VCH nurses honoured in B.C.’s legislature

Two registered nurses from Vancouver Coastal Health were honoured this week in the B.C. legislature as part of B.C.’s 150th anniversary and to celebrate the Canadian Nurses Association’s 100th anniversary.

Janice Snowie, RN, and Alison Lafond, RN, were special guests in the legislature on Wednesday, May 14th, along with 12 nurses from the other B.C. health authorities.

The Minister of Health, George Abbott, and Assistant Deputy Minister, Paula Bond, awarded the nurses Outstanding Nurse Awards. One hundred and fifty nurses are receiving the award in total and 31 of them are from VCH.

"National Nursing Week is a perfect time for us to reflect on the diverse roles that nurses take on in our health-care system and to celebrate the great care that they provide every day to patients across the province," said Abbott.

The 150 BC Outstanding Nurses 2008 Recognition Award was developed by the Ministry of Health and the health authorities to celebrate the Canadian Nurses Association’s 100th anniversary and BC’s 150th anniversary. Nominations for the awards were made through peers.

The minister also announced that the Government of B.C. will provide $15 million this year for its provincial nursing strategy to recruit, retain and educate the best qualified nurses. As of April 2008, there were 41,269 nurses with a practicing licence in British Columbia, up by more than 10% from 2001. The total includes:

• 32,225 registered nurses
• 101 nurse practitioners
• 6,741 licensed practical nurses
• 2,202 registered psychiatric nurses

Vancouver Coastal Health's "BC Outstanding Nurse Award" recipientThe following registered nurses (RN) were recognized:

Learn more

For more information about province's nursing strategy, visit the Nursing Directorate website:

Ministry of Health Services - The Nursing Directorate