Join us in celebrating the top ten achievements from the past three years

To strengthen the profession, overcome system challenges, and position physiotherapy professionals as leaders in health care — we need more than passion, we need proof. 

Together, we’ve united voices from across the country to create three landmark reports — Physiotherapy Scope of Practice,  Economic Impact of Physiotherapy in Canada, and Charting the Future of Physiotherapy Care in Canada: Public Input on Access, Standards & Scope — that prove that expanding access to physiotherapy doesn’t just improve lives, it also strengthens the entire health-care system and saves the economy billions.  

These reports acted as catalysts for change: shaping conversations, influencing policy, advancing recognition, and driving real progress in how physiotherapy is understood and valued across the country.

Over the past three years, the CPA has proudly become the national voice for the profession — meeting with MPs, Senators, government leaders, insurers, and partners right across the system to share evidence, speak to the power of physiotherapy to support system change, and advocate for increased supports for physiotherapy professionals across Canada. 

Highlights include appearing before: the Standing Committee on Finance to advocate for physiotherapy’s inclusion in the 2024 Federal Budget; the Senate Committee on Official Languages to ensure that language is never a barrier to care; and, the Standing Committee on Health to offer solutions to Canada’s health workforce challenges, from supporting IEPTs to expanding the number of seats in physiotherapy schools. 

Physiotherapy is one of Canada’s most underutilized solutions to health-care challenges and we’re determined to change that. Together, the CPA advocated for solutions that support both current practitioners and the next generation.

From keynotes to global panels, over the past three years we have led the conversation on health innovation and raised the profession’s profile across Canada and beyond. Highlights include: 

• Delivering a keynote presentation to insurers at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Conference  

• Participating in a panel discussion on health economics at World Physiotherapy Congress 2025 

• Moderating a Health Workforce Canada Connects panel on team-based primary care 

Each conversation underscored one truth: expanding access to physiotherapy services can not only reduce the burden on the health-care system and enhance the health and well-being of millions of Canadians, but also bolster the Canadian economy. Together, we’re shaping the future of care. 

Over the past three years, we’ve had the privilege of celebrating the very best of our community. We’ve honoured outstanding members through our annual CPA Awards, recognizing the commitment and leadership that continue to elevate the profession. We’ve created meaningful opportunities to celebrate and engage with members across the country — from Annual General Meetings to National Physiotherapy Month celebrations — strengthening connection and pride. We’ve also deepened dialogue with members through regular CEO updates and energizing Town Halls, creating space to discuss the issues most important to our members, reflect on our progress, share aspirations, and look ahead to a bold future for physiotherapy in Canada.

Canada’s physiotherapy community is stronger when it’s global and inclusive. The CPA, Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), and Provincial Colleges have worked together to support a smooth transition for internationally educated physiotherapists. We developed a Working In Canada resource to help newcomers navigate the path to practice, while CAPR’s new Pre-Approved Credentialling Pathway (PACP) streamlines licensure for candidates from comparable jurisdictions. Together, we’re opening doors and strengthening our profession.

Representation matters — and this year, our profession crossed an important threshold. We’re no longer fighting for seats at policy-making tables. We’re now being invited to lead them as trusted subject matter experts.

A clear example came in early 2025, when CPA member Susan Mooney was appointed to the National Seniors Council (NSC). Her appointment wasn’t just the realization of a long-standing advocacy goal — it signaled that physiotherapy expertise is now recognized as essential to shaping policies that support older Canadians.

The NSC brings together seniors, stakeholders, and experts to advise the Government of Canada on the health, well-being, and quality of life of seniors. Susan’s appointment reflects a new era for the CPA and the profession — one where physiotherapy isn’t simply at the table, it’s setting the agenda.

In Canada and around the world, we’re seeing the incredible impact that advanced practice physiotherapists are having in improving access, reducing wait times, and helping patients get the right care at the right time. In August 2025, the CPA put out a call to strike a national Task Force on Advanced Practice, which will bring together voices from across the profession to review proposed definitions and competency frameworks alongside research and consultation findings. Ultimately, this group will provide recommendations to the CPA’s CEO and Board on what definition the CPA should endorse, what refinements might be needed, and how we will evolve as a profession to meet the needs of Canadians in an ever-changing health-care landscape.

Congress 2024 brought together visionary speakers — including Dr. Michel Landry, Stephanie Lurch, and André Picard — alongside hundreds of clinicians, educators, and researchers who are bridging research and practice, and leading critical conversations shaping the future of health-care delivery across Canada. A standout moment: Elaine Maheu’s inspiring Enid Graham Memorial Lecture — a tribute to leadership, resilience, and purpose.  

In 2026 we will be turning that momentum into movement. We’re inviting our entire community to join us at Congress 2026 in Halifax (May 29–30, 2026) as we unveil some exciting new changes and mark the beginning of a bold new era for the CPA and the profession. Registration will open early in 2026, so keep an eye on our channels to make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to be part of this landmark event! 

Over the past three years, we’ve been working in partnership with our Divisions and Assemblies on a transformative plan to empower them as the CPA’s subject matter experts and trusted leaders in advocacy, professional development, and member engagement — ensuring members have access to the best evidence, education, and expertise in the profession.

We’re creating a future where our Divisions and Assemblies play a more consistent, strategic role in advancing both the CPA and the profession — uniting our collective expertise to elevate the profession across Canada. For members, the results of these changes — coming in 2026 — mean greater value, easier access, and more opportunities for professional growth in every area of practice, and every part of the country.

Over the past three years, we’ve united the profession like never before — bringing together voices from across the country to create our landmark Scope of Practice Report. That work has been a catalyst for change — shaping conversations, influencing policy, and driving real progress in how physiotherapy is understood and valued across Canada.

And none of it would have been possible without the leadership and momentum of our provincial and territorial association partners. Their on-the-ground advocacy and unwavering commitment to advancing the profession have helped us drive scope-of-practice progress across the country.

Working together, we’ve advanced scope expansions in PEI, Nova Scotia, and Ontario — milestones that bring us closer to a pan-Canadian scope of practice. These wins mean faster access, stronger systems, and more empowered physiotherapists making an impact in every community.