Embalmers and Funeral Directors Board

Department

Authority

Remuneration

Purpose:

The Embalmers and Funeral Directors Board of Newfoundland and Labrador (the Board) regulates the practice of the profession within Newfoundland and Labrador and may include the following duties:

• the preparation and submission of an annual report;
• prescribing fees;
• making by-laws;
• making regulations (subject to the approval of the Minister of Government Services);
• conducting inspections;
• granting licenses; and
• matters related to discipline.

Structure:

The Board consists of the following members: two funeral directors, elected in accordance with the by-laws, in addition to two embalmers, elected in accordance with the by-laws. The association then elects one of these members to serve as Chairperson of the Board. Three members are appointed by the Minister of Government Services to represent the public interest. Public interest members must not be funeral directors or embalmers.

Competency Profile:

Individuals interested in representing the public interest on the Board should have a diverse background and bring a wide range of perspectives and knowledge. Collectively, public interest appointees could possess the following core competencies:

• strategic management and organizational change;
• legal expertise
• public relations;
• public sector administration;
• governance;
• human resources;
• experience with self-regulating organizations;
• previous board experience;
• analytical skills;
• executive experience;
• financial expertise/literacy; and
• decision making skills.

Qualifications:

Members of the Board should possess the following qualifications:

• high ethical standards and integrity;
• appreciation of the responsibilities of the public;
• flexible, responsive and willing to consider others’ opinions;
• capable of having a wide perspective on issues;
• ability to listen and work as a team member;
• strong reasoning skills; and
• no direct or indirect conflict of interest.

Time Commitments:

The Board is required to hold an annual general meeting once per year at a time and place that may be set out in the by-laws. The Board may also hold other general meetings during the year as provided for in the by-laws. Further to this, the Board typically meets four times a year for full day meetings. There may also be subcommittee work involved which usually requires four full day meetings per year. 

Term:

In accordance with the Embalmers and Funeral Directors Act, 2008, a person appointed by the Minister holds office for a term of three years and is eligible to be re-appointed. Where a person appointed by the Minister holds office for a period of nine consecutive years the person is not eligible for appointment as a member of the board until the expiration of 12 months from the end of the year in which he or she was last a member. Where the term of an appointed member expires, he or she continues to be a member until re-appointed or replaced but time served by that member under this subsection shall not be counted for the purpose of the nine consecutive year limitation.

Vacancy Profile:

The Embalmers and Funeral Directors Board is seeking to fill one position to represent public interest. Public interest members appointed by the Minister may not be embalmers or funeral directors. Expressions of interest are being sought from individuals who possess the background, experience and skill-set identified above, and who can bring unique persepctives to the table. Consideration will also be given to a variety of demographic factors to ensure the board is representative of the population they serve.