The Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS) was established in 1990 with the intention of:
- Increasing student awareness of issues and challenges facing the optometric profession in Canada;
- Increasing public awareness of optometrists’ role in primary vision care; and
- Encouraging communication and involvement between students and practicing optometrists.
The CAOS team represents its members at optometric meetings, and liaises with the Canadian Association of Optometry (CAO) and the Ontario Association of Optometry (OAO), and Canadian students studying in the US. All students of uWaterloo’s optometry program are automatically granted membership. CAOS also organizes the National Mentor Program, allowing practicing optometrists to adopt students to mentor. Graduating students benefit from the Interview Day, being poached by clinics throughout the country. The Inter-Professional events provide students the opportunity to interact and network with students and professionals from other social and health care programs in Waterloo. Aside from political and community involvement, CAOS also organizes social events. The Montreal trip and Corneal Cup tournaments allows students to meet our French colleagues! Two first year representatives sit on the council.
For more details, check out their website.