Timeline of Naturopathic Medicine in Canada

The following events are specific to the establishment of Naturopathic Medicine in Canada. Some events relevant to conventional medicine and health-care in general in Canada have been added to provide an indication of the political and economic environment at the time.

1800 to 1900

• 1823: The first Canadian medical school is opened in Montreal wikipedia reference
• 1854: Dr. Emily Stowe, MD: One of the first Canadian woman physicians. She emphasized a simple, natural life, sensible habits of dress, child rearing. She believed the only indestructible force in the Universe is the mind, emphasized the great power of air. wikipedia reference
• 1839: College of Physicians and Surgeons is established (incorporated in 1869)
• 1844: The Canadian Medical Assocation (CMA) is started, an official association in 1867 wikipedia reference

1900 to 1950

• 1915: Drugless Physicians Association is formed in Ontario, later dissolved in 1952
• 1918: First airmail delivery, occurred between Montreal and Toronto
• 1920: British Columbia (BC) naturopathic provincial association starts
• 1923: Practice of naturopathic medicine in British Columbia is regulated under The Medical Act
• 1925: Ontario regulated under umbrella legislation Drugless Practitioner’s Act
• 1936: British Columbia is regulated under Naturopathic Physician’s Act
• 1936: Association of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (ANPBC) is established as both the provincial association and the regulatory board
• 1937: Ontario’s regulation is revised
• 1938: BC’s regulation is revised
• 1944: Naturopathic Association of Alberta is established
• 1944: Ontario’s regulation is revised
• 1946: Manitoba regulated under The Naturopathy Act
• 1946: Manitoba Naturopathic Association (MNA) was incorporated as both the provincial association and the regulatory body
• 1948: Alberta regulated under Drugless Practitioner’s Act
• 1948: BCs regulation is revised
• 1948: Alberta Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (AANP) is established as both the regulatory body and the provincial association
• 1949: Canadian national association started under the name Canadian Association of Naturopathic Physicians (CANP), name is later changed to CNA when it is incorporated in 1955

1950 to 1975

• 1950: Ontario Naturopathic Association (ONA) is established
• 1950: Alberta’s regulation is revised
• 1952: Alberta Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (AANP) is incorporated
• 1952: Alberta’s regulation is revised, name changes to The Naturopathic Act
• 1952: Ontario’s regulation is revised
• 1954: Saskatchewan is regulated under The Naturopathy Act
• 1954: Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (SANP) was established as both the provincial association and the regulatory board
• 1955: Alberta’s regulation is revised
• 1955: Canadian Naturopathic Association (CNA) is incorporated
• 1956: Ontario’s regulation is revised
• 1956: Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy – Naturopathy (BDDT-N) is established
• 1957: Canadian government passes Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act (HIDS)
• 1958: BC’s regulation is revised
• 1961: All provinces agree to start HIDS
• 1961 – 1965: Royal Commission on Health Services
• 1962: Saskatchewan’s Medical Care Insurance Act – 1st Canadian comprehensive public health-care system
• 1963: Quebec Naturopathic Association of Physical Therapy (QNAPT)
• 1965: ND services are covered partly under BC’s medicare
• 1965: Saskatchewan’s regulation is revised
• 1966: Malpractice insurance first instituted in Canada
• 1968: National medicare in Canada
• 1972: CNA publishes booklet Naturopathy

1975 to 2000

• 1977: Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) ends it naturopathic program
• 1978: Ontario College of Naturopathic Medicine is founded
• 1978: Saskatchewan’s regulation is revised
• 1979: BC’s regulation is revised, name changes to The Naturopath’s Act
• 1980: Alberta’s regulation is revised
• 1983: Institute of Naturopathic Education and Research (INER) is established as part of Ontario College of Naturopathic Medicine
• 1984: Canada Health Act – prohibits user fees and extra billing
• 1984: Saskatchewan’s regulation is revised
• 1986: Alberta is deregulated
• 1986: BC’s regulation is revised, name changes to Naturopath’s Act of British Columbia
• 1987: Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors (NSAND) is established
• 1992: OCNM name changes to Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM)
• 1993: British Columbia Naturopathic Association (BCNA) splits from ANPBC
• 1994: Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors (NSAND) is formed
• 1995: Quebec Professional Association of Naturopathic Physicians (QPANP) / Association Professionelle Des Médicins Naturopathes Du Québec is formed
• 1996: ONA changes its name to Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND)
• 1997: CNERS changes it name to Canadian Naturopathic Foundation (CNF)
• 1997: ONA changes its name to OAND
• 1998: CNME approval is withdrawn by US Department of Education
• 1998: QPANP is renamed to Quebec Association of Naturopathic Medicine (QANM) / Association de Medicine Nauropathique Du Québec (ANMQ)

2000 to 2010

• 2000: CCNM receives full accreditation from CNME
• 2000: CNA Summit is held at CCNM
• 2000: ANPBC changes its name to College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC)
• 2000: Phil Waddington, ND is appointed Executive Director for the Office of Natural Products and in 2001 becomes the 1st Director General of the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) in Ottawa
• 2001: Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine is founded
• 2001: New Brunswick Association of Naturopathic Doctors (NBAND) is formed
• 2001: Yukon Naturopathic Association (YNA) is founded
• 2004: CNA name changed to Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND)
• 2004: Prince Edward Island Association of Naturopathic Doctors (PEIAND) is formed
• 2006: Newfoundland Association of Naturopathic Doctors (NLAND) is formed
• 2007: CNF administration transferred to the CAND
• 2008: Alberta is re-regulated under the Naturopathy Act
• 2008: Ontario’s regulation is revised and the name changes to the Naturopathy Act. Once it passes through the transition council, the regulation will fall under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) of Ontario
• 2008: Nova Scotia receives title protection under the Naturopathic Doctors Act
• 2008: BINM receives full accreditation from CNME

Checkout Timeline of the History of Naturopathic Medicine for further information.

Checkout History of Naturopathic Medicine for further information.