It is difficult to determine with certainty the beginnings of podiatry in Quebec. The need for podiatric care has always existed, yet there are few records of this period.
After the war, around 1945-50, foot therapists had become more prevalent in Quebec society. There were individuals from the United States and from Europe who began to dispense foot care. Some Europeans even began to train others, which was incomparable to what is offered today. Regardless, this was the modest beginning of our great profession.
In the 1960’s, the period before legislators recognized the profession of podiatry in Quebec, there existed three podiatric associations. These associations grouped together those who shared the practice of foot care. They were: l’Association des Podiatres de la province du Quebec (APPQ), la Société de Podiatrie du Quebec (SPPQ), and l’association des Practiciens de Podiatrie du Quebec (PPPQ). These associations do not exist today. There are no documents relating their activities or goals. However, a brief recall of their history is necessary. In fact, those who remember this period will also remember the liveliness of these associations.
The APPQ had two D.P.M.s, Claude Laliberté and Irving Kaufman. Their wish was to have the government legislate podiatry. They presented a private bill in 1948, which was rejected by the government. They would have to wit until 1974 to see the legislation of podiatry.
The SPPQ had approximately 100 non-D.P.M. members, founded in the 1940’s by Foch Melancon, Alyre Desjardins, Madeleine Brissette, and Bernard l’Heureux. This association was particularly active, especially after 1965. The president during these years Marc Desforges, would prove to be an exceptional motivator. Seminars, congresses, and updates in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, podiatric science, radiology were many and constant.
Lastly the PPPQ had 150 more moderate members. There existed a subtle rivalry between the two associations. However, the 1974 legislation joined the two in the same professional Order. This forced merger would ease the tension between the two groups.
These associations had a relatively short life of about ten years. They were the first forums of unprecedented podiatric activity in the province. The birth of podiatry began with them in the late 1960’s. At this point, there were two American-trained D.P.M.s, about 250 podiatrists affiliated with one of the three associations, and approximately 200-300 unclassified others with varying backgrounds. Most were Europeans, where the profession was recognized for some time now, and Quebecers who schooled in non-reglemented programs. Foot care at this time had certain popularity; proof being the success of the Wolfe Clinic where many Europeans and Quebecers practiced.
In the late 1960’s, the Quebec minister of health, Claude Castonguay began the important health care reform. The ‘carte-soleil’ (tr. sun card) was distributed and ensured universal access to care. A major governmental body, l’Office des Professions, was created to help administer Quebec’s health professions.
Around 1969, the minister wished to recognize four new professions: audiology, denturology, chiropractic, and podiatry. This news stimulated the profession to organize seminars, congresses, and updates. These were necessary for the evolving practice and the eventual admission exams. The associations followed common objectives of profession recognition and offering the best training for its members.
In 1973, the Podiatry Act was established and podiatry was born in Quebec. This new professional would be called a podiatrist.
Immediately, the Office des Professions had to put in place mechanisms for admission to the new Order. Admission was not automatic. One had to prove that he or she practiced before enactment of the legislation and then successfully completes the admission exam.
The Office des Professions recognized the three associations as middlemen for all podiatrists. Three expert examinators were chosen, one for each association: Claude Laliberté, Marc Desforges, and Jean-Guy Lambert. Each was president of his proper association. They began the exam process, which proved to be difficult for many. Initially, 350 people applied for admission. These candidates would attempt to complete a stressful and difficult exam process on which their future careers would rely. This first exam only allowed 70 candidates to pass. Thus these individuals were judged to have the attributes necessary for public protection. This number was insufficient for the birth of the profession. A one-year recycling program was put in place for the remaining candidates. This program was administered by the new Order, under the wing of the Office des Professions. 70 more candidates were admitted to the profession. In 1974, at the end of the program, the l’Ordre des Podiatres (OPQ) had 140 members.
The first president of the OPQ, Claude Laliberté D.P.M., was named by the Office des Professions. He had a difficult task ahead of him. The regulations of the Order had to be put in place as well as the management of the everyday workings of the OPQ. His presidency was short but a few months. Paul-André Mathieu took over to continue the elaboration of the first regulatory structure of the OPQ.
In order to perfect the actual level of training of the new podiatrists admitted to the profession, the OPQ had to offer a form of continuing education. A university program had to be found that could be adapted to the needs of the Quebec podiatrists. In the United States, at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM), a similar program had existed in the past, which could be reactivated for the new Quebec podiatrists. At the end of the 1970’s, NYCPM reactivated the program with the support of the OPQ. In 1982, the entire teaching staff of NYCPM participated in the one year podiatric teaching of the Quebec podiatrists. This new certificate would be called the ‘Advanced Standing in Podiatric Medicine’ (ASPM).
Over the years, the OPQ regulations were completed and therefore the duties and obligations of podiatrists were established. One regulation in particular was waiting for approval: the recognition of foreign diplomas. This regulation was by far the most important for the future of Quebec podiatry. This regulation established for the first time that only one foreign diploma, the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree, would allow access to practice in the province of Quebec. In so doing, the government, through the Office des Professions, had recognized that podiatry in Quebec required university training. The OPQ president at the time, Marc Tranchemontagne consented with this final Office des Professions decision. The approval of this regulation occurred in the early 1990’s, 20 years after podiatry’s legal recognition. This governmental and Office des Professions decision completed what all podiatrists at the time were striving for: a university education for future podiatrists (see section: history of Quebec Podiatric education).
Another important point in Quebec’s history of podiatry involves the international community. Although the strict daily management of the profession in Quebec does not require membership to national and international organizations, many professional corporations do maintain connections with colleagues overseas. International conferences are often attained through theses connections. In 1995, the OPQ joined the Fédération Internationale des Podologues (FIP), an organization with 20-30 member countries. The goal was to attain an international conference for Canada under the direction of the OPQ. The conference was to be held in at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal. The idea took about 10 years to develop and in 1995 the FIP awarded an international conference to the OPQ at a general meeting in Goteburg, Sweden. The director of international markets confirmed a windfall of 3 million dollars for the city of Montréal.
During this time, the OPQ board was under extreme tension. On June 10th 1994, the OPQ board voted a unanimous vote of non-confidence against the vice-presidency of Gérard Allart, and thus demanded him to step down. The details of what transpired can be found in the minutes of the meeting of this date. What happened next was a series of events where Gerard Allart and his son, Francois Alert associated their energy to destroy the presidency. A partial election elected Francois Allart, Marc Gendron, and André Benoit. The Office des Professions would reprimand these three, by letter, for their lack of respect during the election, of the rules that govern professionals. The Office would also underline that they lied to all podiatrists concerning an external board member, Richard Morin.
Immediately following the election of these three individuals, the president of the OPQ, Marc Tranchemontagne was overseas at an annual general meeting of the FIP, where he held the post of International Secretary General. The new board called a meeting, without the presence of the president, and voted to cancel the OPQ membership to the FIP.
Upon his return, the president Marc Tranchemontagne voluntarily stepped down. He explained to the members his reasons for doing so, the first being related to the dishonest acts that he publicly exposed from the beginning.
Paradoxally, the ostracized ex-vice-president became the president. It was under Gérard Allart presidency that Marc Tranchemontagne was invited to a board meeting to explain his militant reasons for wanting to hold the International Congress in Montréal. At this meeting, one of the reasons against holding the International Congress was that Quebec would be inviting foreign foot care specialists to practice illegally in Quebec! It was easy to understand that this new board of the OPQ was not interested in the FIP, or the International Congress, and the conference was cancelled in Montréal. Lost to Quebec, the International Congress was awarded to the United States and was held in Boston in July 2004. It was a missed opportunity for podiatrists of Montréal, Quebec and Canada. Today, the United States are members of the FIP as are DPM members of the Canadian Podiatric Medicine Association (CPMA), including Francois Allart. The non-DPM podiatrists of Quebec were left behind. The international president is now an American!
Mr. Marc Tranchemontagne, president of the OPQ at the time, was awarded the title of Accredited Ambassador of the Palais des Congrès for his accomplishment in officially obtaining the Canadian International Congress in Podiatry.
Concerning the particular chapter of university training in Quebec, it took 20 years of concerted efforts of many podiatrists to see the profession take its rightful place in a university. Érol Frechette, ex-president of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Quebec, said it best: "Il importe que l’Université fasse sienne l’atteinte de l’objectif d’offrir la formation podiatrique au Quebec." Translated this means that the University had to make it their objective to offer podiatric education in Quebec.
Letter to the president Marc Tranchemontagne confirmed this university interest on June 29th, 1994.
The file was now a university file. The university then needed to have the program accepted by varying groups. First was the Commission d’évaluation des projets de programmes de la Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universities du Quebec (CREPUQ). Next was the Office des Profession who needed to confirm that the program was in conformity with the professional and health laws in place. Then the Comité des programmes of the Minister of Education had to authorize the financing for the new program of the doctorate in podiatry at Université du Quebec à Trois-Rivières. Finally, the Minister of Education made its announcement. Not just one professional Order but large group was required to see this through.
And that is History.
Continue (A history of podiatric training in Quebec)
By
Marc Tranchemontagne, podiatrist
Ex-president, Ordre des Podiatres du Quebec
1990-1995
