Organizations whose members are individual professionals or agencies associated with the arts who have affiliated for the purpose of fostering knowledge about and appreciation of artistic expression within their particular field, establishing standards of excellence, recognizing outstanding contributions, promoting career development, and otherwise supporting the interests of members. Members may include individual professionals (e.g., artists, singers, instrumentalists, actors, dance professionals, mime artists, conductors); organizations representative of the visual or performing arts or other arts fields (e.g., dance or theatre troupes, symphony orchestras, art museums, choral groups), or dealers, collectors, producers, distributors, arts facility managers or others working in the arts field or who are patrons of the arts.

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Organizations that are responsible for regulating, coordinating and promoting athletic programs for children, youth and/or adults at the local, provincial, regional, national or international levels. The associations may focus on a particular sport (e.g., football, figure skating), may pertain to programs within particular types of institutions (e.g., high schools, colleges and universities), may focus on professional sports or may be structured to meet the needs of individual professionals associated with athletic programs (e.g., coaches, officials, sports writers).

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Organizations whose members are business people, either operating their own companies or employed in organizations, who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting the general commercial interests of the community or the interests of their own trade.

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Organizations whose members are child care providers who have affiliated for the purpose of advancing the profession; promoting mutual interests; attending child care conferences; exchanging ideas with other practitioners in their field; obtaining access to technical assistance, information about best practices and other resources; and taking advantage of other opportunities for continuing professional development.

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Organizations whose members are agencies and individual professionals concerned with the welfare of children, youth and their families who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in seminars and conferences, networking with their peers, subscribing to journals and other publications, and taking advantage of other opportunities for continuing professional development. Members may work in a particular field such as adoption, children's protective services, foster care or parenting; or may represent a broad range of systems that serve children, youth and their families. Many child welfare/family services associations set standards which relate to the qualifications and performance of members; offer certification programs; maintain a job bank; provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information; promote high quality services through publications, training, consultation and other forms of support which strengthen member agencies and their staffs; and support a public policy agenda that promotes the well-being of the population they serve.

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Organizations whose members are individuals who work in the disability field and have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in education and training conferences, interacting with other professionals and taking advantage of other opportunities for personal and professional development. Many disability associations also include individuals with disabilities and their families in their membership. Disability associations may also advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and their caregivers; promote legislation that funds research and services for this population; and provide information for members and the general public. Included are associations that focus on a specific disability such as autism or brain injuries; and those that address a broad range of disability issues.

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Organizations whose members are academics who represent a particular discipline or teachers, administrators, school psychologists or other educational personnel who have affiliated for the purpose of continuing professional development through articles in journals and other publications, participation in professional conferences and other informal educational opportunities. These organizations may deal with complaints about members and may also provide assistance for members who are having difficulty with their employers.

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Granges, farm bureaus and other organizations whose members are individuals who cultivate the land or raise livestock to earn their living who have affiliated for the purpose of developing purchasing or marketing cooperatives, supporting the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that protect farmers and their farming enterprises, ensuring that farmland, in general, is preserved for farming purposes rather than freed for development, or engaging in other activities that are designed to promote their interests and ensure their livelihood.

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Organizations whose members are home health, hospice and personal care agencies that have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, increasing the visibility of home care services, disseminating information to members and the general public and improving the quality, accessibility and affordability of in-home and end of life care. Home health and hospice associations may provide opportunities for personal and professional development through conferences, publications and other activities; advocate for the rights of patients, their families and caregivers and people who are bereaved; maintain referral services through which people who require home health, personal care, palliative care or hospice services are referred to member agencies; and/or provide information about employment opportunities for people working in the field.

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Organizations whose members are inpatient health care facilities that have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests and improving the quality, accessibility, affordability and continuity of health care services through a program of advocacy, education, research, information and leadership. Hospital associations promote activities that improve community health status; promote coordination and collaboration among members; seek to influence provincial and national health care policy through active lobbying at provincial and federal levels; promote public understanding of health care issues; provide opportunities for ongoing professional development of staff through conferences and journals; prepare members for changes in health care financing and help members become effective advocates for their institutions and profession.

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Organizations, which may be international, national or regional in scope, whose members are information and referral programs and individual professionals in the field who have affiliated for the purpose of advancing the field, promoting mutual interests, participating in conferences, networking with their peers, subscribing to journals and other publications, and taking advantage of other opportunities for continuing professional development. Information and referral associations may also offer certification and accreditation programs, on-line training opportunities, access to professional tools and samples of best practices, and other resources that strengthen the ability of member individuals and organizations to serve their communities.

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Organizations whose members are language interpreters or translators or sign language interpreters or transliterators for the deaf, students and instructors who have affiliated for the purpose of advancing their profession, promoting mutual interests, attending professional conferences, networking with their peers and taking advantage of other opportunities for continuing professional development. These associations may target medical interpreters, conference interpreters, judicial (court) interpreters, interpreters for the deaf (visual interpreters), translators or other specialties or may be open to professionals in the field; and may develop standards including a code of ethics for the field, offer certification programs, provide training in best practices and publish directories of members.

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Organizations whose members are employees who have affiliated for the purpose of engaging in collective bargaining with management in order to secure more favourable wages, hours, grievance procedures and other terms or conditions of employment.

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Organizations whose members are doctors, dentists, nurses, chiropractors or other medical professionals who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests and participating in medical seminars and conferences, subscribing to medical journals and taking advantage of other opportunities for professional development. Many medical associations set standards which relate to the qualifications and performance of members, accept and investigate complaints from the public regarding the practices of members and maintain referral services through which residents who require medical assistance are referred to members.

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Organizations whose members are community health centres and other outpatient health care facilities that have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests and improving the quality, accessibility, affordability and continuity of health care services through a program of advocacy, education, research, information and leadership. Medical centre associations promote activities that improve community health status; seek to influence provincial and national health care policy through active lobbying at provincial and federal levels; promote public understanding of health care issues; prepare members for changes in health care financing and help members become effective advocates for their institutions and profession and the patients they serve.

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Organizations whose members are hypnotists, therapists or other mental health professionals who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in mental health seminars and conferences, networking with their peers, subscribing to mental health journals and other publications, and taking advantage of other opportunities for continuing professional development. Many mental health associations set standards which relate to the qualifications and performance of members, may accept and investigate complaints from the public regarding the practices of members, may assist members who are having difficulty with their employers, may maintain referral services through which residents who require counselling are referred to members, and may act as advocates for the recipients of their services and for desired social change.

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Organizations whose members are foundations, nonprofit organizations or individuals who have affiliated for the purpose of increasing public awareness and understanding of corporate and charitable giving and the role it plays in society and promoting the practice of charitable giving and voluntarism on the part of individuals and organizations. Also included are organizations that study the general role of philanthropy in society and seek to promote the practice of charitable giving and voluntarism on the part of individuals and organizations.

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Organizations whose members are sales managers, sales agents, sales representatives, marketing or advertising specialists, promoters, auctioneers and others who are involved in the sales of commodities or services who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in educational seminars and conferences, networking with their peers, receiving newsletters and other publications and taking advantage of other opportunities for professional development. Sales associations may develop standards for the field, offer certification and recognition programs, maintain a job bank, provide access to business tools or offer other resources that help members advance in their careers.

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Organizations whose members are veterinary care providers who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in veterinary seminars and conferences, networking with their peers, subscribing to veterinary journals and other publications, and taking advantage of other opportunities for professional development. Many veterinary associations set standards which relate to the qualifications and performance of members, accept and investigate complaints from the public regarding the practices of members and maintain referral services through which residents who require veterinary assistance are referred to members. Included are associations of animal hospitals and specialized veterinarian associations whose members treat a particular species of animal or animal-related disease.

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Organizations whose members are volunteer centres or individuals working in the field of volunteer resources management who have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in professional conferences, subscribing to journals and taking advantage of other opportunities for continuing professional development. Some volunteer management associations develop standards for the field, offer credentialing programs, develop and disseminate publications, support research, share statistics, provide opportunities for networking, maintain a job bank and offer other resources that advance volunteering in communities, strengthen the profession and help members become more effective in their roles and relationships.

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