April / May 2006

By Pat Antoniak RN.BN.RA.Ag Reg.
Past President of the BCAOA

Aromatherapists belonging to the British Columbia Alliance Of Aromatherapy (BCAOA) have something unique that other aromatherapists in Canada have not yet acquired – the legal right to use the Occupational Title “Registered Aromatherapist” and the initials “RA” behind their name. In March 2003, the right to use that title and those initials was granted to BCAOA members by the BC Registrar of Companies using his authority under the Society Act of BC.

To date, we still have that right. But recent provincial political changes may find us without any means of title recognition. To explain the situation in its entirety, an historical timeline is beneficial.

In the summer of 1998, Julianna Skelhon, then-president of the British Columbia Association of Practicing Aromatherapists (BCAPA), offered an invitation to many interested parties connected with aromatherapy care, products and education. In her invitation she said, “Leave your egos and agendas at the door and come to the table to discuss what is best for aromatherapy in this province.” That this was a time when aromatherapy was being attacked by other health professionals wanting to severely limit our ability to practice in this province. Because of the hard work and brilliant presentations made to the government by individual aromatherapists on our collective behalf, we averted a near disaster. Because of this scenario, BCAPA became proactive, not reactive.

After several meetings, it became clear that there was no way for the new group to set standards for all aspects of aromatherapy business, products and practice in BC. Our scope narrowed to ensuring a set of standards was set and followed by practicing aromatherapists. In a sense, the BCAOA became an aromatherapists’ regulatory organization. It was hoped that we would also establish a College of Aromatherapy in this province, as having a College means professional recognition under the Health Act of BC. So, in 1999, the BCAOA entered its first submission to the Health Professions Council of BC (HPC), asking for the right to establish a College and the right to use the Professional Title, “Registered Aromatherapist”. A couple of years later, we would make an updated HPC submission, as newer information and standards were being used to support our case.

We realized it would take a number of years before our submission would be reviewed by HPC, so we decided to pursue an Occupational Title as well.

This meant making another submission, but this time to the BC Registrar of Companies. This process began in 2002. We asked the Registrar to grant BCAOA members the right to use the Occupational Title, “Registered Aromatherapist”. After several revisions and requests for further information, this legal right was granted to BCAOA in March 2003. To date, all BCAOA members in good standing have the legal Occupational Title of “Registered Aromatherapist” and can legally use the initials “RA” in BC. All members must meet the standards of education, ethics and practice as set out by the BCAOA, as this is the legal basis for having had our Occupational Title granted to us.

You may wonder whatever happened to our HPC submission and plans to get a Professional Title and College under the Health Act of BC? In December 2002, the HPC was dismantled,

leaving all submissions not yet processed in limbo. This included our submission. The provincial government has said that once it has decided upon a procedure tohappened to our HPC submission and plans to get a Professional Title and College under the Health Act of BC? In December 2002, the HPC was dismantled, leaving all submissions not yet processed in limbo. This included our submission.

The provincial government has said that once it has decided upon a procedure to process and review these old HPC submissions, they will let us know. To date, no process has been put into place. So our plans to have a Professional Title and College must wait until the government decides upon its plan of action. A hearing to have our Professional Title and College submission reviewed may be years away.

Fortunately, our present Occupational Title has been used to help identify the qualified BCAOA aromatherapists around the province. This has been useful for municipal officers who issue business licenses and public clients and customers looking for safe practitioners to call upon. It has also helped other holistic practitioners and health professionals identify aromatherapists to refer their clients to. As long as the RA remains intact, this level of assurance will continue.

In the fall of 2005 we received disturbing news. The Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Health informed us that the BC government is planning to rescind ALL occupational titles having to do with health care, as it feels these practices need to be scrutinized for inclusion or exclusion under the provincial Health Act. Additionally, the BC government plans to remove all titles using the words Registered, Certified or Licensed unless they are a recognized health provider under the Health Act of BC. These actions, we were told, are to take place in 2006-2007. However, without a process in place to review Health Act submissions, groups currently protected under the Society Act and who are waiting for their HPC submission to be reviewed, will have nothing while they wait! This is particularly troubling, as safety of the public becomes a looming issue. Without the assurance of current standards set in place by BCAOA, how is someone to truly know if their Aromatherapist is qualified, if we can no longer identify ourselves as Registered Aromatherapists?

There is only one way for us to retain our RA title until the old HPC submission is reviewed. We MUST convince the Minister of Health to grant BCAOA exclusion from this broad-sweeping regulation, so that we retain our Occupational Title under the Society Act until our old HPC submission can be reviewed. By identifying the BCAOA members, a degree of public protection is maintained until such time as we have been assessed for suitability as a College under the Health Act of BC. We need to convince the provincial Minister of Health now!

The BCAOA members were asked earlier this year about whether or not to pursue lobbying for our cause. With an overwhelming majority saying, “Yes”, we have embarked upon lobbying our local government officials and MLAs. Additionally, a petition has been started in support of our cause and all BCAOA members have been given access to it via the BCAOA website.

But what if the provincial government insists upon removing our title and making us wait until a hearing can be organized? This is the reason we are also pursuing a federal Trademark/Certification Mark through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). Knowing that we cannot use the words Certified, Licensed or Registered in our title in this province, we are opting to find another title that will clearly designate our BCAOA membership from all other aromatherapists and will comply with our provincial government’s ruling. With federal protection of a name, we can still promote the BCAOA goals and standards in a manner to ensure the public will know whom to call upon for their aromatherapy care. The only aromatherapists allowed to use the title, will be BCAOA members in good standing.

There is one thing for sure – change is imminent.

Historically, aromatherapists in BC have been courageous in standing up for what they believe. If ever there was a time to have our voices heard, now is it. We must convince the Minister of Health to allow the continued use of our Occupational Title until our Health Act submission is reviewed. We must pursue an identifiable and protected federal title so that BCAOA members will be noticed. And when the time comes to present our case for a provincial College of Aromatherapy, we will stand up and be heard yet again.

Pat Antoniak RN. BN. RA. Ag Reg. is Past President of the BCAOA. She has a practice and healing centre in Tsawwassen, The Natural Comfort Wellness Centre and can be reached at naturalcomfort@telus.net

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