Honourary Membership received on April 14, 2026

Nominated by Cathy Ebbehoj and Margaret Scaia                                                           

Nan Martin has been a valued member of the British Columbia History of Nursing Society (BCHNS) since 2006. She has made significant contributions to preserving and sharing the history of nursing in British Columbia as on the Archives Committee beginning in 2009 and as Chair from 2016 to 2024. Through her thoughtful leadership, she strengthened the Society’s archival work and helped ensure that the stories and records of nurses in this province are preserved for future generations. She regularly shared selected stories in the “Archival Corner” of the BCHNS Newsletter. She has also been the BCHNS representative to the BC Historical Federation since 2008.

Nan was born and raised in Scotland, where she began her nursing career at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary School of Nursing. She later completed midwifery training at Hammersmith Hospital in London. These early experiences fostered a strong commitment to compassionate care and professional responsibility that would guide her throughout her career.

After immigrating to Canada, Nan became a registered nurse in Ontario and later in British Columbia. She spent much of her career as a leader in geriatric and extended care settings, where she became widely respected for her advocacy on behalf of older adults. Her leadership roles included Head Nurse positions at Brock Fahrni Pavilion at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at Lions Gate Hospital, where she spent the final decade of her nursing career. Nan’s professional contributions extended beyond leadership in clinical practice. She was an involved member of the RNABC Gerontological Nurses Professional Practice Group and the Canadian Gerontological Nurses Association. In recognition of her contributions to gerontological nursing practice, she received the RNABC Award of Excellence in Nursing Practice.

We highly value Nan’s leadership in the BCHNS. Her dedication to preserving nursing history and supporting the Society’s work continues to enrich BCHNS and honour the profession’s past.