Defining Moments
From 1926 to today: Discover the founding leaders, innovations, and milestone achievements that shaped our profession
Dr. Goldwin W. Howland, CAOT’s first president
CAOT came into existence with a governance structure that included a board of management and OTs representing each province. Dr. Goldwin W. Howland, a neurologist, became CAOT's first president, and Dr. Alexander Primrose, a surgeon serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, took on the position of vice-president. W.J. Dunlop, who served as the Director of Extension at the University of Toronto, became CAOT’s secretary.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (200g0). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
Doris Stupart, who graduated from the first ward aides course at the University of Toronto in 1918, helped organize the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapy and became its first President in 1920.
The first occupational therapy program started in Canada at the University of Toronto was based on a six-week “ward aides” course that started in 1918 “to prepare young women to teach various activities used to evaluate the interests and aptitudes of wounded soldiers." It was revived in 1926 after the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapy (OSOT) asked the university to establish a two-year occupational therapy educational program. It was the only occupational therapy university program offered in Canada until 1950 and the only program in Ontario until 1967.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
The first 20 graduates of the occupational therapy program at U of T.
Twenty students became Canada's first occupational therapy graduates upon completing the two-year program at the University of Toronto.
REFERENCE: U of T Library Archives
The Québec Society of Occupational Therapy Inc. (QSOT) was founded. The name later changed to Société des ergothérapeutes du Québec, thanks to the involvement of French-speaking graduates from the Université de Montréal. The Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec, the current professional order regulating the profession, was established in 1973.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
CAOT began to hold semi-annual conventions in 1931, such as this event in Montréal in 1939.
1930 CAOT's first annual meeting took place on October 16, 1930
REFERENCE:
https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
1931 The first CAOT "convention" took place n the fall at the invitation of the Canadian and American Hospital Associations and in conjunction with OSOT and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The venue was the Automotive Building at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in Toronto. AOTA held its annual meeting in Toronto at the same time to demonstrate friendship to their Canadian colleagues and show gratitude to Canada for developing occupational therapy during World War I.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
Manulife’s (then called Manufacturers Life) head office in Toronto in 1929.
A Dominion Charter application was submitted for CAOT by Ross Gooderham, then vice-president and general counsel for the Manulife Insurance Company of Canada. The Dominion Charter would allow CAOT to operate as an organization across Canada.
REFERENCE: Friedland, J. (2011). Restoring the Spirit: The Beginnings of Occupational Therapy in Canada, 1890-1930. In J. Friedland, Restoring the Spirit: The Beginnings of Occupational Therapy in Canada, 1890-1930 (p. 116). McGill-Queen's University Press.
R.B. Bennett, Canada’s 11th Prime Minister, served from 1930-1935.
The first successful CAOT advocacy campaign occurred during the Depression when the federal government announced the closure of occupational therapy departments in veterans' hospitals without consulting medical officers. The CAOT Board responded by passing a resolution that was sent to Prime Minister R.B. Bennett and launching a letter-writing campaign. They enlisted support from organizations like the Canadian Red Cross and the Local Council for Women. Following a meeting between Ottawa-based physicians and the CAOT Board, OTs retained their positions, and the veterans' hospital leadership agreed to provide two student internships, which expanded the profession's reach.
REFERENCE: Friedland, J. (2011). Restoring the Spirit: The Beginnings of Occupational Therapy in Canada, 1890-1930. In J. Friedland, Restoring the Spirit: The Beginnings of Occupational Therapy in Canada, 1890-1930 (p. 116). McGill-Queen's University Press.
The University of Toronto occupational therapy program was suspended following struggles with funding and employment prospects as the Depression took hold across the country. The program’s funding was tied to enrollment, and CAOT, knowing the lack of jobs, could not reconcile taking in the number of students required to maintain the university's support.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
The cover of the first issue of CJOT.
The first issue of the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (CJOT) was published in September 1933, with an insignia by Fryer (who had designed the first uniforms) and the motto “per mentum et manus ad sanitatem” (which means “through mind and hand to health”) on its cover. President Howland sent it to more than 700 institutions, to entire medical staffs and management boards where occupational therapy was already established, and to 20 or 30 more where it was felt there was room for development.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
The Astley Ainslie Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland, seen here in 1940, became a pioneer in occupational therapy, thanks to its collaboration with Canadian OTs.
Canadian OTs began establishing international connections. Agnes Mark went to Shanghai, China, to set up the country's first occupational therapy program, and Amy DesBrisay started working at Scotland's Astley Ainslie Institution in Edinburgh. During her four-month stay, she successfully established an occupational therapy department at what was described as "one of the most beautiful and best-equipped convalescent homes in the world." Her successor, Mabel McNeill McRae, continued to develop the program and design workshops. This pioneering exchange led to other Canadian OTs following to continue the work and establish Scotland's first occupational therapy school by 1937, creating the "steady and cordial relationship" between Canadian and British institutions.
REFERENCE: Trust, A. A. (2025). The Astley Ainslie Hospital – Its past and future. Retrieved from acct.scot: https://www.aact.scot/history-blog/the-astley-ainslie-hospital-its-past-and-future
Along with being a founding member, W.J. Dunlop served as CAOT’s first secretary.
The program resumed at the University of Toronto under the direction of Helen P. LeVesconte, who was one of the very first occupational therapists in Canada, graduating from the University of Toronto's inaugural class in 1928. Helen was a prominent figure in the profession until her death in 1982.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
Helen P. LeVesconte, one of Canada’s first OTs, took on dual leadership roles – Supervisor of U of T's occupational therapy program and Director at Toronto Psychiatric Hospital.
CAOT was officially incorporated on April 17, 1934, by Letters Patent under the Dominion Charter. The founding members were Dr. Goldwin Howland, W.J. Dunlop, Director of Extension at the University of Toronto (U of T), Dr. Robert E. Gaby, a professor with the first U of T occupational therapy program, and two ward aides who had graduated from the program – Helen Mowat and Kathleen deCourcy O’Grady. Affiliated members included the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapy, the Québec Society of Occupational Therapy, and the Toronto Association of Occupational Therapy.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
An OT in the pottery room working with a military trooper, circa 1940s. Credit: National Film Board
Dr. Howland reported that there were OTs in all the provinces except the three maritime provinces – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island (Newfoundland & Labrador didn’t become Canada’s 10th province until 1949). He said OTs could be found in the “outdoor departments” of general hospitals, and aides in mental hospitals were tasked with following up on the treatment of discharged patients.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
An OT in the pottery room working with a military trooper, circa 1940s.
Occupational therapy could be found in seven hospitals in Québec, and several OTs were doing “field service,” or community work, according to the University of Toronto Monthly. The Montréal Industrial Institute, a curative workshop, and occupational therapy at Verdun Protestant Hospital were already well established.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
An ad for gym and exercise equipment from a 1944 CJOT issue.
CJOT separated from the joint publication with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and it has continued to have a sole focus on occupational therapy ever since.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
A reprint of “The Relationship of Physiotherapy to Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation,” an article published in the Canadian Medical Association in 1953.
Occupational therapy could be found in seven hospitals in Québec, and several OTs were doing “field service,” or community work, according to the University of Toronto Monthly. The Montréal Industrial Institute, a curative workshop, and occupational therapy at Verdun Protestant Hospital were already well established.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
The 75th anniversary issue of OT Now shared an article about CAOT’s beginnings from 1926-1939.
Occupational Therapy Now (OT Now), CAOT’s practice magazine, began as a single-page printed document for members called The Newssheet. From this small beginning, it would evolve to become known as first, The Newsletter, then The National, and finally the present publication, OT Now, which is open access to the public and delivered virtually four times a year.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King served for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948
CAOT, which now represented close to 1,000 OTs across the country, offered its services to assist the injured soldiers of World War II. Dr. Howland sent messages to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Minister of National Defence, and the Minister of Health for Ontario. He also requested that the Department of Defence consider placing OTs not only in military hospitals in Canada, but also overseas.
REFERENCE: Judith Friedland, I. R. (2000). In The Beginning CAOT FROM 1926-1939. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7489/CAOT1926_39.pdf
A 1947 letter addressed to Ethel Smith from a member of the Department of National Defence.
After much lobbying, CAOT received a grant which allowed it to set up a central office, and Ethel Clarke Smith, who graduated as an OT in 1930, was hired as its Executive Consultant. Her job included travelling across the country and developing links among OTs. She also interviewed candidates and recommended appointments for all job openings listed with the registry. The title of Executive Consultant was used until 1972, when it was changed to Executive Director.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001, March/April). The greater the barrier, the greater the success: CAOT DURING THE 1940’S. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7490/CAOT1940.pdf
Dorothy Grant, Amy de Brisay, Josephine Forbes, and Mary Clarke Ray were some of the first OTs to serve through the British War Office.
Volunteer Canadian OTs were dispatched overseas to organize departments of occupational therapy and an educational program at the request of the British War Office and the Department of Health of Scotland. Five occupational therapists arrived in the United Kingdom the following February for posting.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001, March/April). The greater the barrier, the greater the success: CAOT DURING THE 1940’S. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7490/CAOT1940.pdf
OT Margaret Hood was awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal for her active-duty service overseas. She would go on to become the first occupational therapy instructor at the University of British Columbia in 1961 and served as Head of the Division of Occupational Therapy until her retirement in 1979.
1945 (1)
By the end of the war, 82 OTs had served in the Army, Navy, or BEMS, and 47 OTs had served overseas.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001, March/April). The greater the barrier, the greater the success: CAOT DURING THE 1940’S. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7490/CAOT1940.pdf
May Hamilton, an OT who graduated from U of T in 1944 and the aunt of OT Juliette (Archie) Cooper, worked at Camp Hill Veterans Hospital in Halifax with injured World War II soldiers.
Following extensive advocacy efforts by CAOT and Dr. Howland, the Department of Defence finally announced that OTs could enlist in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC), in the division of the Nursing Corps.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001, March/April). The greater the barrier, the greater the success: CAOT DURING THE 1940’S. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7490/CAOT1940.pdf
Dr. Goldwin W. Howland retired in 1945, but he continued to practice as a neurologist until his sudden death at age 75 in 1950.
A post-graduate scholarship named for Dr. Goldwin W. Howland, CAOT's first president, was established in appreciation of his many years of untiring dedication and work to the association and the occupational therapy profession. The scholarship was started by Canadian OTs who served in Great Britain during World War II, and OTs across Canada contributed funds to support it.
REFERENCE: CAOT files (60 Years of Occupational Therapy Anniversary Calendar)
Beth Pierce Robinson, seen here in 2023 at the age of 103, evolved from OT to art therapist to writer, culminating in her retirement with the publication of her memoir, Please Write. It chronicles her wartime romance during World War II as she worked as an OT in a Montréal military hospital and her beau served as a medic with the U.S. Army across North Africa, Italy, and Europe.
Elizabeth Pierce Robinson became the first OT to serve as CJOT editor. The journal had increased to four issues annually the year before, and it remained the cornerstone of occupational therapy research while reflecting the diversity of occupational therapy work across Canada.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001, March/April). The greater the barrier, the greater the success: CAOT DURING THE 1940’S. Retrieved from caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/7490/CAOT1940.pdf
The Class of 1951, School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University.
A three-year combined Physical and Occupational Therapy diploma program was introduced at McGill University, followed by two-month internships in each profession. The following year, it became known as the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy (SPOT).
REFERENCE: McGill University. (2025). The History of Rehabilitation at McGill. Retrieved from mcgill.ca: https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/about/history
The Class of 1951, School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University.
The Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT) was formed.
REFERENCE: (40 Years of Excellence , 2025)
Notable Canadians OTs Isobel Robinson, Helen P. LeVesconte (third from left), and Muriel Driver attended early WFOT meetings.
The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) was created in Liverpool, England, with CAOT as one of the 10 original associations. The other countries included Australia, Denmark, India, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom (England and Scotland), and the United States of America. The first officers elected included Canadian OT Gillian Crawford as First Vice-President.
WFOT’s Constitution established its initial objectives: to serve as the official international organization for occupational therapy, promote international cooperation among associations and OTs, advance practice standards and professional ethics, facilitate OT and student exchanges, promote information sharing and education, and hold international congresses.
OTA trainees gain practice experience at the Ontario Hospital – Kingston, which was later renamed the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, in 1956.
The first occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program in Canada was established at the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital in Ontario under the auspices of the Department of Health. There was an increasing need for more occupational therapy services in psychiatry, so the program focused on training OTAs for all Ontario psychiatric hospitals. While CAOT cooperated in implementing this program, it did not accredit the program or officially recognize the graduates.
REFERENCE: Maxwell &Maxwell,1978; Salvatori, Penny. "The history of occupational therapy assistants in Canada: a comparison with the United States." Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 68, no. 4, Oct. 2001, pp. 217+. Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine, www.link.gale.com/apps/doc/A200730885/HRCA?u=anon~d25d433&sid=googleScholar&xid=e1035a4a.
Delegates at WFOT’s first International Congress included Thelma Cardwell and Helen P. LeVesconte.
CAOT delegates participated in the first WFOT International Congress, which was held in Edinburgh, Scotland, with approximately 400 participants attending the inaugural event. The Congress served as a key educational event for occupational therapists, with topics reflecting the medical and professional landscape of the time, such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, and orthopaedics.
REFERENCE: aterson CF. The First International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists — Edinburgh, 1954. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1994;57(4):116-120. doi:10.1177/030802269405700402
Université de Montréal students in 1954.
McGill introduced Canada's first BSc program in Physical & Occupational Therapy, together with separate diploma programs in Physical Therapy and in Occupational Therapy, and CAOT’s annual Conference was held in Montréal for the first time.
REFERENCE: McGill University. (2025). The History of Rehabilitation at McGill. Retrieved from mcgill.ca: https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/about/history
The Université de Montréal founded its occupational therapy program that same year, which was initially named the School of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy and affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine. Its founder, Gustave Gingras, served as its first director from 1954–1977. The school offered a combined three-year course in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
REFERENCE: McGill University. (2025). The History of Rehabilitation at McGill. Retrieved from mcgill.ca: https://www.mcgill.ca/spot/about/history
The Saskatchewan Association of Occupational Therapists was formed. Originally intended to be for CAOT members only, there was discussion about allowing non-CAOT members to join as well.
REFERENCE: https://scotsk.ca/vision-2022/history
Muriel Driver
In a historic first for Canadian occupational therapy, CAOT's advanced standing "Special Course" became the first program in the country to accept male students. When the 18-month program launched in 1959 at Queen's University under the direction of Muriel Driver, at least 13 men enrolled during the first few years. The course had taken several years to plan and secure government funding before its launch.
REFERENCE: Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. (2025). Era III - WWII - 1967. Retrieved from osot.on.ca: https://www.osot.on.ca/OSOT/About_Pages/History_Pages/Era_III-WWII-1967.aspx
Occupational therapy programs were created across Western Canada, including the University of Manitoba in 1959, the University of Alberta in 1960, and the University of British Columbia in 1961. According to UBC, the need for schools to train OTs and PTs in Canada was urgent, since most people practicing in Canada were trained outside the country at the time.
REFERENCE: Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. (2025). Era III - WWII - 1967. Retrieved from osot.on.ca: https://www.osot.on.ca/OSOT/About_Pages/History_Pages/Era_III-WWII-1967.aspx
OT students at UBC in the 1960s.
The combined occupational therapy and physiotherapy programs at l’Université de Montréal were separated into unique disciplines.
REFERENCE: L'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. (2024, décembre 3). Retour sur les festivités du 50e anniversaire de l'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. Retrieved from www.oeq.org: https://www.oeq.org/a-propos-de-l-ordre/salle-de-presse/actualites/284-retour-sur-les-festivites-du-50e-anniversaire-de-l-ordre-des-ergotherapeutes-du-quebec.html
CAOT’s name was changed to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. In 1963, the logo design was adapted to include the name of CAOT.
CAOT’s name was changed to The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and its logo altered in February 1963. Historical documents don't cite a reason for the name change from "Therapy" to "Therapists,” but this period marked a significant organizational transition and likely reflected an important evolution in how the profession viewed itself, placing greater emphasis on the practitioners rather than just the practice. The revision of the constitution in 1963 not only coincided with the name change but also enabled CAOT to award Life Memberships for the first time to honour OTs who had made outstanding contributions to the profession, assumed responsibilities beyond their formal duties, advanced the field, and had at least 20 years of practice with active CAOT membership.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001). The professional era – CAOT in the 1950’s & 1960’s. Occupational Therapy Now, 5-9. https://caot.ca/document/4015/jan_OTNowJan16.pdf
CAOT’s name was changed to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. In 1963, the logo design was adapted to include the name of CAOT.
1964
QSOT changed its name thanks to the involvement of the University of Montréal's graduates, which led to the Frenchification of the organization's name to the Societe des ergothérapeutes du Québec (SEQ).
REFERENCE: L'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. (2024, décembre 3). Retour sur les festivités du 50e anniversaire de l'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. Retrieved from www.oeq.org: https://www.oeq.org/a-propos-de-l-ordre/salle-de-presse/actualites/284-retour-sur-les-festivites-du-50e-anniversaire-de-l-ordre-des-ergotherapeutes-du-quebec.html
1964-1965
The Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists (MSOT) was legally incorporated as a non-profit organization, and the annual CAOT Conference took place in Winnipeg for the first time in the province. The Saskatchewan Society of Occupational Therapy (SSOT), originally known as the Saskatchewan Association of Occupational Therapists, was incorporated under the Non-Profit Corporations Act the following year. The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Occupational Therapists also began in the mid-1960s.
REFERENCE: https://msot.mb.ca/about-msot/ https://scotsk.ca/vision-2022/history https://scotsk.ca/vision-2022/history https://nlaot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/OT-HX-FOR-WEBSITE.pdf
Ethel Smith and Dr. Norrie Swanson, CAOT’s President from 1960-1966, seen here at Ethel’s retirement party. She served as CAOT’s Executive Consultant and Secretary from 1939-1965.
964-1966
Put this first then add 1965 below with Ethel Smith
CAOT’s Executive Council of the Board of Management became the Board of Directors in 1964, signalling a modernization of its governance structure.
REFERENCE: Hood, M. (1967). World Federation of Occupational Therapists Newsletters. Canada. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34, 124. https://caot.ca/document/8328/OTNow_05_01.pdf
1965
Ethel Smith, an OT, resigned after 26 years of service as Executive Consultant and Secretary. The following year, the CAOT offices moved to a modern office building on Bloor Street West in Toronto, which represented a "close to the early chapters in the history of occupational therapy," suggesting the organization was entering a new era of professional development.
REFERENCE: Hood, M. (1967). World Federation of Occupational Therapists Newsletters. Canada. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34, 124. https://caot.ca/document/8328/OTNow_05_01.pdf
Thelma Cardwell was elected as CAOT’s President, marking a major milestone since she was the first occupational therapist and first non-physician to hold this position. This leadership change represented a significant shift toward professional autonomy and identity, reinforcing the earlier name change that emphasized the practitioners themselves. Thelma was also the first Canadian to serve as President of WFOT. Her term ran from 1968 to 1972.
REFERENCE: Friedland, J. (2001, May-June). In Memoriam Dr. Thelma Cardwell 1920-2001 . Occupational Therapy Now, pp. 3-4. https://caot.ca/document/8328/OTNow_05_01.pdf
IMAGE: Queen’s SRT Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/QueensSRT/
An occupational therapy diploma program began at Queen’s University, replacing the "Special Course" that had been discontinued. The initial class at Queen's had 11 students, and at least 13 men enrolled in the first few years.
REFERENCE: Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. (2025). Era III - WWII - 1967. Retrieved from osot.on.ca: https://www.osot.on.ca/OSOT/About_Pages/History_Pages/Era_III-WWII-1967.aspx
The CAOT/L’ACE logo was implemented in 1968.
1968
The occupational therapy program at the Université Laval began. CAOT’s name and logo were changed to incorporate "L'ACE," the abbreviation for l'Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes, to signify the organization’s commitment to bilingualism.
REFERENCE: Cockburn, L. (2001). The professional era – CAOT in the 1950’s & 1960’s. Occupational Therapy Now, 5-9. https://caot.ca/document/4015/jan_OTNowJan16.pdf
IMAGE: https://caot.ca/document/4015/jan_OTNowJan16.pdf
1969
New college-level rehabilitation technician programs were implemented in Québec, and training programs for various mental health workers were developed in Ontario after a new Canadian community college system was created to provide a non-degree option for post-secondary education.
REFERENCE: Maxwell, J.D., & Maxwell, M.P. (1978). Occupational therapy: The profession. The final report of the Queen’s University study of occupational therapy (Project # 606-1242-46, Health and Welfare Canada). Kingston, ON: Queen’s University Press.
The Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Western Ontario began development under the auspices of the Medical Rehabilitation Program. Twenty students began the first year of the four-year Baccalaureate program in September 1971, while approximately nine students were admitted directly to the second year of the new program because they had already completed basic science courses.
REFERENCE: Bocking, D. (1970). Faculty of medicine report of the dean 1970-1971). In The University of Western Ontario Report of the President (pp.59). London, ON: The University of Western Ontario https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/ot/files/history.pdf
1971
The Kingston OTA program was terminated because of "the decline in in-patient [psychiatric] populations... the reorganization of treatment programs...[and] federal training grants were no longer available.” The need no longer appeared to exist since hospital-based education programs throughout the province were being relocated to community colleges.
REFERENCE: Maxwell, J.D., & Maxwell, M.P. (1978). Occupational therapy: The profession. The final report of the Queen’s University study of occupational therapy (Project # 606-1242-46, Health and Welfare Canada). Kingston, ON: Queen’s University Press.
1972
The combined occupational therapy and physiotherapy programs at the University of McGill separated into unique disciplines. At CAOT, the title of Chief Staff Officer was changed to Executive Director.
REFERENCE: L'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. (2024, décembre 3). Retour sur les festivités du 50e anniversaire de l'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. Retrieved from www.oeq.org: https://www.oeq.org/a-propos-de-l-ordre/salle-de-presse/actualites/284-retour-sur-les-festivites-du-50e-anniversaire-de-l-ordre-des-ergotherapeutes-du-quebec.html
At CAOT, the title of Chief Staff Officer was changed to Executive Director.
REFERENCE: Craik, J. (2016). Happy 90th anniversary CAOT! Retrieved from www.caot.ca: https://caot.ca/document/4015/jan_OTNowJan16.pdf
1973
The SEQ became the Professional Corporation of Occupational Therapists of Québec (CPEQ).
REFERENCE: L'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. (2024, décembre 3). Retour sur les festivités du 50e anniversaire de l'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. Retrieved from www.oeq.org: https://www.oeq.org/a-propos-de-l-ordre/salle-de-presse/actualites/284-retour-sur-les-festivites-du-50e-anniversaire-de-l-ordre-des-ergotherapeutes-du-quebec.html
The PEI Association Occupational Therapy Society (PEIOTS) was created.
REFERENCE: https://www.peiot.org/pei-ot-history
The Ontario government decided to introduce a new three-year occupational therapy diploma course at Mohawk College, a new community college in Hamilton. This decision was a departure from the traditional university pathway. Despite strong protestations from CAOT and from several individual members, the program was launched. Several years later, it would eventually become part of the McMaster University program and formalize CAOT's commitment to university-level education and formalized standards.
REFERENCE: (Twohig, 2023)
The CAOT/L’ACE logo was implemented in 1968.
he Muriel Driver Memorial Lectureship was established as a memorial to Muriel Driver in honour of her many significant contributions to the profession of occupational therapy, from the time of her graduation from the University of Toronto’s occupational therapy program in 1941 until her death in 1972. The first recipient was Joy Bassett.
REFERENCE: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (2025). CAOT Awards. Retrieved from caot: https://caot.ca/document/7867/MD%20about.pdf
E. Sharon Britnell was the first Alberta OT to join CAOT’s Board of Directors. She became Board President from 1978 to 1979 and Secretary of the Board in 1986.
Halifax was the host city of the annual CAOT Conference, marking the first time that the largest annual gathering of the occupational therapy profession took place in Nova Scotia.
REFERENCE: (Maxwell, 1977)
A national survey of OTs, physicians, and administrators was conducted for CAOT by James and Mary Maxwell at Queen’s University, which found support for occupational therapy assistants. Called “Occupational Therapy: The Diffident Profession” and informally known as the "Maxwell Report," the study examined occupational therapy work environments, education, and personnel roles to understand the direction and future of the profession. The report identified three support personnel levels (aide, technician, assistant) but found little support for aides and technicians, while assistants received a more favourable reception despite inconsistent training. Survey respondents supported formal community college training for assistants, along with certification exams, CAOT membership, generalist programs, and nationally standardized training across Canada.
REFERENCE: Maxwell, J. A. (1977). The Queen's University Study of Occupational Therapy: Some reflections and conclusions. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 97-103.
CJOT introduced a new, larger format and a significant increase in advertising rates to address concerns about improved communication and more businesslike approaches. These changes led to the hiring of a part-time editor, Rosalie Kupfer-Halstuch, and the separation of CJOT’s finances from CAOT’s operating budget.
REFERENCE: (O'Shea, 1977)
1978
The annual Conference took place in Edmonton, marking the first time that the association's flagship event was held in Alberta.
REFERENCE: CAOT files
1979
CAOT brought together a National Task Force on the Skills Requirements of an Occupational Therapist, one of the first initiatives to formally identify the essential competencies of occupational therapy practitioners. The task force, which included recent graduates alongside experienced professionals, ensured diverse perspectives, laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Profile of Practice.
REFERENCE: ((Australia), 2014)
CJOT increased its publication from four issues to five, along with more articles and other sections being published or translated into French. CAOT also convened a symposium of more than 70 OTs from across Canada in Toronto to identify and discuss issues of significance to prepare for the next stage in the association’s development.
REFERENCE: (Cockburn, 2001) (Brintnell, 1979)
Dr. Andrée Forget, WFOT President from 1980-1986
Dr. Andrée Forget began serving as WFOT President for a term that lasted until 1986, and CAOT moved its national office to a larger space at 25 Imperial St. in Toronto. It had a small staff with an executive director, an executive assistant, and a clerk-receptionist.
REFERENCE: (Therapy, 2025) (Wilkins, 1980)
PHOTO: CAOT files
Pat McKee
Pat McKee, an OT and a singer/songwriter, wrote and performed Canada’s official song for the International Year of Disabled Persons. Called “Look Beyond,” it eloquently voiced the values of the profession in the lyrics. Now an associate professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and a CAOT Lifetime member, Pat’s song was used more recently in an audio-visual production in 2013 to convince the U.S. to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
REFERENCE: (Cockburn, 2001)
1982
Dalhousie University opened the Atlantic School of Occupational Therapy, located within the Faculty of Health. The regional orientation of the school fostered collaborative teaching, research, and professional activities to link those at the university with service providers, government workers, related disciplines, and citizens in the four Atlantic Provinces.
REFERENCE: (About, 2025)
1983
CAOT initiated the establishment of the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation/Fondation canadienne d'ergothérapie on May 17, 1983, after recognizing the profession's need to provide financial support for scientific endeavours and generate funds for this purpose. The foundation was spearheaded by OT Karen Goldenberg, who became the first President of COTF’s Board of Governors, and co-founded by Thelma Cardwell, who served as Vice-President from 1983 to 1985. COTF was incorporated under Letters Patent by the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs of Canada and received its charitable registration number in October 1983.
REFERENCE: (Trentham, 2001)
1984
Saskatoon welcomed the annual Conference, CAOT's flagship event, bringing together the occupational therapy profession for the first time in Saskatchewan.
REFERENCE: CAOT files
The first Canadian graduate program in Rehabilitation Science began at McGill University.
REFERENCE: (Therapists, CAOT membership data 1989, 1990)
Canada’s first MScOT program at the University of Alberta in 1986. By the end of the decade, there were 63 CAOT members who had either completed or were pursuing doctorate degrees, and 473 members were enrolled in or were pursuing Master’s degrees (CAOT, 1990).
REFERENCE: (Therapists, CAOT membership data 1989, 1990)
Funeral march at the 1985 CAOT Conference – burying diffidence.
A symbolic "funeral march" took place at the CAOT Conference in Kingston, Ontario, to lay to rest the idea of the profession’s “diffidence” or lack of self-confidence following push-back from the Maxwell Report. This powerful ceremonial act marked a turning point, signalling the end of an era of professional hesitancy and the birth of a more assertive, confident occupational therapy identity. The event was part of CAOT's broader strategic initiative to strengthen professional structures and amplify occupational therapy's voice in shaping national health and social services policy.
REFERENCE: (Trentham, 2001)
The first National Certification Examination (NCE) was administered on July 7, 1986, marking a pivotal moment in Canadian occupational therapy after three decades of development. This inaugural, national examination was offered in both English and French, establishing a common standard for entry-level competency requirements across the country.
REFERENCE: (Trentham, 2001)
CAOT partnered with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) and Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology (SAC) to examine support personnel roles, training, and usage, with Health and Welfare Canada subsequently funding their tri-association working group.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori, 2001)
The occupational therapy program at the University of Ottawa began as part of its Faculty of Health Sciences.
REFERENCE: (History of the Faculty of Medicine, 2025)
Helen P. LeVesconte was a trailblazing OT and graduate of the University of Toronto's first OT class in 1928 who was a dedicated educator, clinician, and advocate.
The Dr. Helen P. LeVesconte Award for Volunteerism was established in her memory to honour a member who has made an exceptional contribution to the profession of occupational therapy through volunteering with the association. Helen was a groundbreaking figure in Canadian occupational therapy. She graduated from the first class at the University of Toronto in 1928 and served as the Director of the occupational therapy program at U of T from 1933 to 1963. She also wrote an early history document and had several articles published in CJOT. The first award recipient was Barbara Quinn in 1987.
REFERENCE: (Therapists, CAOT Awards: Dr. Helen P. LeVesconte Award for Volunteerism with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists , 2025)
Helen M. Madill, Ph.D., C. Psych., O.T.(C), President CAOT (1986-1988
National OT Week was established for the first time as an important public relations activity for all members, and a major restructuring of CAOT took place under the direction of CAOT President Helen Madill (1986-1988). Committees were organized into divisions which included: Professional Representation, Credentialing, Professional Promotion, Professional Education, Standards, and Resource Management.
REFERENCE: (Gill, 1988) (Trentham, 2001)
For the first time, Saint John hosted the annual Conference, bringing the largest annual gathering of occupational therapists in Canada to New Brunswick.
REFERENCE: CAOT files
The team behind the 1988 development of an occupational performance outcome measure, a landmark collaboration funded by the National Health Research Development Program and the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation.
The development of an occupational performance outcome measure was co-funded by the National Health Research Development Program and the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation. The tool was designed to assess self-care, productivity, and leisure performance while considering client environment, development, roles, and motivation. It needed to be clinically sensitive, diagnosis-neutral, user-friendly, numerically scorable, and psychometrically sound (reliable, responsive, valid).
REFERENCE: (History, 2025)
The Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs (ACOTUP) was established following a work session in May 1988 to discuss the current state and needs of occupational therapy research in Canada.
REFERENCE: (Helene Polatajko, 1989)
CAOT’s membership had increased by more than 329% since 1980, from 973 to 4,569 members. Its national office staff had also grown from three to 11 people with its executive directors – Seanne Wilkins (1979-1982), Anne Larson (1983-1984), and Margaret Brockett (1985-1991), dividing their time between membership and fieldwork issues with the important job of promoting the profession.
REFERENCE: (Trentham, 2001)
CAOT published a discussion paper with CPA and SAC that established key consensus points about support personnel. It included encouraging maximal use of support personnel under direct professional supervision, excluding assistants from activities like assessments and treatment planning, supporting on-the-job training over formal programs, opposing new providers that significantly overlap with existing personnel, and calling for formal evaluation of service delivery models. While recognizing that support personnel could expand services and reduce costs, the working group expressed concerns about consumer safety, role conflicts, care quality, legal implications, supervision demands, and limited employment prospects for assistants, ultimately recommending further study of these complex issues.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori, 2001)
The Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) was established in 1989 and incorporated in 2011 as a collaborative organization for the provincial and territorial regulatory bodies of OTs in Canada.
REFERENCE: (Annual ReportL 2017 Who We Are, 2017)
The Occupational Therapist Assistant program was launched as a 10-month certificate program at Okanagan College in Kelowna, BC. McMaster University also received the first students into its occupational therapy program, bringing the total number of occupational therapy educational programs in Canada to 12.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori, 2001) (Westmorland, 1996)
CAOT received $1.25 million in funding for the creation of the Seniors Health Promotion Project, “Responding to the Challenge of Aging Population,” from the federal government’s Seniors Independence Program of Health & Welfare Canada. The goal of the 30-month national project was to reorient OTs to a new vision of health and assist in the promotion of health and independence of older Canadians. Two pilot sites were in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
REFERENCE: (Therapists, 1993)
COPM authors Nancy Pollock, Mary Ann McColl, Helene Polatajko, Sue Baptiste, and Mary Law join CAOT Director Anne Strickland (far right). Missing: Author Anne Carswell
CAOT published the first edition of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and then it was launched at the Clarke Institute in Toronto, Ontario, in 1992. Its authors include Sue Baptiste, Anne Carswell, May Law, Mary Ann McColl, Helene Polatajko, and Nancy Pollock. The COPM uses a unique, individualized approach to enable persons to identify everyday activities that they wanted, needed, or were expected to do but were having challenges in doing. The COPM measures change in performance and satisfaction in these activities over time.
REFERENCE: (History, 2025) (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
The Occupational Therapy Guidelines for Client-Centred Practice was published, representing a landmark consolidation of earlier work by Canadian occupational therapy task forces. It brought together three previously separate documents: the Guidelines for the Client-Centred Practice of Occupational Therapy, Intervention Guidelines for the Client-Centred Practice of Occupational Therapy, and Toward Outcome Measures in Occupational Therapy.
REFERENCE: (Trentham, 2001)
A part-time OTA program began at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario, for those already in the workforce, and a full-time program was implemented the next year, following Ministry approval and funding.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori, 2001)
The CAOT and OT Atlantic conference was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland, for the first time.
REFERENCE: https://nlaot.ca/occupational-therapy/our-history/
CAOT collaborated with the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs (ACOTUP), the provincial/territorial associations, and regulatory bodies to respond to Role and Use of Support Personnel in the Rehabilitation Disciplines, a report by University of Alberta investigators. CAOT supported three levels of support personnel while maintaining OTs' ultimate accountability for service delivery. The association opposed certain proposed duties that required professional judgment (standardized screening, progress communication, routine splinting) and favoured on-the-job training over formal programs. CAOT agreed to accept generic, one-year training without fieldwork or credentialing requirements.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori, 2001)
The Corporation professionnelle des ergothérapeutes du Québec (CPEC) becomes l’Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec (OEQ) following measures adopted by the Office des professions. OEQ's mission now includes protecting the interests of the public.
REFERENCE: (Québec, 2024) IMAGE: www.oeq.org
CAOT and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) hosted Cultural Connections, a Can-Am Conference held in Boston, which drew more than 7,000 OTs from the two countries. It resulted in increased collaboration between the two organizations, as well as the British and Irish occupational therapy associations.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT convened a task force to review the relationship of occupational therapy support personnel to the association, which resulted in new guidelines for supervision, a revised position statement, and a compilation or toolkit of resource information on support personnel.
REFERENCE: (von Zweck, 1998)
CAOT’s national office moved from its shared space with the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation (COTF) in Toronto to Ottawa to allow for closer collaborations, networking, and lobbying with other national organizations and the federal government. CAOT rented space from Carleton University.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
The initial Profile of Occupational Therapy Practice in Canada was published as a basis for developing academic standards for the profession, validating the blueprint for CAOT’s national exam, and as a self-assessment tool for individual members. The Profile was the result of a three-year partnership between CAOT and Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) to develop a professional competency profile describing occupational therapy practice in Canada.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT established CAOT Publications ACE as its official publishing house to enable independent publishing, manage author contracts, and generate additional revenue for association operations. CAOT’s Board passed a bilingual policy to ensure that all major documents by CAOT Publications Ace were available in both French and English.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
A national conference entitled "Towards Developing a Flexible Health Workforce" was held in the fall, co-sponsored by CAOT. The conference emerged from the Integrated Health Human Resources Development (IHHRD) vision developed through a partnership between CAOT, the Canadian Dietetics Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori P. , 1997)
CAOT revised its Academic Accreditation Standards to address the expanded practice environment of OTs and the new teaching methods and philosophies appearing in the educational programs. The standards ensured consistent educational standards and public accountability, as well as international portability for Canadian-educated occupational therapists.
REFERENCE: (Taylor, 1996)
Enabling Occupation: An Occupational Therapy Perspective was published by CAOT in August 1997. Authored by Elizabeth Townsend, it introduced the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (CMOP), placing "occupation" (everything people do to occupy themselves) at the forefront of occupational therapy. The publication was significant for guiding the development of occupational therapy documentation protocols and practice policies, with its impact extending internationally and being available in multiple languages.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT produced the Guidelines for the Supervision of Assigned Occupational Therapy Service Components, along with a series of position statements following an increase in practice inquiries related to support personnel. CAOT outlined a three-step supervision process and endorsed dual or multidisciplinary training programs for support personnel, but recommended the identification of minimum competencies for occupational therapy support workers. Notably, CAOT revised its position to allow certain assessment procedures to be assigned to others if explicit criteria were provided.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001) (Therapists, Guidelines for the supervision of assigned occupational therapy service components , 2000)
The Thelma Cardwell Annual Lecture Series at the University of Toronto was established under the leadership of Dr. Judith Friedland, by the friends and family of Thelma Cardwell, her professional colleagues, and the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation to honour one of occupational therapy’s most prestigious alumnae. Thelma’s accomplishments included being the first woman and first OT to serve as president of CAOT in 1966.
REFERENCE: (Thelma Cardwell Lecture, 2025)
CAOT and the Alzheimer Society of Canada received $141,000 from the 1996/1997 Health Canada New Horizons: Partners in Canada Project. Living at home with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: A Manual of Resources, References and Information was one outcome of the project, which consisted of five pilot sites across Canada
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT's revised position statement, Personnel in Occupational Therapy Services, which was originally published in 1994, reflected significant policy shifts, acknowledging health reform pressures to use less expensive providers while committing to partnerships with support personnel for flexible service delivery. CAOT endorsed formal multidisciplinary training programs with academic accreditation and fieldwork education (preferably OT-supervised but allowing competent support personnel to share supervision duties). While still opposing regulation, CAOT’s Board voted to give OTAs non-voting associate membership with access to malpractice insurance.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green M. L., 2001)
The WFOT Council Meeting was held in Ottawa, and the 12th WFOT Congress was held in Montréal from May 31 to June 5 with more than 3,500 delegates from 55 countries in attendance. Lorna Reimer was CAOT’s president at the time. Hosting the congress marked a significant moment in CAOT's history, demonstrating Canada's leadership role in the global occupational therapy community and strengthening international connections within the field.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT’s website was launched, rapidly expanding to include webinars, workshops, online publications, practice resources, and discussion forums. The digital platform addressed continuing education needs for members in remote areas who couldn't travel to urban centres.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
The University of Western Ontario began admitting students to the first Master’s entry-level occupational therapy program in Canada. Dalhousie University also started a Master’s program available completely by distance, allowing OTs to access a master’s level education regardless of their location.
REFERENCE: (Polatjko, 1999)
Occupational Therapy Now (OT Now), a practice-oriented magazine, replaced The National Newsletter in January. Available in print and online, OT Now represented the first major step towards bringing practice information to CAOT’s members via the Internet.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT published a Support Personnel Toolkit containing resources on assistant roles, supervision, and training, listing 15 assistant training programs (12 dual/generic rehabilitation and three OT-specific). This toolkit defined different levels of support personnel competencies, from basic to broad-based, providing a framework for their knowledge, skills, and abilities within Canadian occupational therapy practice. With six of the programs in Ontario, the provincial Ministry developed program standards to facilitate approval, ensure graduate competency, and enhance career mobility. It ultimately approved the "occupational therapist assistant" title after addressing concerns by CAOT, OSOT, and COTO about graduate autonomy.
REFERENCE: (Salvatori, 2001)
CAOT partnered with the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs (ACOTUP) to lead the Fieldwork Education Site Approval Program (FESAP). This innovative program was designed to ensure consistency among the many, varied fieldwork sites offered across Canada and to ensure that these sites provided a positive learning environment.
REFERENCE: (Forwell, 1999)
CAOT and Partners in Action (PAC) launched "Occupational Therapy: Skills for the Job of Living," a public awareness campaign targeting women aged 30-50 as key healthcare decision-makers for their families. The slogan, originally from the American Occupational Therapy Association and recommended by the Alberta Association of Registered Occupational Therapists, supported comprehensive promotional materials, media relations, insurance advocacy, and a dedicated website.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)
CAOT’s Board of Directors approved exemptions from the national certification exam requirement for OTs who had supervised students in accredited fieldwork placements or held faculty positions in CAOT-accredited occupational therapy education programs. This modified CAOT's longstanding policy of requiring successful completion of the certification exam as a membership criterion.
REFERENCE: (Therapists, Position statement on telehealth and tele-occupational therapy, 2000)
CAOT membership profiles demonstrated significant academic advancement as Master's degree holders increased from 5% in 1990 to 17.4% in 2000, and Doctorate degree holders rose from 0.03% in 1995 to 1.7% in 2000, reflecting the response by educational programs at Canadian universities to the profession's need for advanced training.
REFERENCE: (Mary Clark Green, 2001)