Canadian Milestones*

1973  Newfoundland passes  the Neglected Adults Welfare Act, creating a mandatory reporting obligation for “any person who has information which leads him to believe that an adult is a neglected adult...”.

1980s

	Early mention of abuse & neglect in Canadian literature in the 1980s. Local service providers in some communities are beginning to identify family violence as an issue affecting older adults.
	1980 New Brunswick's Child and Family Services and Family Relations Act addresses child and adult welfare and includes disabled and older adults.
	1985  First elder abuse conference held in British Columbia (SPARC Committee on Elder Abuse)
	1986 Nova Scotia enacts the Adult Protection Act, creating a mandatory reporting duty for “every  person who has information, whether or not it is confidential or privileged, indicating that an adult is in need of protection..."
	1988 Prince Edward Island enacts the Adult Protection Act.
	1989 Formation of an informal coalition in British Columbia to begin addressing abuse and neglect of older adults. Subsequently becomes the BC Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors.
	1989 The Ryerson Study, 1st national study of the prevalence of abuse and neglect in later life in Canada, is conducted.
	Establishment of the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (incorporated 1992).

1990s

	1990s Development of New Horizons and other Health Canada family violence prevention initiatives. These provide many Canadian communities with their first opportunity to explore abuse issues in later life.
	1990 Ontario Nursing Home Act sets out some of the rights of residents living in nursing homes.
	1991  Annual Canadian Association on Gerontology discussion meeting in Toronto: "Do We Need a Canadian  Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse".
	1993 First national conference on elder abuse held.
	1994 B.C. Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors becomes a non profit provincial organization to raise awareness of abuse and neglect in later life. The organization develops from 5 years of work by interested seniors and community agencies.
	1998  Roundtable discussion at Canadian Association on Gerontology  in Halifax, NS. "Creating a  Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse". Bylaws established and criteria developed.
	1999  2nd  National Conference on Elder Abuse held in Toronto, ON.  Fifty-six members signed.

	1998 Alberta enacts Protection for Persons in Care Act.
	1999 2nd National Conference on Elder Abuse, Toronto, Ontario, March 21-23, 1999.

2000s

	2000 Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse is created as a legal entity.
	2000  British Columbia proclaims Part 3 of Adult Guardianship Act, which provides support and assistance for abused or neglected adults who are unable to seek it on their own. Encourages voluntary reporting of abuse. Recognizes community networks.
	2001 Manitoba proclaims Protection for Persons in Care Act.
	2002 Yukon launches first Elders Conference.
	2002  Canada is the host location for the development of the Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse.  Declaration is based on the recommendations of the United Nations International Plan of Action adopted by all countries in Madrid, 2002.
	2003 Quebec Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse is created.
	2003  Manitoba establishes "Expect respect" initiative to help raise awareness of abuse and promote respect of older adults in the province.
	2003 Regional senior abuse prevention network develops in Alberta.
	2003 1st official recognition (proclamation) by the City of Toronto. Other cities in Ontario follow in 2003 and 2004.
	2003 1st provincial senior abuse awareness campaign (Alberta).
	2003  Yukon passes the Adult Protection and Decision Making Act,  Dec. 17, 2003. Proclamation is planned for April 1, 2005.
	2004  Newfoundland and Labrador holds their first provincial conference on senior abuse.
	2004  (October 19) Ontario marks its first Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

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Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse  ~~Réseau canadien pour la

prévention des mauvais traitements envers les aîné(e)s

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