The History and Theories of Community Psychology in Canada

The authors provide a brief portrait of the socio-political-historical context of community psychology (CP) in Canada identifying linguistic, geographical, gender, and racial challenges, as well as the progressive social policies that have advanced the development and expression of CP in Canada. The growth of CP is mapped out over four decades punctuated by the development in the 1970s and 1980s of three university-based CP training programs and the recent emergence of two new Ph.D. programs in CP. The chapter provides an annotated history of CP research and action in Canada highlighting the values, theories, and main areas of practice that are linked to specific practitioners, programs, and published articles. The rich and varied expression of community psychology in Canada is structured as a discussion of six main areas of research and practice: values and ethics, community mental health, health promotion and prevention, social network intervention and mutual aid, promotion of inclusion and diversity, and social intervention and community economic development. The chapter ends with a summary of CP theory, research, values, and practice, making comparisons with CP in other countries and highlighting the challenges and related opportunities of addressing specific issues of oppression and resilience in Canada now and into the future.