Kay Arpin is a well-known Canadian nurse educator, and an ardent advocate of excellence in nursing education. In 2004 she was named an RNFOO Honorary Life Member, in recognition of her commitment to the Foundation. Kay was a member of RNAO when the Foundation was established, and served on the RNAO Foundation Board from 1994 through 1997. She was also a member of the first RNFOO Board of Directors.

Kay earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) in London, Ontario. Kay ‘s first nursing position was assistant head nurse at the university hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She held various positions in diploma schools of nursing before going to Boston University to complete a Master’s Degree in Nursing. Kay studied at Columbia University for one year prior to returning to Toronto. She assumed a consultant role at the College of Nurses of Ontario to usher in the two plus one program in diploma hospital schools and later the transfer of provincial hospital schools of nursing into Ryerson and Community Colleges in 1973. Kay then joined the faculty at the University of Toronto where she served in a variety of leadership roles, including Director of the Graduate programme, until her retirement.