The RNFOO Honourary Life Membership is meant to honour and thank an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Foundation’s work over time. At the Gala in May 2005, Dr. Kathleen MacMillan was presented with this award to thank her for her longstanding commitment to the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario.

Kathleen has been a strong supporter of advanced education for nurses and the work of the Foundation for more than two decades. She has given her time and expert knowledge in numerous ways and demonstrated a sincere dedication to the cause. For many years Kathleen faithfully brought the Awards and Scholarship Committee together to review the numerous applications and, using rigorous selection criteria, carefully select the award winners.

During her tenure as Ontario’s Provincial Chief Nursing Officer, Kathleen actively supported the Foundation’s work and donated her speaker’s honouraria to the Foundation’s scholarship programs.

Kathleen has a long and active career in nursing education, administration and service. Today Kathleen is Director and Professor at the Dalhousie University School of Nursing. At the time of her recognition, Kathleen was the Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Kathleen is a longstanding and active supporter of baccalaureate education for nurses, and was very involved in ensuring the success of collaborative university education for nurses in Ontario. She has also been recognized as a distinguished alumna of the Faculty of Nursing at the UofT, and received a Centennial Achievement Award from the Canadian Nurses’ Association in 2008.

As a result of the dedication and sense of volunteerism of leaders like Kathleen, and the many generous donations received from donors, the RNFOO is able to provide more and better scholarships to the many Ontarian women and men who are advancing their nursing education each year.

We thank Dr. Kathleen MacMillan for her commitment to an important cause, that of supporting nurses to continue their education… education that ultimately makes such a difference to the delivery of high quality health care in Canada.