Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association

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187 St. Mary's Road   Winnipeg, MB   R2H 1J2 
tel: (204) 233-1411   fax: (204) 237-3468   e-mail: info@mpha.mb.ca

THE Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association

TURNed 125 years OLD in 2003

The Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association was first formed through an Act passed in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba on February 2^nd, 1878. 

The Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association was created to license “certified clerks” and “Pharmaceutical Chemists”.  The candidates for licensure had to be knowledgeable in “translation and dispensing of prescriptions, pharmacy, chemistry and especially the chemistry of poisons, posology and materia medica.”  The first community practice pharmacies were licensed on March 1, 1878.  The original Act also covered the proper labelling of poisons and prevented false or misleading labelling of drugs.

James Stewart was the first “druggist” in the province and became the first secretary-treasurer of the Association on March 4^th, 1878.  John Caldwell was the first President of the organization and William Whitehead was the first Vice-President.  Since that time, there have been 49 Presidents and only seven Registrars in the history of the Association.  Ms. Lois Cantin of Flin Flon, Manitoba is the current and 50^th President of The Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association. 

The Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association presently licenses over 1000 pharmacists and over 340 pharmacies in the province.  Pharmacy students graduating from Canadian universities require four years of education and training in the Faculty of Pharmacy, in addition to the one year pre-pharmacy courses.  Upon graduation, they can apply for their practice license from the Association.  Pharmacists today are knowledgeable in providing patient care regarding medication information and treatment plans.  Pharmacists are a valued resource on the health care team bringing their expert knowledge of the complex medications and treatments. 

Recently, an Ipsos-Reid poll identified pharmacists as the most trusted professional.  The ranking identified honesty, integrity and reliability as the key components of trust.

The 2003 annual provincial Pharmacy Conference, highlighted the 125^th anniversary.