History

In 1908, representatives of 16 organized nursing bodies met in Ottawa to form the Canadian National Association of Trained Nurses (CNATN). By 1911, CNATN comprised 28 affiliated member societies, including alumni associations of hospital schools of nursing as well as local and regional groups of nurses. By 1924, each of the nine provinces had a provincial nurse’s organization with membership in CNATN, and in that year, the national group changed its name to the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).

In 2000, CNA published Strengthening the Voice – the Ninth Decade of the Canadian Nurses Association to provide a retrospective of the period 1990 to 1999 – the ninth decade since the creation of CNA. Looking back through each decade in its history, CNA has made a significant impact on the advancement of the nursing profession and the promotion of quality, accessible health care for Canadians.

In 2000, CNA signed a historic agreement with the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum and the National Archives of Canada to establish a national nursing history collection. Materials originally held at CNA House form the core collection, a rich repository that tells the story of the nursing profession in Canada.

In 2008, CNA celebrated 100 years of leadership. Many activities took place during CNA’s centennial year to mark how the organization had become the national voice of registered nurses in Canada.

CNA is now a federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges representing 146,788 registered nurses. (More)

Updated: July 25, 2011