Mercedes Déziel-Hupé
This fall, the Faculty of Health Sciences will hold major celebrations to honour the 75th anniversary of the School of Nursing. The milestone is all-the-more captivating in that it also marks the creation of the University's very first professional school.
Nursing's rich history at the University begins in 1933, with the University board signing an agreement with the Grey Nuns: the order would close its hospital-based school but would provide critical clinical experience to students registering for the University's new nursing program, Canada's fifth.
In September 1943, the University welcomed the first cohort to its certificate programs in nursing education and community nursing. Then, in 1970, it added a three-year bachelor of nursing degree program for registered nurses. Finally, in 2001, it joined forces with both Algonquin College and La Cité collégiale to create a joint program in nursing.
The School has grown tremendously over its 75 years, with its graduating class blossoming from a grand total of six in 1939 to more than 300 in 2008. Today, the School runs five undergraduate and two master's programs in both official languages, as well as doctoral program.
"You can't gauge the School's growth simply by its larger student body and its expanded program offerings since 1933," insists its director, Kirsten Woodend. "Over the past five years, for example, research here has skyrocketed, with a 200% jump in grants since 2003. On top of that, many of our colleagues, students and alumni have been honoured both across Canada and throughout the world for their leadership and their scientific work."
On September 19, the University community will shine the spotlight on the School of Nursing's many achievements at a grand gala. Attending the celebration will be hundreds of the School's alumni and friends, as well as the evening's honorary patrons: Huguette Labelle, Suzanne Pinel, Denise Alcock, Marie des Anges Loyer, Jacqueline Desmarais, Marion Dewar, Pamela Garneau and Jodean Tobin.
For more information on the Gala (including tickets), visit the School of Nursing site.
