Our History

Notre Histoire

THE ASSOCIATION’S BEGINNINGS

FORMATION

In 1951, an enterprising group of 35 women, aided and encouraged by two gentlemen, Mr. W. G. Frisby and Dr. W. J. Dunlop, both prominent in educational circles, took action. The Association they formed was to establish a national standard of qualifications for senior secretaries.

The inaugural meeting of the Association of Administrative Assistants or Private Secretaries was held in Toronto, April 1951.

A Charter was granted to the Association by the Province of Ontario under Letters Patent dated November 24, 1952, and Supplementary Letters Patent, covering education courses, were issued in April 1954.

QUALIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (QAA) DESIGNATION

Inauguration of the Correspondence Course, conducted by the Extension Division of the University of Toronto took place in October 1957. Upon completion of the three-year course the graduate-member was entitled to use the designating letters QAA

The “QAA” designation is registered with the Trade Marks Office, Ottawa (1967).


THE ASSOCIATION’S CREST (TRADE-MARK)

Association of Administrative Assistants Crest

The Association’s crest was certified as the Association’s exclusive trade-mark by the Registrar of Trade-Marks for Canada on November 3, 1961.

No more appropriate design could portray the Association’s ‘corporate image’ than the open book and quill. The book, the mark of the student, the seeker of improvement; the quill, the mark of the scribe, he who executes and puts to use the knowledge acquired.

The Association’s crest was certified as the Association’s exclusive trade-mark by the Registrar of Trade-Marks for Canada under date of November 3, 2006, bearing the number 124,213. No more appropriate design could portray our ‘corporate image’ than the open book and quill. The book, the mark of the student, the seeker of improvement; the quill, the mark of the scribe, he who executes and puts to use the knowledge acquired.

The official language of the certification states that registration was granted on the basis of the use in Canada by the Association of the crest symbol for the following services:

  • (1) the dissemination of Association literature;
  • (2) providing its members with facilities for advanced education and a common meeting ground for the exchange of ideas;
  • (3) circulation of a bulletin “National Notes” to the membership;
  • (4) making available to its members and to the public an educational course by correspondence conducted for it through an accredited Canadian University.

The Association’s trade-mark was renewed on September 5, 2006. Again, granted with the exact wording for the four services mentioned above.

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