We are delighted to share the news that our long-time member, Dr. Geertje Boschma, has attained full Professorship in the UBC School of Nursing.
Geertje was honoured by her colleagues in a Special Lecture Series in the Faculty of Applied Science on April 21, 2015. A Celebration of Promotion was held to recognize five exceptional people for their promotion to the position of Professor in their chosen field.
Each newly created Professor presented a Paper about themselves and their research.
Geertje’s excellent Paper was entitled: Nursing and Health: Why History Matters.
The White Rock Museum Fashion Show on April 20th was an overwhelming success!
Thanks to all the models who did an amazing act portraying the nurses uniforms through the ages and to Glennis Zilm who was the moderator of the show. Also a big thank you to Sheila Zerr who supplied the costumes and helped with the organizing, working with Amanda Sittrop, Curator of White Rock Museum Exhibits.
The BC Memorial Book, initiated in the early 1990’s by RNABC, is now available for viewing on-line. The book tells the stories of “courageous nursing pioneers who made significant contributions to nursing in British Columbia, to the nursing profession, and to the health of people and communities.”
The Memorial Book has now been moved from CRNBC to ARNBC who arranged to have it digitized. It may now be viewed online by clicking http://www.arnbc.ca/ebook/
Margaret Brooke, who just turned 100 years old and lives in Victoria, BC, was a nursing sister in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942, and was on board the SS Caribou when it was hit by a German torpedo and sank off the coast of Newfoundland.
Click on the links below to read the story of her heroism and see her photos.
Helen Saunders, who many will remember as an Instructor in the OR, died at age 97 in Victoria BC. She wished to stay in her home as long as possible, and this was achieved. I recall climbing up the circular stair case to the OR in the evening to practice draping and other OR procedures in order to be prepared for the next morning. One did not want Helen’s disapproval at not being ready. As one VGH graduate said-“I was scared stiff. She was stern and serious.” My excellent skill in aseptic technique lasted throughout my entire career, thanks to Helen. In later years, she was rather puzzled by the image she created.
Helen was born in New Zealand and the family traveled internationally before settling in Victoria. She graduated from VGH in 1939 and from UBC School of Nursing with a BASc(N), in 1940. Following graduation she worked in the slums in Chicago before joining the Army as a nursing sister in 1944. Following the War she took the new Post Graduate Course in OR Nursing at VGH and then the Teaching and Supervision course at UBC. She was hired by VGH and taught in the School for 11 years before resigning to obtain a Masters degree in Nursing Education at the University of Washington. Helen moved back to Victoria where she worked at the Royal Jubilee hospital as an In-service Education Supervisor. She retired in 1975 to care for her parents. While in retirement Helen devoted herself to trying to improve available health care and was an integral contributor to the completion of the new Patient Tower at Royal Jubilee Hospital. She was a caring aunt and was fortunate in having many dear friends and neighbours who watched out for her. It was said she would love nothing more than for all of us to reminisce with fond memories over a cup of Earl Grey.
Sources: Victoria Times Colonist, Dec 7 2014, Amazing Alumni Stories, UBC School of Nursing website.
We have just been given the good news from the Minister’s Office of Parks Canada that the unveilingevent of the plaque inmemory of Ethel Johns has been scheduled for Tuesday February 10, 2015 at 10AM, UBC.
The event will be held at Cecil Green Park House, UBC
It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Verna Huffman-Splane, one of Canada’s most noted nursing leaders and an honorary life member of BCHNS. Verna died early Saturday, January 10, just weeks after her 100th birthday.
Photo Credit: BCHNS
Verna was an icon of nursing and a mentor to hundreds of nurses all over the world. After a career in public health, including short stints with the World Health Organization, she joined Health and Welfare Canada, becoming Canada’s first federal principal nursing officer in 1968 until 1981; she was the first nurse to be a key advisor to the deputy minister of health. During this time, she married Dr. Richard Splane, a social worker by profession who had served with National Health and Welfare in Ottawa from the 1950s to the early 1970s, becoming widely known as a chief architect of public social policies, such as the Canadian Social Assistance Plan. Their strong interests in international health and social welfare led to work with a number of non-governmental agencies, including UNICEF and the International Red Cross.
Mark your calendars: SUNDAY APRIL 19: 1PM – 3PM, for the History of Nursing in Canada Presentation & Fashion Show.