ABOUT THE C.G. JUNG FOUNDATION

About Us

Sketch of planned Institute

The C.G. Jung Foundation of Ontario was established in 1970 by local people interested in the work of C.G. Jung. The first name for their organization was the Analytical Psychology Society of Ontario (APSO). Today it is a vibrant community -- one of the largest such groups in North America. And from a single Jungian analyst practising in Canada, from 1977, the number of professional members of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) has grown today to over sixty-five.

Jung's Approach

Jung’s approach had been of vital interest to individuals in the region even during his lifetime, and a number of APSO’s founders brought personal reminiscences of him to the table. After years of networking and effort, APSO was organized (January 19, 1970) by James M. Shaw, President of Noxema and for fourteen years an analysand of Dr. Esther Harding in New York City. The first president, on Shaw’s nomination, was Prof. Paul Seligman of Waterloo University. Paul Seligman, first president of APSO

An impressive roster of public lectures, seminars and workshops have been organized since that time, bringing to Toronto such Jungian luminaries as Kathrin Asper, Joseph Campbell, Edward F. Edinger, John Hill, James Hollis, Mario Jacoby, Marie-Louise Von Franz and others, and tapping into the rich local resources of Robertson Davies, Northrup Frye, Marion Woodman, and others. Subjects covered have been as diverse and stimulating as mythology, dream and fairy tale interpretation, typology, body work, masculine and feminine issues, relationships and the basic principles of Jungian psychology. Literally tens of thousands have attended these sessions, and received a depth psychological perspective on both individual and collective life.

Jim Shaw, one of the founders of APSOA strong desire grew to name the organization after C.G. Jung, and his family was approached by Jim Shaw. In June 1979, it was learned that Jung's heirs preferred "that these Societies are in the hand of fully trained, competent Jungian analysts, and that they really practise in the spirit of C.G. Jung." Jim Shaw presented this and its implications to APSO's membership in August 1980, which overwhelmingly approved such changes as the establishment of an executive commitee with majority analyst membership, “in order to ensure that the voice of analysts would always have predominant weight.” After that time were established a Jungian library, later named after the first Toronto analyst, Fraser Boa, and a newsletter, Chiron. A legal name change was allowed by the Ontario government to Ontario corporation 239009 in March 1982. Henceforth, the Analytical Psychology Society of Ontario became the C.G. Jung Foundation of Ontario.

For legal and practical reasons, the local analysts were organized in 1982 into a separate group, the Ontario Association of Jungian Analysts, but the two groups worked together. As the number of analysts grew and the consultancy process became more convoluted James Shaw, convinced “that the aims and purposes of the Foundation will be best served by this responsibility resting in the hands of the professional members,” proposed a merger of the Foundation with OAJA in 1991. This merger was approved by its membership and accepted by the analysts, and has been in operation since that time. The C.G. Jung Foundation of Ontario in effect serves as the public face of OAJA, and is the legal entity which receipts donations, maintains premises and a library, and offers courses, workshops and seminars for the benefit of the public.

As the years pass, new analysts take up the mantle as our founders and pioneers die. In 2018, after losing two of our most loved and respected analysts, we created this space for future remembrances.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Stacey Jenkins, President, Email
Terilynn Graham Freedman, Vice-President, Email
Bob Williams, Secretary/Treasurer, Email
Annemarie Petrasek, Email

Chiron

Chiron was a newsletter that existed to support the work of the C.G. Jung Foundation of Ontario. It was established in 1980, and has existed in electronic form since 2006. Its name and masthead image, adopted at that time, are drawn from ancient Greek culture. In Greek mythology, Chiron was the last centaur, a son of the titan Cronus. He was famed for his wisdom, knowledge and skill at deciphering the will of the gods, to healing effect.

Past issues available online