Genetic services are organized through genetic clinics across the country that employ interprofessional teams of healthcare providers. Two important providers on this team are medical geneticists and genetic counsellors.

There are approximately 94 medical geneticists in Canada¹; most practice in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, but they are found in other provinces as well. The majority are in academic centres, but they provide outreach to smaller cities, as well as rural and remote areas.

In Canada, the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors certifies genetic counsellors. There were approximately 320 certified genetic counsellors in Canada in 2016.²

Alongside these genetic services, there are a number of community-based organizations in Canada that focus on providing support and education to families with a genetic disorder. The Canadian Directory of Genetic Support Groups (http://www.lhsc.on.ca/Patients_Families_Visitors/Genetic_Support_Directory/-accessed July 28, 2017) lists 78 Canadian organizations offering such support. The umbrella organization, the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (C.O.R.D.) (http://www.raredisorders.ca/ -accessed July 28, 2017) provides overarching support and advocacy for many genetic disorders.

Of the genetics services available, laboratory services are a central component. All academic pediatric centres offer cytogenetic, molecular, and/or biochemical laboratory services; however, these vary from centre to centre.

¹The Canadian Medical Residency Guide. Medical Geneticists in Canada. 2015. https://www.cma.ca/Assets/assets-library/document/en/advocacy/Medical-Genetics-e.pdf-accessed July 25, 2017.
²Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors. List of Certified Genetic Counsellors. July 2016. https://www.cagc-accg.ca/?page=125 -accessed July 25, 2017.