Conference Insider: Happy 70th Birthday BC HRMA!
By Erin Engstrom
Did you know that BC HRMA’s 70th anniversary is the same week as the 50th annual conference in April 2012?
Tracking the history of our association is like researching a family tree. In preparation for our celebration next year, we have been digging through paper archives, journals, photos and minutes to piece together the history of our association’s name.
Here it is in a nutshell:
1942
A group of Vancouver business executives convened to address the acute manpower shortage during World War II and established the ‘War Industries Co-ordination Committee’.
1944
As the war drew to an end, the active members of the committee wanted to create a new association to maintain the liaison between people in the personnel field. The Personnel Administrators Association of BC was formed.
1947
The Personnel Association of British Columbia became affiliated with the Pacific Northwest Personnel Management Association (with members in BC, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana).
1953
Officially recognized as the Vancouver Chapter of Pacific Northwest Personnel Management Association (P.N.P.M.A).
Check out the Manpower ‘White Glove Girl’ ad campaign from the monthly publication of the Pacific Northwest Personnel Management Association in 1963!
1958
Our association became a charter member of the newly formed Canadian Personnel Association.
The organization became the “Vancouver Personnel Management Association” while maintaining memberships in the Federation of Canadian Personnel Associations and organizing our inaugural conference.
1965
A change in the association’s name to the Industrial Relations Management Association of British Columbia (IRMA) and several constitutional changes were approved by the membership to embrace the entire province of BC and provide for out of town membership. Minimum wage was raised to $1/ hour.
1991
Official name change to ‘British Columbia Human Resources Management Association’.
2012
Celebration of the 70th anniversary of our association, and 50th annual conference in Vancouver.
Save the date for the 50th Annual BC HRMA Conference & Tradeshow in Vancouver, April 25-27, 2012!
Erin Engstrom is the conference and events manager at BC HRMA. When Erin isn’t working, she can be found cooking for friends at an impromptu kitchen party or racing her kids between the pool, rink and pitch. Erin never stops—but that’s because she’s afraid that she would be too tired to jump back into the race of her wonderfully chaotic life. e.engstrom@bchrma.org
