CANADA RECOGNIZES D.D. PALMER Although D.D. Palmer was actually born in what is now part of Ajax, Ontario, he was raised in Port Perry and worked there until he left for Iowa in 1865. On September 19, 2009, the day after the 114th anniversary of the first chiro- practic adjustment, an unveiling ceremony took place in Palmer Park, Port Perry. More than 100 people attended the event and celebrated the official designation of Daniel David Palmer (March 7, 1845-October 20, 1913) as a person of national historical in- terest by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The plaque reads, in part, “Palmer is recognized as the founder of chi- ropractic for his crucial role in creating and popularizing this alternative medical care in North America.” The event was chaired by Julie Dom- pierre, executive secretary for the Board. Featured speakers included Dr. Robert Haig, executive director of the Ontario Chi- ropractic Association (OCA), who spoke about the history of chiropractic and the growth of the modern profession. Marilyn Pearce, mayor of the Township of Scugog – of which Port Perry is now a part – spoke about the value of a good community to the development of each of its members, and especially to the growth and development of school age children. Mayor Pearce spoke of how proud Port Perry was that its com- munity had provided the nurturing envi- ronment in which D.D. Palmer was raised. Many other chiropractors and dignitar- ies from Port Perry were in attendance at the ceremony. They included Dr. Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, who is also a chiropractor and parliamentary secretary to the minister of health; the author of this article, who represented the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO); Dr. Silvano Mior, who rep- resented CMCC; and Dr. (and Mrs.) Doug- las Brown, who were there on behalf of the CMCC Governor’s Club. Those in attendance also included Dr. Helen Peel, who was born and raised in Port Perry and was a member of the first graduating class of CMCC in 1949. Dr. Peel, after 60 years as a chiropractor, contin- ues to practise in her hometown along with her daughters, Dr. Reva Bathie, and Robin Lucas, RMT. All three were present along with some of Dr. Peel’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Four generations of this chiropractic family celebrated the rec- ognition of Dr. D.D. Palmer, the profession’s founder, in their own hometown. www.canadianchiropractor.ca D.D. PALMER, CANADIAN HEALTH-CARE PIONEER Hon. Bev Oda, MP for Durham Region and the federal Minister for International Coop- eration, was also present and spoke of the remarkable accomplishment of discovering and then playing such a crucial role in the popularization of a health-care profession. Minister Oda spoke of how chiropractic has grown in reputation and is being per- ceived, more and more, as part of main- stream health care in Canada, the United States and many other countries around the world. Minister Oda compared the sig- nificance of the founder of chiropractic to the contributions of other great Canadian health-care pioneers, including Norman Bethune, a pioneer in the treatment of tu- berculosis and emergency blood transfu- sion, who is best known as a national hero in China for his devotion to the Chinese people. (Bethune was born in Gravenhurst, Ontario.) She also named Sir William Osler, the great medical educator and diagnosti- cian. As well, she identified Drs. Banting and Best, who discovered insulin. It is clear that D.D. Palmer now joins this esteemed company of health-care pro- fessionals who are honoured as Canadians of national historical interest. INEXTRICAbLE LINkS There are some very interesting connec- tions that weave a common thread through the history of Port Perry and that of the chi- ropractic profession. Consider that: • on March 7, 1845, D.D. Palmer was born very close to Port Perry, and was then raised in Port Perry; • 50 years later, on September 18, 1895, Palmer delivered the first chiropractic adjustment in Davenport, Iowa; • in 1938, on the 25th anniversary of Palmer’s death, the National Chi- ropractic Association held a spe- cial commemorative ceremony in Palmer Park that was attended by Kent Farndale, a Port Perry resident then aged 9, who was present again in 2009 to receive flowers on behalf of the township of Scugog from rela- tives of D.D. Palmer; • in 1945, on the 50th anniversary of the first chiropractic adjustment, and the 100th anniversary of the birth of D.D. Palmer, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) – a memorial to D.D. Palmer – enrolled its first class of students, many of whom were Second World War veterans who had been helped by chiropractic care; • in August 1946, the National Chiro- practic Association unveiled a monu- ment to the memory of D.D. Palmer in Port Perry; • in 1995, chiropractic’s centennial year, there was a restoration and re- dedication of the D.D. Palmer statue, and the release of a commemorative stamp by Canada Post in Port Perry, to recognize the occasion; and • since 1945, there has been a tradition of making an annual trip to Port Per- ry as part of the orientation activities for students of CMCC. Since the first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, the profession has grown from one chiropractor to more than 100,000 DCs worldwide.1 Dr. D.D. Palmer, Port Perry and the history of chiropractic are woven together in the fabric of time. THE VALUE OF CHIROPRACTIC ACkNOWLEDGED The acknowledgment by the government of Canada of D.D. Palmer as a nationally significant figure is a tribute to the Port Perry community, but is also a frank rec- ognition of the chiropractic profession. For chiropractic, the magnitude of this ac- tion cannot be overlooked or overstated. Chiropractors can be proud of the fact that the dedication of the D.D. Palmer plaque, the ceremony that accompanied it, and the inclusion of D.D. and the pro- fession in the list of Canada’s great health- care pioneers and achievements, is an acknowledgment that the profession offers value to our society and its health care. The profession owes its gratitude to the Township of Scugog and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, as well as the federal dignitaries who attended the Palmer ceremony. More importantly, it owes its continued dedication and service to the people of the nation’s communities – it was, after all, a member of one such community who discovered the power of a chiropractic adjustment. • REFERENCE: 1. This figure quoted by the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC). DC counts are from the 85 current WFC member countries. Canadian ChiropraCtor | DECEMBER 2009 • 9
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