A Douglas College graduate is the first recipient of the Mary Gordon Nursing Award – the largest award available to students graduating with a bachelor of science in nursing in Canada.
Established in 2019, the $10,000 award recognizes recipients for their excellence in clinical practice, professional competence, empathy and compassionate patient care.
The award was made possible by Mary Gordon, a former registered nurse who graduated from the Royal Columbian Hospital Nursing School. Her generous donation stemmed from her ongoing passion and support of nursing training in British Columbia.
The first winner was Jessica L. (who has asked that her surname be withheld for privacy reasons).
“I feel proud to be a part of the nursing community and to be given opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Jessica. “What I love about nursing is that we get to build relationships with people in a time that can be very vulnerable to them and their families. I am so grateful for Ms. Gordon’s gift. Her generosity and passion towards helping others is inspiring, and I hope to leave a special mark on someone’s life like she has with mine.”
A Douglas College press release notes that nurses account for more than half of the world’s essential health-care workers and make up 70.5 percent of Canada’s health workforce. Now, more than ever, Douglas College recognizes acontinued need for the investment in nursing education.
“This award acknowledges the critically important role of nurses in providing excellence in health care to the residents of British Columbia, especially now as we navigate through these unprecedented times,” said Pamela Cawley, dean of health sciences at Douglas College, in the release.
The Douglas College nursing program was the first college to receive degree-granting status for the baccalaureate of science in nursing in British Columbia. The program is now one of the largest in the province, with an intake of more than 100 students per year. Graduates of the program are well received within B.C., Canada and internationally.
For more information, visit douglascollege.ca
