The 13th Annual R.N.A.O. Lois Fairley Nurse of the Year Award is presented to ALL of the nurses throughout Windsor and Essex County
In recognition of the outstanding contribution nurses make to care for residents of Windsor-Essex, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), Windsor-Essex Chapter is proud to present the 2020 award to recognize all of the over and above during the COVID 19 pandemic during this crisis throughout our community. The Lois A. Fairley Nurse of the Year Award recognizes a Windsor-Essex nurse who has demonstrated a commitment to serving the community through excellence in delivering patient care.
There were nominations provided to the committee but it became clear to the Fairley family, RNAO representatives, and even some community nominators for this year’s award suggested honouring all of the nurses throughout Windsor and Essex county.
“On behalf of the Windsor Essex RNAO chapter, it is a pleasure to collaborate with the Fairley Family once again to recognize the outstanding efforts of a nurse in our community. It is always difficult to find that one nurse that exemplifies the many characteristics of Lois. This year is very different from previous years, in many ways. All areas of nursing practice have been impacted by our current Coronavirus pandemic. This has been a time filled with stress, anxiety and concern, there has also been a great deal of compassion, professionalism and leadership shown.
All of the registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses and nursing students should be quite proud of their efforts to ensure that our community maintains its health and strength during this unprecedented time.” Crystal Hepburn BSN RN CCM RNAO Windsor Essex Chapter President
“We met many nurses who worked with our mother over her long career at Grace Hospital. It seemed that the DNA of a nurse includes compassion and courage. They cared for their patients and the families first. No matter what the challenge, nurses stepped up and stepped in to do whatever needed to be done. Look at the nurses serving during this COVID-19 pandemic. They are present once again in the lives of the patients and the other professionals who are battling this invisible killer – despite the danger and stress. Windsor-Essex can be proud of and grateful for the care shown by our nurses serving in hospitals, public health, homecare, clinics, physician’s offices, and nursing homes. They all deserve to be celebrated. Thank you one and all.” Fairley Family
Tributes in Windsor and Amherstburg
Uniquely to this year’s award, there is now a community bench in Jackson Park in Windsor dedicated to this year’s RNAO Lois Fairley Nursing Award which honours “All Windsor Essex Nurses”. The Essex County nurses will be also honoured with a dedicated community bench at the new Amherstburg Health and Wellness Centre (former St. Bernard School site). The school, which closed in June 2016, is located on Richmond Street near Amherstburg’s Centennial Park.
In late February, our community of Windsor and Essex County are asked to write a nomination in 500 words or less to share how a nurse impacted a life of a patient, a family, their workplace or their community.
The award was named for Lois Fairley, a graduate of Grace Hospital’s nursing program in 1955. Lois spent her career serving patients at Grace Hospital in Windsor as a nurse and head nurse. She also served the nursing profession as a member of the Provincial Board of Directors of RNAO, served as President of the Ontario Nurses Association and on St. Clair College the Program advisory Committee. Unfortunately, Lois passed away in 2007. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (R.N.A.O.) instituted this award for Windsor Essex nurses in 2008.