2007, the awards were jointly funded, promoted, and presented by the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) and the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA) until 2021. RxA is now the independent host of the APEX awards.
Questions?
Please contact us at rxa@rxa.ca.
2026 APEX Award Recipients
Our 2026 APEX Awards recipients were nominated by their peers for providing exceptional patient care to Albertans and for their contributions to the advancement of pharmacy practice. We applaud the efforts of all our award recipients and those who took the time to share their stories through a nomination letter.
Award recipients will be honoured at the APEX Awards Gala, taking place on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton, in the evening.
The APEX Awards are being held in conjunction with RxA’s Spring Professional Development Conference.
Each recipient will be profiled in upcoming issues of The Capsule and on RxA’s social media.
M.J. Huston Pharmacist of Distinction – Igor Shaskin, Stafford Pharmacy and Home Healthcare
Excellence in Patient Care Award – Jasnit Dhindsa, ARx Pharmacy & Homecare
Friend of Pharmacy – Dr. Conar O’Neil, Infectious Disease Physician, Hepatitis Support Program, Provincial Corrections Health Services
Future of Pharmacy – Dr. Dillon Jayachandran, CareRx and Haneen Othman, Mint Pharmacy
W.L. Boddy Pharmacy Team – Pharmasave Copperfield #311
Bowl of Hygeia – Amyn Kanjee, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy #398
Thank you to the APEX Awards Committee for their time and effort: Sean Hanson, Jil Mason, Nella Fehr, Clark Jantzie, and Jenny Vuong.
Award Categories
M.J. Huston Pharmacist of Distinction
The M.J. Huston Pharmacist of Distinction award is presented annually to a pharmacist who has demonstrated leadership and advanced the pharmacist profession through a long-time commitment to innovation, continual professional development, and quality patient care. For more details, see the terms of reference.
W.L. Boddy Pharmacy Team Award
This award is presented to a healthcare team (pharmacy staff team or multidisciplinary team that includes one or more pharmacists) in Alberta who, by virtue of their collaboration skills and use of the pharmacist’s full scope of practice, positively impact the health of individuals in their community. For more details, see the terms of reference.
Excellence in Patient Care Award
This award is presented to a pharmacist who, in the last calendar year, has gone over and above in their commitment to deliver quality patient care and for their lasting impact on patient outcomes, health, and wellness. For more details, see the terms of reference.
Award of Innovative Practice
This award is presented to a pharmacist who, in the last calendar year, has developed and/or implemented an innovative, original pharmacy program or service which is significant to their area of practice and has a lasting impact on patient outcomes. For more details, see the terms of reference.
Friend of Pharmacy
The Friend of Pharmacy Award is presented to a non-pharmacist/non-pharmacy technician who has contributed significantly to the success of the profession of pharmacy. The recipient will have gone beyond the day-to-day expectations of their work to exemplify excellence in their field of work as well as in their contribution to pharmacy. For more details, see the terms of reference.
Future of Pharmacy
The Future of Pharmacy Award is presented to up to three pharmacists per year who exude a
passion for pharmacy and offer extraordinary promise to the profession. Nominees will exhibit
strong leadership skills and the initiative to become one of the profession’s role models. For more details, see the terms of reference.
The Bowl of Hygeia Award for Outstanding Community Service
The Bowl of Hygeia is awarded annually to a pharmacist who has compiled an outstanding record of community service which, apart from their specific identification as a pharmacist, reflects well on the profession. For more details, see the terms of reference.
Mentorship Award
The Mentorship Award recognizes excellence among mentors in the pharmacy profession. The recipient of this award has shown extraordinary commitment throughout their career in guiding, supporting and promoting the training and career development of others and has had a significant positive impact on their mentee’s careers. This award is based on the training experiences and success of the nominee’s mentees. For more details, see the terms of reference.