BC History of Nursing Blog

We think you will enjoy reading this touching and amazing story about one of Manitoba’s first indigenous nurses. Ann Thomas Callahan spent 14 years in residential schools and after pursuing more education, became one of the first First Nations nurses in Manitoba. The following article tells of her remarkable nursing career filled with challenges and personal rewards. In 2007 a building at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg was named in her honour.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/ann-thomas-callahan-indigenous-nurse-manitoba-1.4577447

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The theme for the 5^th Nursing History Symposium,  “In Search of Nursing’s History” , was held March 8, 2018 in the UBC Woodward Library. Speakers from the Library described the history of the collections, preserving nursing and health history in a time of digitalization and open collections, archival records, archiving networks of support, and records and collections on Nursing History in the UBC Archives. Helen Vandenberg, a former winner of a BC History of Nursing Scholarship, joined the gathering from Saskatchewan using current technology and presented a paper on digital collections from a user perspective.

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Go to Events page and Other Dates, you will find information link to  register for Symposium

A large group of nurses from the Nova Scotia Nursing History Society attended the massive public ceremonies in Halifax to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion.  The Halifax Explosion, on December 6, 1917, resulted when a Norwegian vessel collided with a French cargo ship laden with high explosives.  The resulting fire ignited the cargo, causing a devastating explosion that killed at least 2,000 people from the blast, flying and fallen debris, onshore fires, and collapsed buildings, and an estimated 9,000 others were injured.  It was the world’s largest artificial explosion before advent of nuclear weapons in World War 2.

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Due date for submission is DECEMBER 15, 2017

NOTE: EXTENDED DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS IS JANUARY 15 2018

SCROLL DOWN BLOG FOR INFORMATION RE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS & REGISTERING FOR CONFERENCE.

For Remembrance Day 2017, the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Parks Canada honoured Canada’s Military Nurses with a special plaque.  Impetus to honour all nurses who served with Canadian Forces from 1885 to the present began in 2010, when BCHNS member Hallie Sloan suggested we approach the federal government to ensure recognition of military nurses who had served in all wars.  As this was to be a national recognition, BCHNS approached the Canadian Association for the History of Nursing (CAHN) to make the submission, with support from BCHNS, CNA, and other agencies.

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November 9, 2017  BCHNS celebrated a first by having one of our members, Glennis Zilm attend the meeting via Skype.

BCHNS member, Carol Harrison has released her second book  “Miller Bay Indian Hospital” Life and Work in a TB Sanatorium.   Read a book review in the Fall 2017 BCHNS Newsletter.

Congratulations Carol!

Castlegar Selkirk College held their 50^th anniversary [1966 – 2016]  last Fall.    It was a celebration of the College history and all programs.  A Book “Journeys Taken” by Takaia Larsen and Bob Hall was put together for the anniversary. The 2 year Nursing Program began in 1971. Many of the early Instructors retired & still live in the Castlegar area of which 2 are former BCHNS members & 1 currently,  Margaret Nicol, Kathleen Pinckney & Roberta Hamilton.  If interested in book, click on link below.

Congratulations Selkirk College!!

http://selkirk.ca/news/selkirk-college-releases-50th-anniversary-commemorative-book