In 1957, leading surgical groups asked the Canadian Medical Association to undertake the publishing of the journal.

The founding editorial board consisted of the chairs of surgery at the 12 medical schools in Canada at the time.

The president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada chaired the board.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada subsidized the journal until 1991 when it withdrew in favor of its own journal, Annals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

[2] Jean Couture then arranged for the Canadian Association of General Surgeons to become the major sponsor of the journal.