Barry Ulmer is a founding member of The Chronic Pain Association of Canada and has been the Executive Director of CPAC since 1997. Barry's experience with chronic pain has come through personal bouts with severe headaches, which have subsided. In the mid 1980's his wife Marsha was injured and suffered a closed head injury, which has resulted in severe pain. He became extensively involved in the pain community from this point on. One day Barry and Marsha were waiting in their doctor’s office with five other patients when the doctor came out and asked if they were aware they were all there for the same reason - pain. From this group, a small support group evolved, which started looking at the management and treatment of pain. This was the beginning of The Chronic Pain Association of Canada. Marsha is the sole surviving member of the original group.

Barry has written a Conquer Pain Act that has been presented to the federal government, but sits in limbo. He speaks out strongly about the need to improve pain treatment in this country as it should be a basic human right for a person to have their pain relieved. Barry is one of the original members who met in Winnipeg when the Canadian Pain Coalition was formed.

Barry feels strongly that people disabled with pain should not be forced to prove their condition. He would like to see labels dropped. Barry believes that pain patients should be treated as other patients and be accepted as who they are.