History

(Adapted from a Designlines Oct.2004 article written by Debby Lexier)

February 1949: A group of student interior designers at the University of Manitoba formed the Society of Student Interior Designers (S.S.I.D.). The Society’s first aim was “to obtain Legislative recognition of Interior Designers in Manitoba and later in Canada.”

Early 1950’s: as a result of the groundwork initiated by the student organization, an organization of professionals was formed culminating in the Manitoba Institute of Interior Designers (M.I.I.D.). Shortly thereafter, members of the M.I.I.D group hired a lawyer to submit a bill to incorporate an Act cited as “the Interior Designers Act”. The professional organization name was revised for the passing of the Bill to the Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba (I.D.I.M)

March 17, 1954: An act to incorporate the Interior Designer’s Institute of Manitoba was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba under Bill No. 38. The founding members listed on Bill No. 38 are: James Duthie, Debby Lexier, Abraham Globerman, Bruce Harstone, Joan Harland, John Graham, Marjorie Wilson, Rod Hamerton, Raquell Austmann Jack Cook, Yvonne Morton and Fred Yeo.

May 26, 1981: A committee guided by Margaret Stinson and including Ron Veitch, Michael Cox, Lee Finch and Rod Sprange-worked on behalf of I.D.I.M. to petition the Provincial Government to reserve and protect the name and profession of Interior Design. This resulted in our current name, the Professional Interior Designer’s Institute of Manitoba (P.I.D.I.M).

2004: The PIDIM celebrates its 50th anniversary with a lecture on “Advancing the Interior Design Profession” with Carol Jones.