CHNC - National Nurses CHNC - National Nurses

History of the CHNC 

1987
  • Inaugural meeting of the Community Health Nurses Association of Canada (CHNAC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia
1989
  • CHNAC becomes an official interest group of CNA
1993
  • CHNAC co-sponsored the First International Conference on Community Health Nursing Research in Edmonton, Alberta
1994
  • CHNAC logo developed
1996
  • CHNAC lapel pins created
  • Communications officer position added to Executive 
1997
  • CHNAC membership opened to students
  • 1st CHNAC Award of merit presented to Geraldine Cradduck
1998
  • Position Statement Support for Parenting
  • Position Statement Baccalaureate Preparation for the Practice of Community Health/Public Health Nursing
  • Position Statement Improved Access for Parents to Services and Resources on Parenting
2000
  • Partnered with Community Health Nurses Interest Group, Canadian Public Health Association & the Canadian Nurses Association in the conference Health for All by the Year 2000? Primary Health Care: Meeting the Challenge
  • National Stakeholder Member at Large Position to the Board - PHAC appointed 
2001
  • CHNAC website up and running
  • Standards development work begins nationally
  • National Standards Development Committee inaugurated
  • CHNAC partners with Health Canada’s Skills Enhancement for Health Surveillance program as an expert reviewer
  • ParaMed Home Health Care provides $2500.00 towards standards work
  • National steering committee has in-person meeting Ottawa, ON.
2002
  • CHNC becomes involved with Health Canada's Surveillance Branch, Skills Online Program
2003
  • Publication of Canadian Community Health Nurses Standards of Practice
  • Published 1st edition of National Headlines the association newsletter
  • CHNAC participates in post-SARS Roundtable with Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan
2004
  • Community Health Nursing designated a CNA Specialty Practice
  • Continued partnership and support for CHNC programs from the newly created Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Community Health Nurses Association of Canada 1st Strategic Plan
  • CHNAC partnered with the Dieticians of Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to develop and publish A National Growth Statement
  • CHNAC participated in the development of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Screening Training Program
  • The Japanese Nurses Association requested and received permission to have the Standards of Practice translated into Japanese
  • Community Health Nurses Association of Canada Website launched
2005
  • Established first Standing Committees of the CHNAC Board of Directors
  • Established Board Manual
  • Established Board Accountability Agreement
2006
  • First writing of the National CHN Certification Exam
  • All provinces and territories represented on the Board of Directors
  • Received multi-year contribution funding through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Workforce Development Tools & Products program to: enhance website, develop the Blueprint for Action, revise the Canadian Community Health Nursing Professional Practice Model and Standards of Practice, develop discipline specific competencies, develop a Vision Statement for Community Health Nurses, develop and implement an environmental scanning tool, a learning needs assessment tool, a Personal Health Passport and webinars
  • CHNC awarded the ‘Public Health Workforce Development Award” from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Public Health Association for our "significant contribution to the development of the public health workforce in Canada”
  • First French translation of National Headlines
2007
  • Instrument Development & Pilot Phase of an Environmental Scanning Tool in partnership with University of Saskatchewan
  • 1st National Conference for Community Health Nurses in partnership with CHNIG
  • Community Health Nursing Vision 2020: Wait or Shape? national qualitative study in partnership with McMaster University
  • Strengthening the Quality of Community Health Nursing Practice: A Pan-Canadian Survey of Community Health Nurses’ Continuing Education Needs conducted Phase 1 in partnership with McMaster University
  • Developed Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice TOOLKIT
  • Community Health Nurses Association of Canada has 20th anniversary celebrations
  • Hired 1st Administrative Manager who later became 1st Executive Director
  • Hosted a Community Health Nurses Association of Canada Planning Retreat
2008
  • Completed Public Health Nursing Practice in Canada: A Synthesis of the Literature
  • Completed a survey regarding CHNC member perception about the Canadian Nurses Association’s Certification Exam
  • Canadian Community Health Nurses Standards of Practice translated and revised version prepared for website
  • Prepared summary report Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice Workshops and Interviews
  • Strengthening the Quality of Community Health Nursing Practice: A Pan-Canadian Survey of Community Health Nurses’ Continuing Education Needs conducted Phase 2 in partnership with McMaster University
  • 2nd National Conference for Community Health Nurses: Shaping the Future, May 29 -31, 2008, Toronto
  • Completed Community Health Nurses Association of Canada Business Practices Review
  • Completed Communications & Marketing Strategy Update
  • Participated in a national delegation of nurses to China
2009
  • Moved administrative services for membership, website, products and materials to CHNAC
  • Developed Contractor and Research Services Agreements
  • Developed Community Health Nursing Vision 2020: Shaping the Future
  • Published Public Health Nursing Discipline Specific Competencies
  • Completed Mapping Between the Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice & the Public Health Nursing Discipline Specific Competencies
  • Developed Community Health Nursing Definition and Vision Statement
  • 3rd National Community Health Nurses Conference: Blazing Our Trail… Tools, Tactics & Taking Charge, June 17-19, 2009, Calgary
  • Completed report Model of Communities of Practice for Advancing Practice in Community Health in partnership with University of Ottawa
  • Led a national delegation of community health nursing to China
  • Completed an Inventory of CHNAC Website Content & Functionality with Proposed Course of Action for Upgrade Improvements & Mitigation Plan
  • Completed a Visual Identity Report
  • Completed paper on Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright Issues
  • Developed templates for independent contractors and research agreements
2010
  • Community Health Nurses Association of Canada (CHNAC) becomes Community Health Nurses of Canada (CHNC)
  • New CHNC logo and colors developed
  • Developed CHNC Bylaws & Constitution and became incorporated
  • Launched the new CHNC website with increased ability to offer services in both official languages
  • Published Home Health Nursing Competencies
  • Completed an Environmental Scan: CHNs Speak Out! In partnership with University of Saskatchewan 
  • Completed An Evaluation of the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards Toolkit
  • Collaborated with CPHA to produce the revised Public Health Community Health Nursing in Canada Roles and Activities
  • Assessment of current CHNC programs, policies and products using the CNA Social Justice Gauge
  • Developed Power Point Presentations Equality, Equity & Social Justice: A Primer for Community Health Nurses
  • Completed A Synthesis of Canadian Community Health Nursing Key Reports
  • 4th National Community Health Nursing Conference: Knowledge to Action: Engage, Enable and Inspire, June 16-18, 2010, Toronto
  • Meeting held with CHNC Board of Directors and National Partners including CASN, CNA, CPHA, NCCDH, NCCMT & PHAC to outline current and potential activities and collaborative opportunities
  • Participated in the development of CASN Guideline for Quality Community Health Nursing Clinical Placements for Baccalaureate Students
  • Developed a report on the Influence of Certification on Community Health Nurses
  • Developed a CHNC Sustainability Plan
  • Developed a report on Migration of membership Services & Management/Distribution of Products
  • Developed a CHNC Dissemination Strategy for dissemination of CHNC products
  • Published article in Western Journal of Nursing Research, Community Health Nursing Vision for 2020: Shaping the Future
  • Submitted commentary to Canadian Nurse, Has our Diversity become a Stumbling Block?
2011
  • Released Great Big News our national newsletter
  • Prepared and submitted a CHNC Brief to CNA National Expert Commission: Creating a System for Community Health
  • Revised Canadian Community Health Nursing: Professional Practice Model & Standards of Practice
  • Developed A Blueprint for Action for Community Health Nursing in Canada
  • 5th National Community Health Nurses Conference, The Time is Now: Influences, Impacts, Outcomes, May 16-18, 2011, Halifax
  • Began development of a CHNC Board of Directors Policy Manual
  • Established a Community Health Nurse Educators Forum on the Website
2012
  • Recognized the 25th Anniversary of Community Health Nurses of Canada
  • Completed Public Health Nursing: Primary Prevention of Chronic Diseases Report
  • CHNC member advocacy to MPS on healthy public housing policy
  • 6th National Community Health Nurses Conference, Wisdom to Action: The Power to Shape Change, May 14-16, 2012, Toronto
  • Worked with provincial & territorial regulators related to the new US based national exam for registered nurses
  • Sent letter to Canadian Council of Nurse  Regulators, expressing concern for the  NCLEX exam  and developed sample letter for members to send to their respective regulatory body
  • First Honorary Lifetime Membership Award awarded to retiring Executive Director, Evelyn Butler
2013
  • Developed Canadian Community Health Nursing Professional Practice Model Graphic
  • Established a new Standing Committee for a Centre of Excellence
  • Received  Public Health Agency of Canada contribution funding through the Public Health Workforce Tools & Products Contribution program for a 3 year grant to develop Pan Canadian leadership competencies for Public Health
  • 7th National Community Health Nurses Conference, Blueprint for Action: Influence, Inform, Inspire, June 17-19, 2013, Kelowna
  • Completed PHN Leadership Development in Canada: Report to the National Collaborating Centre on the Determinants of Health (NCCDH), a literature review on public health leadership on the determinants of health to address health inequities
  • Successfully received CIHR funds to strengthen our national conference focus on First Nations, Inuit and Metis Health
2014
  • Political Action & Advocacy Standing Committee disbanded with the intent to incorporate this focus into the work of other Standing Committees
  • CHNC members contributed to the development of Entry-to-Practice Public Health Nursing Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Education, a 2014 publication of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) 
  • 9th National CHNC Conference, Blueprint for Action, June 2-4, 2014 Ottawa, ON
  • Produced Leadership Competencies for Public Health Practice in Canada: Environmental Scan
  • Development of 1st CHNC Position Statement – Community Health Nursing Education
2015
  • Centre of Excellence Standing Committee reforms as Research & Policy Standing Committee
  • 10th National CHNC Conference, Blueprint for Action: Challenge the Status Quo, June 22-24, 2015, Winnipeg, MB
  • Leadership Competencies for Public Health Practice in Canada: Leadership Competency Statements Version 1 launched at the CHNC conference in Winnipeg
  • Public Health Agency of Canada contribution agreement concludes with the development of Leadership Competencies for Public Health Practice in Canada: Knowledge Translation Plan, Organizational Readiness Tool & Final Evaluation Report
 2016
  •  Strategic Plan 2016-2019 officially launched at the CHNC AGM on May 30, 2016 in St. John’s, NL
  • Development & design of new CHNC website
  • 11th National CHNC Conference, Blueprint for Action: Making Connections, May 30 – June 1, 2016, St. John’s, NL
  • Centre of Excellence Standing Committee continues transition to Research & Health Policy Standing Committee
  • CHNManitoba was the first province to make use of CHNC website to create a provincial/territorial webpage
  • CHNC Policy Manual was finalized and posted on CHNC website
  • Public Health Leadership Competencies Network continues to implement work plan for dissemination and utilization of the Leadership Competencies for Public Health Practice in Canada under CHNC leadership
  • CHNC endorsed the Stop Marketing to Kids campaign to restrict all food and beverage marketing to Canadian children age 16 and younger
  • CHNC endorsed the Oral-Systemic Health Education for Non-Dental Healthcare Providers curriculum developed by the International Centre for Oral-Systemic Health at the University of Manitoba as an important educational resource for community health nurses
 2017
  •  CHNC celebrates 30 year anniversary - Celebrating the Past - Building the Future
  • Resolution Action on Health Equity for Indigenous People passed by members at AGM leading  to partnership development with Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
  • 12th National Conference, Blueprint for Action: Building the Future held in Niagara Falls on June 20 - 22, 2017
  • 30th anniversary occurred with festivities all year especially at the conference 
  • Caring and Connecting: Touching the Lives of Canadians through Community Health Nursing  -  A compilation of stories of the experiences of community health nurses in Canada. Published in June 2017 in recognition of CHNC’s 30th anniversary.
  • Member survey received a wonderful 40% response rate
  • CHNC endorsed Childhood Obesity Foundation position statement on adding a levy on sugary drinks
  • CHNC provided expert feedback to the Expert Commission of MAID
  • CHNC involved in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Project
  • CHNC supported the Canadian Student Nurses Association campaign to promote all age bicycle helmet legislation
  • CHNC became a member organization of the Chief Public Health Officer's Health Professional forum (PHAC)
2018
  • In partnership with CNA, CHNC offered two free leadership webinars to members
  • 13th National Community Health Nursing Conference: "Caring, Connecting and Leading for a Healthy Canada” held in Regina, Saskatchewan on June 26-28, 2018 
  • Collaboration agreement signed by Canadian Indigenous Nurse Association of Canada and Community Health Nurses of Canada to support joint workshop and reception at the National Conference with Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association in response to the 2017 AGM Resolution and to acknowledge and recognize the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
  • Standards review process begun, led by an advisory group representing CHNs from across Canada 
  • CHNC participated in the Canadian Public Health Association Careers Seminar to represent the role of a public health nurse ("A Day In The Life Of”).
  • All Provinces and Territories in Canada had representation on the CHNC Board.
  • CHNC began talks with University of Ottawa and Mount Royal University to establish a Canadian Community Health Nursing Journal.
  • CHNC becoming more active in area of health policy e.g.  endorsement of a Canadian Public Health Association position statement Decriminalization of Personal Use of Psychoactive Substances.
 2019
  • Article, "Three Decades of Professional Nursing Leadership: The Impact of the Community Health Nurses of Canada”, was published in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership in March
  • Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health for their Study on LGBTQ2 Health in Canada
  • Revision and release of Canadian Community Health Nursing Professional Practice Model & Standards of Practice (2019)
 
 
Founding Board members:
Catherine Ryan, Newfoundland Labrador 
Gerry Craddock, Ontario
Nora Whyte, British Columbia
Ina Major, Nova Scotia
Lee Fredeen-Kohlert, Alberta

Dr. Marianne Lamb, Associate Representative for CNA