HISTORY

The profession of athletic training originated in the 1930s, where the majority were employed at colleges, universities and high schools, providing s ervices almost exclusively to amateur athletes. Recognizing the need for a set of professional standards and appropriate professional recognition, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri in 1950. On April 24, 1965, the Canadian Athletic Trainers Association was established in Toronto, Ontario to build the recognition and set the standard of professionalism for Athletic Trainers working in Canada. The first meeting of the CATA was held in June 1965 in Chicago at the site of the NATA annual meeting. In 1966 the CATA convened its first independent annual meeting in Toronto, ON.

In the 1970s Canadian Sport was progressing, as the landscape of sport in Canada was changing the CATA saw its role changing as well. In 1975 a proposition was made to change the professional title from trainer to therapist. In 1976 the proposition was approved and the CATA dropped Trainer in favour of therapist to develop a more professional attitude and outlook.

Once housed in Toronto, Ontario, the CATA is now headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Since its inception the CATA has seen remarkable growth, from the 10 members who founded the CATA in 1965, to the 78 members who attended the first meeting of the CATA in Toronto to the 1461 members who currently make up the CATA.

The CATA works closely with its provincial chapters to set a standard for professionalism, education, certification, research and practice across the country. Provincial chapters include: the Athletic Therapists Association of British Columbia, the Alberta Athletic Therapists Association, the Ontario Athletic Therapists Association, the Saskatchewan Athletic Therapists Association, the Atlantic Provinces Athletic Therapists Association, the Quebec Corporation of Athletic Therapists/Corporation des thérapeutes du sport du Quebec (CTSQ) and the Manitoba Athletic Therapists Association.