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 was comprised of 28 affiliated member societies, including alumni associations of hospital schools of nursing and local and regional groups of nurses. By 1924, each of the nine provinces had a provincial nurses organization with membership in CNATN, and in that year the national group changed its name to the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).

CNA is now a federation of 11 provincial and territorial registered nurses associations and colleges. See about CNA.  

Strengthening the Voice - the Ninth Decade of the Canadian Nurses Association

Looking back throughout each decade in its history, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has made a significant impact on the advancement of the nursing profession and the promotion of quality, accessible health care for Canadians. This document is a retrospective of the period 1990 to 1999, the ninth decade since the creation of the Canadian Nurses Association.