About Us

Many years ago, Northern Institute of Massage and LCSP ran hand in hand in Blackpool, England. Expansion of NIM to Canada took place in the spring of 1976. The Principal of NIM (Mr. K. Woodward) spent a week in Alberta in meetings and discussion ament to lead a major expansion of the NIM training programs and LCSP membership in the western provinces.

A pilot training program in Swedish Massage that was set up at Grant MacEwan Community College with the NIM curriculum had just been completed and found to be a success in terms of student interest. Mr. Woodward meet with Mr. Abe Reimer, President of the Masseurs’ Association of Saskatchewan after a meeting of the association at which NIM had been approved as the official training and qualifying body for membership of the Society. Mr. Reimer is arranging for training centers in Saskatchewan.

The NIM qualifications were adopted as the criterion of the licensing of massage practitioners in the City of Calgary. The cities by-law regarding licensing requirements had been amended to read that applicants “require the Possession of a Certificate of Proficiency from the Northern Institute of Massage, Blackpool, England, or equivalent proficiency as determined by the Medical Officer of Health for the City.”

With the numbers of Canadian graduates growing as well as members of the LCSP UK it was decided at a special meeting held in Calgary in Sept. 1976. Representatives of the LCSP UK council were in attendance to establish a branch of the Society in Canada as a step toward the development and growth of a body of active practitioners able to supervise the training and seminars. As well as arranging seminars and meetings.

The formation of a Canadian Branch council of twelve nominated members was approved. The branch officers being elected by ballot, those being, Mr. M. Cowie (President of the Physiotherapists and Masseurs’ Association of Alberta) and Mr. A. Reimer (President of the Masseurs’ Association of Saskatchewan.

The first Council of the Canadian Branch 1976 is as follows:
President: Mr. A. Reimer (Saskatchewan)
1st Vice- President: Mr. A Turner (Alberta)
2nd Vice-President: Mr. G. Smith (Alberta)
Secretary: Mrs. J. Harkin (Alberta)
Council Members: Mr. K. Garner (Alberta), Mr. M. Cowie (Alberta), Mr. L. Baxter (Alberta), Mr. F Sanborn (Alberta), Ms. Kim Lan Choong (Alberta), Mr. R. Landrick (Alberta), Mr. D. F. Bennett (Saskatchewan), Mr. K. Serviss (Saskatchewan)

It was decided that the LCSP Canadian Branch would become souly governed by their members here. The LCSP Canadian Branch became incorporated in 1982. We still have a strong bond with the LCSP UK.