The mission of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN or the Association) is, and has always been, to promote high-quality nursing education in Canada and to advance nursing knowledge in the interest of healthier Canadians. That mission was the vision of the small band of university nurse educators who met for 3 days at the Windsor Hotel in Montréal in June 1942 to “take counsel” with one another. They went home having formed the Provisional Council of University Schools and Departments of Nursing (PCUSDN), which would become the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing as we know it today.

Thanks to the vision and passion of the 11 founding schools of CASN, the Association has grown to represent 93 schools and continues to push forward the mandate they set—to advance nursing knowledge and nursing education in the interest of healthier Canadians.

Humble Beginnings

1910:

• The landmark Flexner Report in 1910 leads to major reforms in medical education, and universities become responsible for the education of physicians.

1919–1920:

• The first university programs in nursing are established at the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta.

1932:

• The Weir Report on nursing education in Canada, like the Flexner Report, calls for major reforms of nursing education and recommends that university degrees replace hospital diplomas. But, unlike the Flexner Report, it has little impact.
• The first council of what would become CASN meets in Montréal. A great deal of nursing education in Canada at this time is heavy on service but light on academics. Representatives from 11 universities attend this founding meeting:
  • Institut Marguerite d’Youville
  • McGill University
  • Université de Montréal
  • University of Alberta
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Western Ontario
• Educators from Université Laval and St. Francis Xavier University also attend as special observers because their programs are directed by non-nurses.

1940:

• In 1940, only eight university programs in nursing exist in Canada.

Decades to Organize

“The crisis of the nursing shortage during the Second World War provided the impetus that finally brought university nursing educators together” (R. Kirkwood & J. Bouchard,  “Take Counsel With One Another”: A Beginning History of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing 1942–1992, p. 1).

1942:

• President Kathleen Ellis, University of Saskatchewan, takes over the board of directors from 1942 to 1948.
• The vice-president is Reverend Mère Allaire of l’Institut Marguerite d’Youville, and the secretary/treasurer is Mary Mathewson, McGill University.
• The first milestone in the Association’s history is the formation of the Provisional Council of University Schools and Departments of Nursing.
• The small band of members launch the organization with the following set of objectives: determine desirable standards for university schools of nursing; improve standards of existing schools; support the development of new university programs of nursing; and strengthen international relationships between university schools of nursing.

1948:

• President Evelyn Mallory, University of British Columbia, takes over the board of directors from 1948 to 1952.

1952:

• President Sister Jean Forest, Institut Marguerite d’Youville, takes over the board of directors from 1952 to 1954.
• The Association’s second milestone is the early stages of what would become the CASN Accreditation Program. This program begins to take shape as early as 1952, when the Statutes and Regulations of the organization are adopted. Their development is led by Sister Denise Lefebvre of Institut Marguerite d’Youville and Electa MacLennan of Dalhousie University.
• This program identifies the creation of standards for university schools of nursing in Canada as a key mandate of the organization.

1953:

• The first constitution and bylaws are ratified.

1954:

• President Electa MacLennan, Dalhousie University, takes over the board of directors from 1954 to 1956.

1956:

• President Ruth Morrison, University of British Columbia, takes over the board of directors from 1956 to 1960.

1957:

• A precursor to the CASN Accreditation Program is published in a booklet titled Desirable Standards for Canadian Schools of Nursing – Normes souhaitables pour les écoles de sciences infirmières canadiennes.
• The standards address educational preparation of faculty, resources, classroom infrastructure, and teaching.

1960:

• President Jenny Weir, Queen’s University, takes over the board of directors from 1960 to 1962.

1962:

• President Hazel Keeler, University of Saskatchewan, takes over the board of directors from 1962 to 1964.

1964:

• President Catherine Aikin, University of Western Ontario, takes over the board of directors from 1964 to 1966.

1966:

• President Margaret Hart, University of Manitoba, takes over the board of directors from 1966 to 1968.

1967:

• The Association is reorganized into four regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Western–Northwestern.

Decades to Develop a Base of Programs

1968:

• President Margaret McPhedren, University of New Brunswick, takes over the board of directors from 1968 to 1970.
• Nursing Papers (later Journal of Canadian Nursing Research) publishes its first issue.

1970:

• President Beth McCann, University of British Columbia, takes over the board of directors from 1970 to 1972.

1971:

• Executive Director Eileen Mountain takes over National Office operations from 1971 to 1977.
• The first National Research Conference on Nursing is held in Montréal.
• The Association becomes the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing (CAUSN).

1972:

• President Elizabeth Logan, McGill University, takes over the board of directors from 1972 to 1974.
• CAUSN becomes the accrediting organization for university schools of nursing.

1974:

• President Ruth McClure, University of Alberta, takes over the board of directors from 1974 to 1976.
• The next step towards the CASN Accreditation Program is the creation of an accreditation committee in 1974. It consists of committee president Susan French, McMaster University; Jeannine Beaudry, Université de Montréal; Moyra Allen, McGill University; Peggy Anne Field, University of Alberta; and Carolyn Pepler, University of New Brunswick.
• The standards the committee develops are based on the principle that these standards will foster excellence without restricting individuality or innovation. This has remained a guiding principle of the CASN Accreditation Program.

1976:

• President Dorothy Kergin, McMaster University, takes over the board of directors from 1976 to 1980.

1977:

• Executive Director Kathy Lauzon takes over National Office operations from 1977 to 1981.
• As this volunteer committee, the group that would become CASN has no email access, no videoconferencing capability, and no staff to assist them, the committee members travel to Montréal when they can and meet in Moyra Allen’s kitchen. The accreditation program will launch 10 years later.

1980:

• President Amy Zelmer, University of Alberta, takes over the board of directors from 1980 to 1982.
• Council adopts a strong position in favour of the baccalaureate degree as the entry-to-practice minimum.

1981:

• Executive Director Louise Lalonde takes over National Office operations from 1981 to 1983.

Focus on Education Programs

1982:

• President Joan Gilchrist, University of Western Ontario, takes over the board of directors from 1982 to 1984.
• The Association collaborates with the Canadian Nurses Association on policy to establish the baccalaureate degree as the entry-to-practice minimum by 2000.

1983:

• Executive Director Joanne Curran takes over National Office operations from 1983 to 1985.
• CAUSN’s first Accreditation Program is published.

1984:

• President Marie-France Thibaudeau, Université de Montréal, takes over the board of directors from 1984 to 1986.
• CAUSN’s logo is adopted: three chevrons representing baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral education moving towards the right, indicating forward movement.

1985:

• Executive Director Josette Bouchard takes over National Office operations from 1985 to 1993.
• CAUSN National Secretariat opens in Ottawa.

1986:

• President Alice Baumgart, Queen’s University, takes over the board of directors from 1986 to 1988.

1987:

• The CAUSN Accreditation Program monograph is published.
• The first undergraduate program is accredited at Université de Montréal. Since then, the accreditation of nursing education programs in Canada has become a core function of CASN, which reviews over a dozen schools every year.

1988:

• President Jenniece Larson, University of Manitoba, takes over the board of directors from 1988 to 1991.
• The Ethel Johns Award is established. It is named after the founding Director of the first university nursing program in Canada. It is given in recognition of distinguished service to nursing education in Canada.

1991:

• President Deborah Tamlyn, Dalhousie University, takes over the board of directors from 1991 to 1993.
• The Association’s third milestone is achieved when member schools begin to introduce PhD programs in nursing, preparing nurses to advance the discipline’s knowledge base through scholarship—one of the long-term goals of the founding members.
• Two member schools, the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia, introduce PhD programs in nursing.

1992:

• CAUSN celebrates its 50th anniversary.

1993:

• President Denise Alcock, Dalhousie University, takes over the board of directors from 1993 to 1995.
• Member schools McGill University/Université de Montréal (joint program) and the University of Toronto introduce PhD programs in nursing.

Focus on Data and Communications

1994:

• Executive Director Wendy McBride takes over National Office operations from 1994 to 2004.
• The Association establishes the first national database of all university nursing programs.
• The Association becomes a co-founder of the Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada, a national Association representing accrediting bodies of over 20 professions and other accrediting organizations.

1995:

• President Marilynn Woods, University of Alberta, takes over the board of directors from 1995 to 1997.
• The Association undertakes its first revision of the Accreditation Program.

1996:

• CAUSN officially becomes bilingual (English and French).
• The Association establishes the first national database of international expertise.
• Université de Québec joins as a member school, and CAUSN becomes representative of all university schools of nursing in Canada.

1997:

• President Dot Pringle, University of Toronto, takes over the board of directors from 1997 to 1999.
• The Association establishes the first national database of nursing research.
• A history of CASN and nursing education for the first 50 years is documented by Rondalyn Kirkwood and Jeannette Bouchard in “Take Counsel With One Another”: A Beginning History of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing 1942–1992.

1999:

• President Kathryn May, University of British Columbia, takes over the board of directors from 1999 to 2000.
• The Canadian International Nurse Researcher Database is established.
• The first CAUSN website is created.

2000:

• President Marianne Lamb, Queen’s University, takes over the board of directors from 2000 to 2002.
• The Association establishes the first national database of nursing research funding.
• The first CAUSN National Nursing Education Conference is held in Vancouver.
• The National CAUSN Awards of Excellence are established (Research, Academic, Administration, Education).
• The third revision of the Accreditation Program begins.

Major Changes and More Expansion

2002:

• President Carol Orchard, University of Western Ontario, takes over the board of directors from 2002 to 2004.
• CAUSN celebrates its 60th anniversary.
• The Association’s fourth milestone is marked by the decision of the CAUSN Council to become CASN—the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing—and to adopt a new constitution.
• This decision represents a culmination of a significant change in nursing education, moving towards achieving the baccalaureate degree as the entry-to-practice requirement for registered nurses.
• A key facilitator of this change in many jurisdictions is collaborative partnerships.
• College programs begin to offer a baccalaureate program, in partnership with a university, rather than the diploma program.
• The new CASN constitution includes colleges engaged in baccalaureate education in its membership.
• This fourth milestone represents the attainment of a driving goal of the founding members—that nurses enter practice with a high-quality baccalaureate education.
• CASN adopts a new organizational structure (five Standing Committees and five Task Forces).
• A new 15-member board of directors is elected.
• The National Office staff expands to five employees.

2003–2004:

• The 2nd CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Halifax from April 24 to 26, 2003, with the theme Educating Nurses in Canada: The Future Is Now.
• Task Forces are added: Accreditation, Databases, Doctoral, Primary Health Care (PHC)/Nurse Practitioner (NP), Defining Scholarship, Public Health, Patient Safety, and Palliative and End-of-Life Care.
• President Ellen Rukholm, Laurentian University, takes over the board of directors from 2004 to 2006.
• National projects are launched: Canadian Nursing Advisory Committee (CNAC), First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF), and Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC).
• CASN completes new Accreditation Program policies and procedures.
• CASN negotiates a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the United States.
• The National Office staff expands to seven employees.

2005:

• Executive Director Pat Griffin takes over National Office operations from 2005 to 2007.

2006:

• President Lise Talbot, Université de Sherbrooke, takes over the board of directors from 2006 to 2008.
• The 1st CASN National Nursing Research Conference is held in Victoria from November 15 to 18, 2006.

2007:

• Executive Director Ellen Rukholm takes over National Office operations from 2007 to 2009.
• The 1st international Global Alliance on Nursing Education and Scholarship is held.
• The 3rd CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Kingston from November 21 to 24, 2007.
• The Pat L. Griffin Fund of CASN and the Pat Griffin Research Grants are established.

2008:

• President Lynnette Leeseberg, Nipissing University, takes over the board of directors from 2008 to 2010.
• The 2nd international Global Alliance on Nursing Education and Scholarship is held in Toronto from October 1 to 3, 2008, with the theme Educating the Future Nursing and Health Workforce: A Global Challenge.
• The 1st CASN Nursing Academic Leadership Conference is held in Toronto from May 8 to 11, 2008, with the theme Nursing Academic Leadership in Action: Strategies for Success.

2009:

• Executive Director Cynthia Baker takes over National Office operations from 2009 to 2024.
• The 4th CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Winnipeg from May 3 to 6, 2009, with the theme Traditions and Transitions: The Evolving Legacy of Nursing Education Scholarship.
• The 2nd CASN National Nursing Research Conference is held in Moncton from May 4 to 7, 2009, with the theme Interrelationships Between Theory, Research, and Practice: A Systemic Approach in Nursing.
• CASN’s 2009 Council Meeting is held in Gatineau.

2010:

• President Clémence Dallaire, Université Laval, takes over the board of directors from 2010 to 2012.
• CASN’s 2010 Council Meeting is held in Gatineau.

2011:

• The 2nd CASN Nursing Academic Leadership Conference is held in Québec City from May 2 to 5, 2011, with the theme Transforming Nursing Education for Evolving Leadership in Practice.
• CASN’s 2011 Council Meeting is held in Gatineau.

2012:

• President Linda Ferguson, University of Saskatchewan, takes over the board of directors from 2012 to 2014.
• CASN celebrates its 70th anniversary.
• As part of the activities marking its anniversary, CASN develops a history of nursing education in Canada. Ties That Bind: The Evolution of Education for Professional Nursing in Canada From the 17th to 21st Century takes readers through the historic, political, and social events that influenced the health care system and education of registered nurses in Canada that led to the development and evolution of CASN.
• The 3rd CASN National Nursing Research Conference is held in Toronto from May 7 to 10, 2012, with the theme Innovation in Research and Knowledge Exchange.
• CASN’s 2012 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.

2013:

• The 5th CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Vancouver from June 24 to 26, 2013, with the theme Collaborative Synergy: Teams, Scholarship and Capacity Building in Nursing Research.
• CASN’s 2013 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.

2014:

• President Kirsten Woodend, Trent University, takes over the board of directors from 2014 to 2017.
• The 6th CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Halifax from May 26 to 28, 2014, with the theme Anticipating and Shaping the Future of Nursing Education.
• CASN’s bilingual peer-reviewed journal, Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées en formation infirmière (QANE-AFI), is launched.
• CASN’s 2014 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.

2015:

• CASN’s 2015 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.
• CASN launches the nursing education resource: CASN’s Public Health Nursing Teaching Strategies Website.

2016:

• The 7th CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Toronto from May 30 to 31, 2016, with the theme Expanding Horizons in Nursing Education.
• CASN’s 2016 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.
• Executive Director Cynthia Baker attends a national meeting called by the federal Minister of Health and the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to sign a commitment, on behalf of CASN, to contribute to a collective national response to address the opioid crisis (November 16, 2016). This event triggers a series of CASN projects addressing the opioid crisis from a nursing education perspective.
• The Canadian Nurse Educators Institute (CNEI) is established to contribute to the strength and growth of Canadian nurse educators through high-caliber professional development opportunities.

2017:

• President Pauline Paul, University of Alberta, takes over the board of directors from 2017 to 2019.
• CASN launches the nursing education resource: Nurse Practitioner (NP) e-Resource for Prescribing Controlled Drugs and Substances.
• CASN’s 2017 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa, celebrating its 75th anniversary.

2018:

• CASN launches a new accreditation program: Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Bridging Program Accreditation.
• The 8th CASN Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Montréal.
• CASN’s 2018 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.

2019:

• President Sonya Grypma, Trinity Western University, takes over the board of directors from 2019 to 2021.
• CASN’s 2019 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.
• Executive Director Cynthia Baker, President Sonya Grypma, and Board Member Donna Murnaghan advocate to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, for his support on establishing the position of Chief Nursing Officer of Canada (June 20, 2019).
• CASN launches the nursing education resource: Digital Health Nursing Informatics e-Resource.

2020:

• CASN launches a new accreditation program: Nurse Practitioner (NP) Program Accreditation.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CASN’s 2020 Council Meeting is held virtually.
• CASN launches the Essential Skills Training For Health Care Workers COVID-19 Education Resource.

2021:

• The 9th CASN Canadian Biennial Nursing Education Conference is held virtually.
• CASN’s 2021 Council Meeting is held virtually.
• CASN launches the nursing education resource: Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder Education Resource.
• CASN launches the nursing education resource: Nursing and Climate Driven Vector-Borne Disease.

2022:

• President Linda Patrick, University of Windsor, takes over the board of directors from 2021 to 2023.
• CASN celebrates its 80th anniversary by releasing the video CASN Milestones 1942-2022.
• CASN launches a new accreditation program: Practical Nurse (PN) Program Accreditation.
• The National Office staff expands to 19 employees.
• A total of 21 CASN member schools offer PhD programs, with an enrolment of 456 students across the country.
• Two CASN member schools offer a doctorate in nursing (DN) as well as a PhD program for practice and government nursing leaders.
• CASN’s 2022 Council Meeting is held virtually.
• Executive Director Cynthia Baker supports Bangladeshi teachers and students with the implementation of an accreditation program through the ProNurse Project.
• CASN launches the nursing education resource: Developing Public Health Nursing Competencies Through Virtual Simulation Games Education Resource.

2023:

• President Alice Gaudine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, takes over the board of directors from 2023 to 2025.
• CASN establishes the Woodend Clinical Education Research Grant.
• The 10th CASN Biennial Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in St. John’s, with the theme Anti-discriminatory Pedagogy in Nursing Education. The event is attended by 551 participants, three sponsors, and 21 exhibitors.
• CASN’s 2023 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.
• Executive Director Cynthia Baker attends the Health Canada launch event for CASN’s National Nurse Residency Program with Antonina De Pau, Ottawa Hospital Executive Director; the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health; and Suzanne Madore, Ottawa Hospital Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive (April 25, 2023).

2024:

• The 11th CASN Biennial Canadian Nursing Education Conference is held in Calgary, with the theme Transforming Nursing Education: Unlearning, Disrupting, & (Re)Learning.
• CASN launches a new pilot accreditation program: Psychiatric Nursing Program.
• CASN launches the Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Mentorship Program.
• CASN’s journal, Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées en formation infirmière (QANE-AFI), celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since launching in 2014, QANE-AFI has published 221 works across 23 issues, reached over 200 countries worldwide, and received over 230,000 article downloads.
• CASN’s 2024 Council Meeting is held in Ottawa.
• Executive Director Cynthia Baker attends the Health Canada launch event of the IEN Mentorship Program with Yvonne Wilson, Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Executive at Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH); Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health; and Andrew Falconer, President and CEO of QCH (March 14, 2024).
• Baker retires from the position of Executive Director following 15 years in the role. She leaves behind a legacy of transformative leadership and unwavering dedication during her tenure as the Executive Director. Her tenure is marked by significant achievements, strategic advancements, and strong advocacy for nursing education and professional development.
• Executive Director Dr. Jean Daniel Jacob takes over National Office operations on October 28, 2024.

Advancing Nursing Education for Over 80 Years

Thanks to the vision and passion of the 11 founding schools of CASN, the Association has grown to represent 91 schools and continues to push forward, in a variety of ways, the mandate they set—to advance nursing knowledge and nursing education in the interest of healthier Canadians.

As society and health care evolve, the Association has taken the original mandate in new directions, including:

• Promoting research and scholarship
• Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
• Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Addressing the opioid crisis
• Addressing climate-driven vector-borne disease
• Promoting community and population-based health care