A Brief History of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Canada

Before we look at Dr. Marion Powell’s contributions to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), it is important to examine her achievements in the context of Canadian history.

This timeline outlines key SRHR events in Canada, highlighting significant milestones, influential figures, and changes in health services and laws.

1880s

Black and white illustration of a stone building constructed in a Gothic architectural style, characterized by its pointed arches and ornate detailing. Typed text at bottom reads WOMAN'S MEDICAL COLLEGE, TORONTO. — Sketch of Woman’s Medical College, 1892.

1883 – Woman’s Medical College opens. It was Toronto’s first medical school for women. Many of its students went on to become pioneers in the family planning movement in Canada, including Dr. Rowena Hume and Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw who helped to establish Canada’s first birth control clinic.

1890s

Legal excerpt about publishing obscene matter typewritten on white paper. — Section 179 of the Criminal Code of Canada, 1892.

1892 – Canada’s first Criminal Code prohibits the sale, distribution, and advertisement of contraception and makes abortion illegal.

1920s

1923 – Dr. Marion Powell is born on April 19.

1923 – American birth control activist, Margaret Sanger speaks in favour of contraception at a meeting organized by the Vancouver branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

1920s

1930s

1930 – The Parents’ Information Bureau is founded by A.R. Kaufman in Kitchener, Ontario. It is Canada’s first birth control information centre.

1932 – The Birth Control Society of Hamilton opens Canada’s first birth control clinic. Located in Hamilton, Ontario, the clinic is under the medical direction of Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw.

1934 – The Winnipeg Birth Control Society is founded.

1936 – Dorothea Palmer is arrested and charged with distributing birth control information in violation of Canada’s Criminal Code. She is found not guilty.

1930s

Six women in early 20th-century formal attire, seated and standing in a room with ornate chairs and a chandelier. — Medical staff of Women’s College Hospital, 1935.

1940s

1946 – Dr. Marion Powell graduates from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine.

1948 – Dr. Marion Powell completes a senior medical residency at Women’s College Hospital in obstetrics and gynecology.

1948 – Dr. Marion Powell operates a general practice in Timmins, Ontario. She is the community’s only female physician.

1940s

Black-and-white portrait of a woman with short, wavy hair in formal attire. — Graduation portrait of Dr. Marion Powell, University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, 1946.

1950s

1952 – Dr. Marion Powell works at the Yodogawa Christian Hospital in Osaka, Japan, while her husband completes missionary work for the Presbyterian Church of Canada.

1955 – Service for the Regulation of Natality (SERENA) is started by Gilles and Rita Breault in Quebec. This natural family planning movement follows the accepted teachings of the Catholic Church.

1950s

Dr. Marion Hilliard wearing a special party hat made of contraceptives, December 1956.

1960s

1960 – The birth control pill is officially on the market in Canada.

1961 – Barbara and George Cadbury organize a meeting for people concerned with the current birth control laws in Canada. The group would become Planned Parenthood Toronto.

1961 – The Society for Population Planning in British Columbia is founded.

1962 – Dr. Marion Powell completes a diploma in Public Health at the University of Toronto. She is named Peel County’s first female Medical Officer of Health.

1960s

1964 – Dr. Marion Powell is named Associate Medical Officer of Health of Scarborough, Ontario.

1966 – Dr. Marion Powell helps launch Canada’s first municipally funded birth control clinic in Scarborough.

1968 – “The Birth Control Handbook” is published by McGill students and distributed to university campuses across Canada.

1969 – The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–1969 was passed into law. It decriminalizes contraception and homosexuality, and revises abortion laws in Canada.

1960s

“Current Status of Family Planning in Canada”, September 1971.

1970s

1971 – Dr. Marion Powell is named Medical Officer of Health of Scarborough. She is the first woman to hold this role in Metro Toronto and is instrumental in setting up family planning units.

1971 – Dr. Marion Powell helps to develop a sex education curriculum for the Ontario Ministry of Education.

1972 – The Family Planning Division is established within the Department of National Health and Welfare.

1972 – Dr. Marion Powell is elected President of Planned Parenthood Toronto.

1970s

1972 – Dr. Marion Powell joins the staff of Women’s College Hospital.

1972 – Dr. Marion Powell is named Head of the newly formed Population Studies Unit at the University of Toronto’s School of Hygiene (Public Health).

1973 – Women’s College Hospital opens the Bay Centre for Birth Control. It is Toronto’s first hospital-supported walk-in birth control clinic. Dr. Marion Powell begins working at the clinic.

1973 – Dr. Marion Powell is named co-author of “Youth Clinic,” published in the Toronto Star.

1970s

1974 – The Canadian Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL) is founded. It is Canada’s first national group promoting abortion rights.

1975 – Dr. Marion Powell is appointed to the Committee on the Operation of the Abortion Law by the Privy Council of the Government of Canada.

1977 – Report of the Committee on the Operation of the Abortion Law is released.

1978 – Dr. Marion Powell is elected President of Planned Parenthood Ontario.

1970s

Two women engaged in discussion while seated at a desk in an office. One woman is holding a clear medical model. — Patient education at the Bay Centre for Birth Control, 1977.

1980s

1981 – Dr. Marion Powell is appointed director of the Bay Centre for Birth Control.

1984 – Dr. Marion Powell is awarded the Y.W.C.A. Women of Distinction Award for Health and Education.

1985 – The Canadian Human Rights Act establishes the constitutional right to equality. The government cannot discriminate against individuals based on sex and sexual orientation.

1986 – Dr. Marion Powell is commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Health to review access to therapeutic abortion services in Ontario.

1980s

1987 – Report on Therapeutic Abortion Services in Ontario is released.

1988 – In the case of R. v. Morgentaler, the Supreme Court of Canada rules that the parts of the Criminal Code relating to abortion are unconstitutional. This decision decriminalizes abortion in Canada.

1988 – Dr. Marion Powell is awarded the Persons Award for improving the status of women in Canada.

1980s

A woman is standing behind a table, smiling at the camera. The table is covered with various informational materials and items. There are signs on the table and on the wall that read Reproductive Health and Birth Control. — A nursing student running a birth control information booth at Women’s College Hospital, 1984.

1990s

1990 – Dr. Marion Powell is appointed to the Order of Canada for her role as a pioneer in the family planning movement.

1994 – Dr. Marion Powell is awarded the Gardiner Award in recognition of contributions to the development and well-being of Toronto.

1996 – The Canadian Human Rights Act is amended. The government cannot discriminate against individuals based on their gender identity or expression.

1997 – Dr. Marion Powell dies on December 21.

1999 – Plan B is the first product approved by Health Canada as emergency contraception.

1990s

An older woman with short, light-colored hair, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a dark jacket over a collared shirt. She is positioned in front of a brick wall that forms a curved bench-like structure. — Portrait of Dr. Marion Powell, 1988.

2000s

2005 – Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Canada.

2008 – Plan B is approved to be sold over the counter in drug stores.

2015 – A medical abortion drug is approved by Health Canada.

2024 – With the passing of Bill C-64, An Act Respecting Pharmacare, into law, Canada now has universal access to contraception.