Virginia Lapointe (1932-1997)

Lapointe, Virginia Geraldine “Geri” (1932-1997)

See Oral History files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8

Geraldine was born in Thunder Bay, where she graduated from McKellar General Hospital School of Nursing.  She was science instructor at this school for two years, then later at the Kamloops RIH School of Nursing, becoming Director of Nursing Education from 1960 to 1974.  She became Planning Director in 1975, and worked in administration until her retirement in 1991.

Geraldine was President of RNABC from 1973-1975, and known as an exemplary nursing educator, administrator, and practitioner who made many contributions to the development of nursing in the province.  Her numerous awards included the Woman of the Year Award from Kamloops and a commemorative medal from the Queen, both in 1977.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Nomination for RNABC Memorial Book.
  2. “Geri LaPointe Retires,” Royal Inland Hospital Newsletter, October 1991.
  3. Information from RNABC Presidents’ Book.
  4. Program from Service of Remembrance.
  5. “Geri LaPointe Remembered for Her Leadership in Nursing,” March 1997.
  6. Newspaper obituary
  7. Obituary in Nursing BC, May-June 1997, p. 21.
  8. Photograph
  9. Notice of commemorative medal presented on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth.

Jessie Law (1918-1992)

Law, Jessie Gertrude (1918-1992)

Jessie graduated from VGH in 1941, and later received a BSc from Simmons College in Boston.  In 1945 she went as to Mexico a missionary nurse, where she assisted in the opening and operations of a school for Mexican women to be trained as nurses.   She spent seventeen years there, often travelling by burro to assist poor Mexican women in giving birth.  She also spent two years in Haiti, but most of her latter life was spent nursing in Vancouver.  She travelled extensively and contributed to many charitable organizations.

Contents of Biographical File

  • Mann, Alan, Memorial service speech, December 12, 1992.

Eleanor Lawson (1923-2012)

Lawson, Eleanor Mary (1923-2012)

Eleanor Lawson is known as a pioneer of health education in BC, graduating from the Royal Jubilee Hospital in 1946.  After a number of positions, mostly in BC, she commenced work at Lions Gate Hospital in 1961, became Director of Education Services until her retirement in 1988.    In 1966 she spearheaded the first centralized hospital education department in BC, and advocated the importance of learning and training.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Biographical release form
  3. “People,” British Columbia Health Education Association, BCHEA Newsletter.
  4. Retirement announcement
  5. Cutshall, Patricia, “Inservice Role.” On in-service education, RNABC News.
  6. Training and Development Society of British Columbia Certificate, June 2, 1988.
  7. Photograph
  8. Obituary March 18, 2012

Nancy Lee (1910-2012)

Lee, Nancy Viola (1910-2012)

Born in England, Nancy arrived in Canada at the age of fourteen months.  After graduating in nursing from VGH in 1932, she took further training in England in midwifery and pediatric care.  During WW II she joined the South African Military Nursing Service, serving in both South Africa and Italy.

In 1946 she received a diploma in Public Health and worked in that field for the rest of her career.  She also received a Bachelor of Nursing from McGill in 1960 and held a number of supervisory public health positions, the last being Director of Nursing for Greater Victoria.  She loved to travel, and was an active volunteer.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Two Obituary Notices
  2. Two photographs: WW II Nursing Sister, and probably during her 90s.

Edith Lees (1922-2004)

Lees (nee Landells), Edith (1922-2004)

See Oral History Files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8

Edith Lees received her RN from Vegreville General Hospital in Alberta, a BSc from Incarnate Word College in Texas, and an MSc from Russell Sage College in New York.  During and after World War II she served as a military nurse; from 1957 to 1977 she was instructor, supervisor, chief nurse, and educational co-ordinator for the US Army Corps.  Along with the editing and publication of 3 books on The Military Nurses of Canada, she regards her military service as the highlight of her nursing career.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Biographical release form
  3. Pascoe, Robin “Success Story:  Mildred’s Mission”, The Canadian Nurse (1993), p.60.
  4. Browne, Alex, “Book Tells Memories of Canadian Nurses,” The Peace Arch News, August 12, 1995, p. 29.
  5. Role, Nancy, “Making a Difference During your Retirement,” Trail Times, October 1993.
  6. Photograph
  7. Vancouver Sun Obituary

Chris Lemphers (1948-

Lemphers, Chris (1948-

Chris received his Nursing Diploma from Vancouver City College in 1972, his Bachelor of Nursing from Dalhousie in 1979, and his Masters’ of Education from UBC in 1984.  He has worked extensively with First Nations people, planning, implementing and evaluating a broad range of community health services.  Much of this work has been on the West Coast, but he has also provided planning, coordination, and facilitation of formal nursing clinical education and professional development for nurses practicing in Alberta.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. 1 photograph (col.)

Mary Lewis (1928-

Lewis, Mary E. (1928-

See Oral History Files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8

Mary Lewis graduated from the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria in 1950, and worked there until 1976 as general duty and then head nurse in the Emergency Dept.   A highlight of her career was working as a hostess for the first annual emergency care seminar for nurses.  She has been an active member of the alumnae since graduation, and has also volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Biographical Release form
  3. Photocopied photograph

Clara Lim (1916-2001)

Lim (nee Kwan), Clara (1916-2001)

See Oral History files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8

See Pages of History, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 9, File 2

Clara was born in Revelstoke BC, and in 1939, the third student of Chinese origin to enter VGH; she graduated in 1941, at the top of her class and came first in the provincial RN examinations.  Her older sister graduated from the Royal Columbian Hospital School of Nursing and was the first Chinese nurse to graduate from a BC School of Nursing. Clara became supervisor of the Private Ward Pavilion at VGH, and sat on the committee planning Centennial Pavilion.  She was put in charge of Medical-Surgical and Emergency nursing and was instrumental in opening the Intensive Care and Coronary units, the first in BC.

Clara was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Lions Manor, Governor of BC Addiction Research & Rehabilitation Association and member of the Board of RNABC foundation.  She was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Chinese Benevolent Association. Her many awards have included the Queen’s 25th Anniversary Commemorative Medal, the Order of Canada and the Governor General’s Medal.  She loved dancing and playing mahjong.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Nomination for RNABC Memorial Book.
  2. Photograph
  3. Chronology
  4. Two reminiscences
  5. Biography for RNABC Memorial Book

Dorothy Logan (1926-1995)

Logan (nee Byers), Dorothy Jean (1926-1995)

See Oral History files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8

See Pages of History, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 9, File 2

Dorothy Logan was born in New Brunswick, but her family moved to Vancouver, where Dorothy enrolled in the Nursing Program at UBC, graduating from VGH in 1949 and from UBC in 1950. Subsequently, she returned to teach at St. John General Hospital in New Brunswick.  In 1956 she married Gordon Logan, and returned to Vancouver to teach at Vancouver General Hospital.  She became the Director of Nursing in 1973, a position she held until her retirement in 1986.

Dorothy was active on many committees, including those related to alumnae and scholarship matters.  Her awards include a Life Membership in the VGH School of Nursing Alumnae Association, an Honorary Member of the RNABC, and the UBC Nursing Division Award of Distinction.  Her integrity and compassion were widely admired; she served as a mentor and role model for many.

 

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Nomination package for the RNABC Memorial Book.
  3. Curriculum Vitae
  4. Notes on Dorothy Logan by Shelagh Wheeler Smith.
  5. Letter from Inge Schamborzki, V.P. Nursing, VGH, April 12, 1989.
  6. Overview of Dorothy Logan’s professional career.
  7. “In Memoriam: Dorothy Jean Logan,” Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association Newsletter, Spring 1995, pp. 1-2.
  8. In Memoriam: Dorothy Byers Logan
  9. Obituary, funeral program
  10. Scanned photograph

Marjorie Low (1905 – 1994)

Low (nee Hoch), Marjorie G. (1905 – 1994)

Marjory graduated from St Paul’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1926 and married in 1929.  She resumed her nursing career in 1948, when the Victorian Order of Nurses was first organized in Richmond.  Marjorie started making rounds for the VON in the community and worked either full or part time until her retirement in 1964.  She recalls experiences she had in this work from then until 1964 as “the best and happiest in my life”.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. “Recollections of the Early Days of the Victorian Order of Nurses, Richmond, British Columbia”.
  2. Obituary Vancouver Sun