The history of the intellectual and developmental disability sector is rich with stories of tragedy and success. Over the last 50 years, Alberta and specifically, Edmonton, has been host to several significant landmark decisions, cultural changes, legal challenges and human rights contests around the rights of persons with disabilities in our society. This history continues to shape both the cultural and institutional frameworks that impact persons who live with disabilities daily.
Our vision is to provide a central hub to capture this history in such a way that each individual voice tells a stand-alone message. Together these voices shape a larger narrative about how we got here and where the disability sector is headed.
- 2018
1900’s-1960’s
The medical field developed substantial improvements in technology to help people with disabilities.
1906
Since the original Canadian immigration legislation
1907
The act referred to people with disabilities as “insane and dangerous to the community”
1911
The Alberta Hospital for the Insane opened in Ponoka
1916
The Government of Alberta enacts the Lunatics’ Estates Act.
1916
A conference of Cabinet Ministers of the four western
1921
A survey about mental health was published by
1922
An Occupational Therapy department was established in 1922
1923
The building in Red Deer that originally served as the Alberta Ladies’ College
1928-March 21
The Sexual Sterilization Act is passed in Alberta on March 21.
1928
Dr. Geo H. Wade, Mayor of Hanna, Alberta, wrote an article titled “The Sterilization Bill” in the Wetaskiwin Times.
1930
Ponoka is historically significant for its role in the emergence
1932
Emily Murphy, a renowned Canadian feminist who was part of “The Famous Five”
1937
An amendment of the Sexual Sterilization Act in this year
1949
The Mentally Incapacitated Persons Act replaces the Estates of the Mentally Incompetent Act in Alberta.
1950’s-1970’s
The U.S.A-originated slogan “Hire the Handicapped” became widespread across Canada during the post-WW2 period
1951
The National Conference on the Rehabilitation of the Physically Disabled was held in Canada.
1952
The Southern Alberta Council for Retarded Children
1955
A call for deinstitutionalization in Canada was made when the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living (SACL) was created.
1958
The Canadian Association for Retarded Children (CARC) was developed
1959
An amendment to the Mental Diseases Act in 1959, resulted in an additional
1960s through 1970
During this time period the philosophy of “deinstitutionalization” – the idea that people with disabilities should live in communities
1961
The Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (VRDP) Act is developed in Canada.
1964
The Mental Health Act is passed in Alberta. In the act
1966
The Canadian Government developed a disability pension program through the CPP
1960’s-1970’s
During this time period the philosophy of “deinstitutionalization” – the idea that people with disabilities should live in communities rather..Read More
1970
The “Able Disabled” report was developed.
1972
The Sexual Sterilization Act was eliminated under the newly elected Progressive Conservative Government led by Peter Lougheed
1976
The Coalition of Provincial Organizations of the Handicapped
1979 January
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is established by the Government of Alberta.
1979
The Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies (CRDS) program is established at the University of Calgary.
1979 May 31
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) releases a report entitled “Roles and Initiatives of the Federal Government
1980
The Southern Alberta Community Living Association (SACLA) is established.
1980
Skills Society in Edmonton is established in Edmonton as a response to the call for deinstitutionalization in Alberta.
1980s – 1900s
The disability community is heavily affected by the global economic recession.
1981
The UN’s International Year of Disabled Persons (IYPD) is established.
1982
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is established.
1985 April 15
On April 15, Section 15: Equality Rights is added to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
1987
The On Campus program is established at the University of Alberta.
1990’s
Throughout the 1990s there was a shift towards community management of services for people with disabilities.
1992
Starting this year, United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated annually on December 3rd
1993
The National Vocational Rehabilitation Project (NVRP) is established in Canada.
1996 January
On January 18, The Government of Alberta announces reform of the Services to Persons with Disabilities (SPD) program.
1996 February
In 1996 Leilani Muir successfully sued the government for wrongful confinement and sterilization.
1997
The Persons with Developmental Disabilities Community Governance Act is passed.
1998-2003
Canada-Alberta cost sharing agreements regarding programs for people with disabilities continue to progress.
1998
The Alberta Disabilities Forum (ADF) was formed.1 The ADF is “a coalition of nonprofit Alberta-based disability organizations”,
2000’s
Disability begins to be considered at least partially a social phenomenon in government policy texts.
2002 October
In October, Alberta’s first film festival celebrating disability culture, called “Picture This…Film Festival”, premiers in Calgary, Alberta.
2002 December
In December the Premier’s Council proposed the “Alberta Disability Strategy” to Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Alberta Community Development.
2003
The Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Act is established in Alberta.
2003
The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts was founded in Edmonton.
2006
The AACL (now called Inclusion Alberta) published Hear My Voice.
2007
The United Nations’ first Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was held on December 13, 2013.
2007
Neighborhood Bridges in Edmonton is founded by Nicola Fairbrother.
2009 February
Enactment of The Protection for Persons in Care Act.
2009
Establishment of “Samantha’s Law”, an amendment to the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Act.
2014
Leilani Muir, survivor of forced sterilization in Alberta, publishes her autobiography “A Whisper Past: Childless after Eugenic Sterilization in Alberta”.
2014 April
In April Freida Lafferty passed away – just three months after being transitioned out of the Michener Centre.
2014 September
In September 2014, Premier Jim Prentice announces halt to the closure of Michener.
2015
The documentary “Surviving Eugenics” was released. Survivors of Alberta’s eugenics practices share their stories
2016
Canada began consultation to ratify the Optional Protocol of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
2017 March
The first hearing of Bill 211 (a bill proposed to revise discretionary trust within AISH) is passed. However, the bill..Read More
2017 June 7
Two months after its initial proposal, ‘Bill 205: Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Act’ is passed
2017 October
Alberta celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) for the first time.
2017 November 23
The Edmonton Journal publishes an article called “Alberta government still not recruiting a disability advocate”.
2017 December
December 5 2017: The first hearing of Bill 211 (a bill proposed to revise discretionary trust within AISH) is passed...Read More
2017 December 3
The first National Cash Mob in support of inclusive hiring in Canada transpires in support of International Day of Persons..Read More
2018 January
On January 19, The Government of Alberta announces that a review of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program is underway.
2018 March
The Government of Alberta sets out to hire its first Advocate for People With Disabilities, about 11 months after the..Read More
2018 May 31
Bill 5: An Act to Strengthen Financial Security for Persons with Disabilities passed its third hearing.
2018 June
Bill 5: An Act to Strengthen Financial Security for Persons with Disabilities passed its third hearing.
2018 October
Nine months after promising a full review, the government has named
2018 June 2
The Government of Alberta sets out to hire its first Advocate for People With Disabilities, about 11 months after the..Read More
2018 June 3
On June 3, Alberta’s first Disability Pride Parade was held in Calgary.
2018 June 20
Canadian MP and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities