SAC History
SAC was launched as a professional association in 1964 under the name Canadian Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA).
"With clear vison and well-defined objectives, we can give stature to the professions in this country."
- Isabel Richard, Founding President
2014 was Speech-Language & Audiology Canada's 50th Birthday!
Click here to learn more about our anniversary celebrations.
Documents Related to SAC's History
Please note that many of these documents were created when SAC was called the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA).
- Memories from Charter Members and Past Presidents of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada
- History of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in Canada: Our First Fifty Years - Virginia Martin
- 40th Anniversary Articles
- CASLPA: 40, 35, 30, 25, 15 and 10 Years Ago (January 2004) - Virginia Martin
- 40 CASLPA Facts (April, 2004) - Angie Friend (D'Aoust)
- A Chat With CASLPA's Charter Members (July, 2004) - Angie Friend (D'Aoust)
- CASLPA's History: Celebrating 35 Years of Growth and Achievement - Isabella Grigoroff
- The Professions of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in Canada: Some Hisotorical Observations
A series of three articles by Virginia Martin, written for CASLPA's 40th Anniversary. - CASLPA Charter Members
- The First Three Presidents of CSHA (now CASLPA) - Virginia Martin
- SAC History Trivia
Milestones
| 1966 | Constitution is approved |
| 1967 | First bylaws become effective |
| 1969 | First demographic study of Speech and Hearing Services in Canada is undertaken |
| 1971 | First four CSHA committees: admissions, elections, advisory, and charter are established |
| 1973 | Provincial representation introduced on national council. Publication of the first issue of the Journal of Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology |
| 1975 | CSHA was incorporated under federal law |
| 1976 | First Annual Conference held in Halifax featuring launch of the Association's Awards Program. Publication of the first issue of Communiqué |
| 1977 | The Federal Government designated the CSHA as the contact agency for all information relating to speech and hearing |
| 1982 | Enactment of the Association's Canon of Ethics. CHSA participated in two major federal department of health and welfare task force reports. Clinical Guidelines in Speech-Language Pathology and Guidelines for the Practice of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. |
| 1984 | Establishment of a permanent head office and staff |
| 1985 | CSHA officially renamed the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA) |
| 1985/87 | Institution of a National Professional Standards Program including a national certification exam, continuing education program and site accreditation. |
| 1989 | CASLPA completed its first comprehensive demographic study |
| 1990 | Association's Mission Statement formalized |
| 1995 | Membership categories are expanded to include corporate and affiliated members |
| 1998 | First Joint Provincial Membership Agreement signed. Introduction of certification reciprocity with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) |
| 2004 | International Mutual Recognition Agreement with Speech Pathology Australia, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and ASHA. |
| 2006 | Formation of the Pan-Canadian Alliance of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. |
| 2014 | CASLPA officially renamed Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) |