Our name

Our focus

 
Our name
The Canadian Lung Association was founded in 1900, under the original name The Canadian Association for the Prevention of Consumption and Other Forms of Tuberculosis. As one of Canada's first voluntary health organizations, its aim was to provide facilities for the care of TB patients.

Tuberculosis was once the leading cause of death, outranking any other disease, famine or war.

Since its founding, The Lung Association has undergone several name changes that reflect the shift in the Association's work from the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) to the prevention and control of non-infectious lung diseases (such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and smoking-induced illnesses):

• The first change was in 1923, to the more succinct title: The Canadian Tuberculosis Association.
• Then, in 1969, the name was changed to The Canadian Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association.
• The final adjustment was made in 1977, and thus began The Canadian Lung Association.

• medical research;
• public education; and
• the promotion of healthy living.

One of our leading objectives is to influence people not to start smoking, and to help them quit if they do smoke.

The Lung Association promotes smoke-free air in the workplace, and actively supports legislation to regulate and/or prohibit smoking in public enclosed areas.

Also, we work with public health officials, hospitals, universities, community groups and other volunteer health agencies to protect the air we breathe.

Our work in asthma is leading the way in education and control of this disease.