An Emerging Profession: Psychiatric Nursing at Essondale, 1913-1973

A recent article published during Nurse’s Week, (Tri-City news May 14, 2020) celebrates Psychiatric Nursing. Andrea Tarnawsky Assistant Archivist for the City of Coquitlam Archives researched and wrote the online exhibit An Emerging Profession: Psychiatric Nursing at Essondale,1913-1973.

This well referenced, readable exhibit includes many photographs taken over the years and donated to the Coquitlam Archives by the Riverview Hospital Historical Society. Our member Anna Tremere was instrumental in collecting many artifacts from Riverview so that its story would not be forgotten.

Andrea tells us that they were hoping to have a physical exhibit in their archives space to go with the online, but this is on hold since the Coquitlam archives is currently closed due to COVID-19.

To view the online exhibit, go to http://www.coquitlam.ca/nursing

Helen Mussallem’s WW2 nursing uniform on display

Maple Ridge Museum and Community Archives

Lynette Harper, a niece of Dr. Helen Mussallem, recently contacted us to let us know that one of her aunt’s WW2 nursing uniforms was on display at the Maple Ridge Museum and Community Archives.

The Museum’s curator (Shea Henry) shared pictures of the displayed uniform and the accompanying mini biography.

Dr. Mussallem is Canada’s most decorated and beloved nursing leader who had a special place in her heart for the history of nursing. She is one of our esteemed Honourary Members and supported the BC History of Nursing Society since its inception.

 

CBC News reports on Nova Scotia History of Nursing Group

Gloria Stephens, a former BCHNS member left BC a few years back and established the Nova Scotia History of Nursing Group. She was recently interviewed by the CBC Atlantic News that featured the group’s archives located at the former Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing in Halifax.  Good job Gloria!!!

To see the interview go to https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/victorial-general-school-of-nursing-alumni-keeping-the-memory-alive-1.5477444

 

A special program commemorating 100 years of academic nursing education at UBC, 1919 – 2019

BCHNS conference participants Lynne Esson and Irene Goldstone with Dr. Alice Baumgart in the audience
Geertje Boschma

 

The joint conference of the Canadian Society for the History of Medicine and the Canadian Association for the History of Nursing, held during the Congress 2019 at UBC from June 1 – 3, was host to a special program celebrating the centenary of the UBC School of Nursing. In a pre-lunch seminar session Geertje Boschma (UBC) and Margaret Scaia (UVic) examined the start and beginning decades of the first nursing degree program in Canada at UBC. They highlighted the contextual influences of public health and higher education that shaped the course of the degree program, and explored its meaning for women who took the program in the 1950s and 1970s.Continue reading

“Who is Taking Care of History?”

                     

2019 BCHF Annual Conference

                        June 6 – 9, 2019, Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland B.C.

 

Glennis Zilm and Nan Martin were delighted to represent our Society at yet another very successful BC Historical Federation conference in Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland. The meetings took place in the historic Native Sons Hall in Courtenay.  Many activities and events included fascinating local and historical information from passionate keynote speakers, field trips, and as always, an elegant BC Book Prize Gala. An Ideas Fair was added this year – see attached photos of the BCHNS half table display. Look for a detailed report in our summer newsletter.