Our History

• In 1993, representatives from Community Health Centres (CHCs) across the country come together for the first time in Winnipeg at a pan-Canadian conference of CHCs to discuss the creation of a pan-Canadian organization of CHCs.
  
  
• In 1995, in Toronto, the Canadian Alliance of Community Health Centre Associations (CACHCA) is born; made up of provincial groupings/associations of CHCs from across Canada.
  
  

• In 1995 CACHCA is well represented at the first international conference on CHCs, held in early December in Monteal. Members of the CACHCA Board give a number of presentations including an overview of CHCs in Canada and of the role of health promotion in primary health services.
  
  
• Over the next 3 years, CACHCA defines the characteristics for recognition as a Community Health Centre within CACHCA, clarifies its rules and regulations including the different types of membership, develops a set of core values which will provide the necessary parameters for taking public positions on the health care debates going on across Canada, as well as establishing stronger linkages across the country.
  
  
• In 1998, a 3rd pan-Canadian CHC conference “The Spirit of Health Care is In Our Hands” is held in Victoria, British Columbia. The CACHCA assembly approves a declaration to “preserve and enhance the publicly funded health-care system in Canada” and expresses the belief that core health services in Canada, including primary health care, should be included in the basket of services to be overseen by the five principles described in the Canada Health Act.
  
  
• In 2001, CACHCA submits a report with Recommendations to the federal Romanow Commission examining “The Future of Canada’s Public Health Care System”.
  
  
• In 2002, CACHCA holds the 4th pan-Canadian conference on CHCs, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The conference speakers include many of Saskatchewan's political and advocacy leaders, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the public medical services in the province and then across Canada.
  
  
• In 2003, CACHCA partners with the Canadian Arthritis Society, on: “The National Implementation of an Integrated Client Centred Approach to the management of arthritis” initiative. Numerous CHCs become host sites for the roll out of the Getting a Grip Project, which educates primary care providers on best practice in preventing and managing arthritis. The lead project researcher states in a presentation of research that CHCs are the best primary health care model for delivery of services to persons with chronic illnesses.
  
  
• In 2005, CACHCA in partnership with one of its provincial associations, the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC), develops a training manual: “Disseminating Best Practice in Interdisciplinary Teamwork from Community Health Centres”. A video, Hand in Hand: Interdisciplinary Teams in Community Health Centres, is developed to further highlight the impact of inter-professional, collaborate health care at Canada's CHCs.
  
  
• In 2006, CACHCA hosts a series of “think tanks” on the economic evaluation of primary health care.
  
  
• In 2006, CACHCA also sponsors the 5th pan-Canadian conference on CHCs, in Saint John, New Brunswick. The theme is “Community Health Centres …the Model for Action”.
  
  
• In 2007, CACHCA and AOHC co-host a 6th pan-Canadian Conference on CHCs in Toronto, Ontario, launching a major campaign to achieve the Second Stage of Medicare. Building on Tommy Douglas's recommendation for Canada to move toward a "second stage/phase of Medicare", the campaign focuses on re-orienting Canada's health system and services toward keeping people healthy in the first place, and to providing the right type of care, by the right providers when it is needed.
  
  
• In 2008, CACHCA hosts the 7th pan-Canadian conference on CHCs in Winnipeg Manitoba. The theme is “Putting Community in Community Health”. At the conference, CACHCA releases results on a major survey of Canada's federal political parties asking them for their commitments on improving access to community-based primary health care for Canadians.
  
  
• In 2009, CACHCA authors a policy position paper on the Federal government’s role in primary health care, entitled Community Health Centres, An Integrated Approach to Strengthening Communities and Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Vulnerable Canadians and their Families.
  
  
• In 2010 CACHCA begins plans, in partnership with the Association of CHCs in the United States (NACHC) and the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) for a 2nd international conference on CHCs, to be held in Toronto, Ontario, in June 2011.

• In June 2011, CACHCA and international partners host the largest ever international conference focused on community-oriented primary health care.  Community Health Centres: Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow draws 1000 delegates from health centres, governments and partner agencies in over 20 countries. Conference materials can be found on CACHCA's news page. Exciting discussions are initiated to establish an International Federation of Community Health Centres.
   

  The Future

  Looking to the future, CACHCA is committed to supporting a strong and comprehensive primary health care system across Canada. The association intends to expand its partnerships and areas of activity, from late 2011 onward, to protect and enhance our public healthcare system and to ensure an increased role for CHCs in provincial, territorial and federal healthcare plans. CACHCA also looks forward to an expanded program of international partnership, coordinating with partners around the world to improve access to the CHC model of care globally.