From training space to technology, a lot has changed over the last 50 years in the way training is delivered to nursing students at Niagara College.

Members of the Mack Training School Alumni Association, who toured NC’s nursing labs at the end of May, saw many of those changes first-hand after presenting a $25,000 endowment gift to Niagara College for scholarships that will support the future of nursing.

The Mack School of Nursing was founded in 1874 by Dr. Theophilus Mack in St. Catharines and was Canada’s first nursing school. It was inspired by the Florence Nightingale system of nursing education, which emphasized hygiene, medicine, and discipline. Nurses from London, England, came to Niagara to train the first class of graduates, and over the years the school produced many nurses who worked primarily at the St. Catharines General Hospital and contributed to the advancement of the nursing profession.

In 1969, when the provincial government closed all hospital-based nursing schools and moved them to community colleges, the school changed its name to the Mack Centre of Nursing Education and its affiliation with the alumni association ended.

The school officially closed in 1973 when it became a part of Niagara College.

Over the years, the alumni association – founded in 1901 by Margaret Hughes (Class of 1896) – has offered financial support to students, graduates, the residences, and the St. Catharines General Hospital.

Its final donation came on May 29 when president Betty Ann Chandler (Class of 1970) and several other alumnae visited Niagara College’s Welland Campus to deliver a $25,000 donation that will be used for scholarships for nursing students entering either their third or final year of NC’s new Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“We’re so grateful to the Mack School of Nursing (Alumni Association) for their interest in supporting future generations,” said Sinéad McElhone, Dean, Health Sciences. “They’ve been giving back to their community their whole lives.”

Nursing students practicing wound care engage with Mack Training School alumnae who reminisced of their own time as nursing students.

After 123 years, and with the number of remaining members declining, the alumni association disbanded on June 7. Its final annual banquet celebrated the Class of 1974 – the school’s last graduating class.

Past president Claudia Gilchrist (Class of 1973) said members wanted a lasting tribute that would honour the rich history and contributions of Mack graduates to the nursing program, so it decided to establish nursing scholarships at Niagara College and Brock University.

With about $5,000 sitting in its scholarship fund, the alumni association sent out a call to its membership in the hopes of raising more money to set up the scholarships.

“The donations came pouring in,” Gilchrist said.

As a result, Niagara College and Brock University each received $25,000. NC’s cheque was presented to McElhone and Courtney Evers, Associate Dean, School of Nursing and PSW, on May 29. The alumni association also gave the college a framed collage of photos from the early days of the Mack School of Nursing.

“We’re so honoured to host the nurses from the Mack Alumni Association,” Evers said. “We’re grateful for their generous show of support for our nursing students.”

Evers then led the group on a tour of some of NC’s nursing labs, where the alumnae engaged with nursing students who were practicing wound care.

Dr. Jeffrey Ko, who was on-site with a group of Term 4 students, also gave an impromptu presentation on NC’s nursing simulation lab.

“It’s an amazing place,” Chandler said at the tour’s conclusion. “It’s huge – it’s mindblowing. Students are very lucky to be educated here.”

The alumni association’s donation will be used to provide a $1,000 scholarship each year in perpetuity to one student in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Alumni Relations is thrilled to announce its first-ever Employee Alumni Summer Celebration on Tuesday, June 25. If you’re both an NC employee and an NC alum, join us at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus from 3 – 5 p.m. for an afternoon of fun.

The event will feature hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and mocktails (while supplies last), and it’s a great opportunity to connect with your peers and alumni colleagues.

Please RSVP to [email protected] if you plan to attend.

All internal NC alumni, whether attending the celebration or not, are encouraged to update their contact information with Alumni Relations here.

We look forward to seeing you at the Employee Alumni Summer Celebration!

A message from Shannon Boeckner, Senior Director, Development & Donor Stewardship:

I am delighted to announce that Kevin Jong will be joining NC as the new Manager of Development & Donor Relations.

Kevin brings over a decade of experience from United Way Niagara, where he has held various roles, most recently as Director of Development & Communications. He is a recognized philanthropic leader in the Niagara community.

In his new role at NC, Kevin will oversee the creation and execution of a fulsome donor stewardship and recognition program, as well as an exciting new leadership-level giving program.

Kevin has previously collaborated on NC United Way workplace campaigns and is well-known within the NC leadership community through our ongoing partnership with United Way.

We are excited to welcome Kevin, who will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to the Advancement team.

Kevin begins his role on June 4.

Please join me in extending a warm NC welcome to Kevin Jong.

May 6 – 12 marks National Nursing Week, with this year’s theme being “Changing Lives. Shaping Tomorrow.” This theme acknowledges the significant impact nurses have on individuals, communities, and the future of healthcare.

In support of Canada’s nurses this year, we are honouring one of our remarkable Niagara College Nursing alumni, Susan Makanda, who graduated from the Practical Nursing program in 2019. We caught up with Sue to learn about her journey from banking to nursing, reflecting on the influence of her personal motivations and experiences, and how her time at Niagara College shaped her approach to nursing in an underserved community like Yukon.

Current role and career path

I have been working as a Practical Nurse at Whistle Bend Place run by the Government of Yukon since 2019 and it has been great. I am in their newest LTC facility called WBP. Upon hire, I was in a complex care unit and have been in dementia care as well – I can work in any unit, but my home unit is currently Hospice and Palliative Care. Here, we offer service to adults with a clearly defined life-limiting illness in its advanced stages; adults with a prognosis of 3 months or less; and adults with a prognosis of less than 12 months who require a brief respite care stay and adults with a prognosis of longer than 3 months who can be considered on a case-by-case basis. I work alongside Palliative Care physicians, RNs, NHAs, SW and other members of the multidisciplinary team i.e., dietician, pharmacy, OT/PT, recreational therapy, to provide holistic care. This job is very satisfying as I have the honour of taking care of someone during their last months, days, hours or minutes of life. It teaches me to reflect on my life everyday, look at my relationships and value what matters, be kind to people because they are going through stuff that you might never know. I am very humbled by the stories I hear, and one thing that stands out to date from the life stories of my patients is this: as you work, do not forget to live because tomorrow might never come!

Influences and inspiration

Myself. I always wanted to be a nurse but there was no clarity and support. It wasn’t a profession that highflyers would do after A level. In the end, I found myself working in a bank with a BBA in Marketing. After moving to Canada, I just felt it was time I pursue this dream I always had, so it wasn’t that difficult to make a career switch. After graduation, I moved up north to join my husband. The motivation to work up north was influenced by 2 things. First, most people in my country have no access to healthcare because it is expensive and due to geographical locations, that are sometimes too remote and inaccessible. The same reasons that push healthcare workers from remote communities here are the same reasons that push them in Africa. Moving to an underserved community like the Yukon is me saying this is me playing my part to strive for better health for all. Second, after my two years of nursing school, I just wanted to breathe and wind down. You can not find that kind of life in a busy city like Hamilton that is densely populated. I wanted to escape the traffic, the noise, the icy roads, and anything that could give me unnecessary pressure.

Being here in the Yukon is being in the right place at the right time. I have a very good job with a very good employer that offers great job opportunities and support. I consider myself a very determined hard worker. My career goals are set and clear and that’s what I am working to achieve.

Standout NC experience

I always tell people that Nursing school is hard but doable. Did I do it alone? I do not believe so. I had God at the center of it all because I acknowledged I needed his help every second, the same way I do today. The practical nursing program was very fast paced and demanding, equipping me with the skills required to be a successful nurse in the field. This taught me to be a very organized person and the importance of a network of social supports such as my family, qualified and experienced nurses that I leaned on for emotional support, and my fellow students. Above all this my commute to work was 85km one way so I had friends that I carpooled with. My educational experience taught me to survive here in the Yukon. It also taught be to be very organized and the power of teamwork. When Covid-19 happened, I still showed up, just the way I showed up everyday for my early morning placements and after a one hour drive on an icy road from Hamilton to the Niagara Falls hospital.

Besides being a new immigrant, I was doing school full time, working part time, being a mother with a daughter in high school and a husband in another part of the country, so that on its own made my plate full. I had very good professors who were motivated to see us pass and some of the lessons they taught us still play in my head. Special mention to Dr. Cindy Ko and Dr. Andrea Bodnar for taking us through professional growth courses. Sometimes when I get into a situation, I hear them talking in my head guiding me through the best course of action. What stands out most to me is the people I graduated the Practical Nursing program alongside. I know the road we walked wasn’t easy, and I salute everyone for making it to the end.

Words of wisdom

Transitioning from a thriving career in banking, where I accumulated over 13 years of experience, to nursing was a significant shift for me. It’s important to ensure that you are going into nursing for the right reasons because if not, you will not last. I always tell people that it is a calling. Hard work can take you through nursing school but a lot more attributes are required to be the nurse that patients want to look after them. The job can be stressful so always remember you are the most important person; take care of yourself before you take care of anyone else. While the advice to “leave work at work” is easier said than done, it’s vital for maintaining your well-being. Nursing is also a lifelong journey of learning, especially as technology evolves, and patients have greater access to medical information online. Remaining knowledgeable is essential, as patients may inquire about various health topics. You do not want to be nurse wo is not knowledgeable when a patient asks questions. Furthermore, it is important to have an open mind to embrace other perspectives in the now very multicultural society. Self awareness is therefore key, so know your biases and do not let them determine how you deliver your nursing care!

Its an interesting career with endless opportunities so come join us!