Zilm, Glennis (1935-

  • See Glennis Zilm Fonds 29
  • See Pages of History, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 9, File 2

Glennis grew up in New Westminster, BC and graduated from Vancouver General Hospital in 1957 and with a BSN from UBC School of Nursing in 1958.  She received a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University in 1969 and a Master’s of Arts in Communications from Simon Fraser University in 1981.

Glennis’s diverse working life has included nursing at Maple Ridge Hospital; New South Wales, Australia; and instructing at the Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminster.  She was an Assistant Editor for The Canadian Nurse from 1963 to 1969, and an editor/reporter for the Canadian Press from 1969-1972.  She states that she found the most interesting aspects of her career the combination of nursing and journalism for The Canadian Nurse and the Canadian Press, and later as a freelancer in medical journalism.

From 1973 she has been a freelance writer, editor and writing consultant, working mainly with individuals and organizations in health care areas.  A special area of interest is history of nursing and health care.  She has a long list of publications and other professional credentials, including editing eight volumes of proceedings published by various health care associations or universities. One worth mentioning is Legacy: the History of Nursing Education at the University of British Columbia 1919-1994.  As a writing consultant she has been a resource person for many workshops and a guest speaker at public lectures and meetings.

Glennis presents numerous classes and public speeches on the history of nursing usually attired in a historical nursing costume.

Awards include UBC Nursing Division Award of Distinction 2000, the John B. Neilson Spaulding Award in 2004 for her long-standing contribution to the history of health care in Canada, The UBC Blythe Eagles Volunteer Leadership Award, an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Kwantlen University College in 2006 and in 2016, the UBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal. She is a founding and  Honorary Life Member, BCHoN Society

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Signed Biographical Release form.
  3. Curriculum Vitae
  4. Glennis Zilm and Ethel Warbinek, “Profile of a Leader: Scharley Phoebe (Wright) Brown”, CJNL 12 (3), Sept./Oct. 1999, pp. 24-26
  5. Information on Presentations at Conferences
  6. Letter to Chris Hives re Margaret Street’s papers, October 12, 2004.
  7. “Salute to Glenis Zilm”
  8. Note to Sheila Zerr, October 31, 2005.
  9. Information on Zerr’s receipt of John B. Neilson/Spaulding Award
  10. Two graduation photographs
  11.  Two Photographs:  Presentation of Community Partnerships Award, May 7, 2015