Here are five notable Canadian women nurses, each with a dedicated Wikipedia page, whose contributions have significantly impacted Canadian healthcare and society:
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| Margaret Clothilde McDonald (Wikipedia c.c.) |
1. Margaret MacDonald (1873–1948)
Margaret Clothilde MacDonald was a pioneering military nurse who served in both the Second Boer War and the First World War. She became the first woman in the British Empire to attain the rank of Major and was appointed Matron-in-Chief of the Canadian Army Medical Corps Nursing Service. Her exemplary service earned her the Royal Red Cross in 1916 and the Florence Nightingale Medal in 1918.
Wikipedia
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| Edith Monture -Emottawablog,com |
2. Edith Monture (1890–1996)
Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, a Mohawk woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River, was the first Indigenous-Canadian woman to become a registered nurse. Denied entry to Canadian nursing schools due to racial barriers, she trained in the United States. During World War I, she served as a nurse in the U.S. Army, becoming the first Indigenous woman from Canada to serve in the U.S. military. Her military service granted her the right to vote in Canadian federal elections before other Indigenous peoples.
Wikipedia
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| Bernice Isobel Redmond- UWindsor.ca |
Berinice Redmon (1917-1993)
Bernice Isobel Redmon broke racial barriers by becoming the first Black public health nurse in Canada. After facing discrimination in Canadian nursing schools, she completed her training in the United States. Upon returning to Canada, she dedicated her career to improving health outcomes in marginalized communities and was a staunch advocate for racial equality in healthcare.
Wikipedia
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| Mary Meager Southcott - The Distaff-1917 |
4. Mary Southcott (1862–1943)
Mary Meager Southcott was instrumental in professionalizing nursing in Newfoundland. After training in London, she returned to St. John's and founded the St. John's General Hospital School of Nursing in 1903. She championed the Nightingale model of nursing, emphasizing education and autonomy. Southcott also established a private maternity hospital and was active in public health initiatives, women's suffrage, and child welfare. Recognized for her contributions, she was designated a Person of National Historic Significance by the Canadian government.
Wikipedia
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| Elizabeth Smellie Veterans.gc.ca |
5. Elizabeth Smellie (1884–1968)
Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie was a trailblazer in both military and public health nursing. She served as a nurse during World War I and later became the first woman to attain the rank of Colonel in the Canadian Army during World War II. As Chief Superintendent of the Victorian Order of Nurses, she played a pivotal role in advancing public health nursing in Canada. Her achievements earned her the Royal Red Cross and the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She is commemorated as a Person of National Historic Significance.
Wikipedia
These remarkable women not only advanced the nursing profession in Canada but also paved the way for future generations through their dedication, leadership, and advocacy. #OCanada
Please feel free to mention your own personal favorite Canadian nurses in your comments below-- and if you know of other outstanding nurses with a Wikipedia page, please let us know about them!
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