From high-pressure precision in the emergency room, to gentle reassurance at a patient’s bedside, nurses are backbone and the heart of healthcare – and NC event is ready to shine a spotlight on the expertise and compassionate care they provide.
On May 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Applied Health Institute foyer will transform into a hub of inspiration connection and professional pride with a two-day event to celebrate nurses during National Nursing Week.
The event is being organized by Jackie Crawford and Jaymie Tyrer, Clinical Supervisors within NC’s Myhal School of Nursing, who aim to celebrate the profession they describe a true calling while providing a morale boost for students poised to enter the field. As veteran nurses who have spent years on the front lines, they aim to remind students, staff and the college community why nursing remains one of the world’s most essential vocations, while helping to ensure the next generation is ready to hit the ground running.
“We want to highlight not only the big impact nurses have on the healthcare sector, but to continue to inspire our students to make those small impacts on people’s lives,” said Crawford. “Nursing is challenging. We want to create a positive influential culture right here, before their career starts.”
The event will feature several interactive elements designed to engage the entire college community.
A key highlight will be a collaborative banner titled, “Nurses impact lives by …” They invite the College community to write in a word or phrase to complete the sentence – perhaps conveying how a nurse has made a difference in their lives. Following the event, they plan to display the massive three-by-six-foot banner within the Myhal School of Nursing as a visual testament to the profession’s reach.
The event will include games such as “empowerment cornhole” – a “play with purpose” game where participants discuss resilience strategies and what nurses need to feel empowered before taking a shot at winning prizes.
Pop into room AH 146 to take in a video loop of inspiring nursing content, alongside a display of nursing memorabilia, contributed by staff, to showcase their professional journeys.
On May 13, organizers plan to welcome guests from Niagara Health, Niagara Region Health and WeRPN for a tour of the Myhal School of Nursing.
Crawford, a Practical Nursing grad who worked as a nurse in Niagara before taking on a full-time role at NC, noted that the event will honour the multifaceted nature of nursing.
“We are ‘Jacks of all trades,'” said Crawford. “I tell nursing students, they’re going to act as therapists, they’re going to help patients with the TV, their food, even their hair. It’s all those little things that make a big difference.”
Tryer noted that the true power of a nurse lies in the lasting impression they leave on those in their care.
“People might not always remember your name, but they’ll remember how you made them feel,” she said. “You make them feel safe during a really uncomfortable scary time.”
For Crawford and Tryer, the event serves as a rewarding full-circle moment. They noted how NC grads make up a significant portion of the workforce at local hospitals and long-term care facilities. Tryer enjoys seeing the NC nursing graduates in action during her hospital work.
“There’s one recent grad that I found myself working with at the hospital …and I’m going to her for advice now,” she said. “It’s pretty incredible.”
“Celebrating Nursing Week acknowledges the collective effort of honouring the profession’s history, upholding its standards, and shaping its future by preparing nurses who can adapt and respond in an evolving healthcare workforce while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve,” said Sarah McGeown, Associate Director, International Nursing Graduate Studies and Clinical Education, Myhal School of Nursing.
Nursing at NC
A leader in nursing education, NC has been delivering its two-year Practical Nursing diploma program, which prepares students for career opportunities as registered practical nurse, since 2006.
In 2023, it introduced its four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program, marking its return to RN education. The former Mack School of Nursing – the oldest nursing school in Canada, which became part of NC – closed during the nineties.
National Nursing Week
National Nursing Week 2026 takes place from May 11- May 17 and celebrates the vital contributions of nurses across Canada. The CNA’s theme for National Nursing Week 2026 is “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health.”
The week draws attention to nurses, increasing the awareness of the public, policy-makers and governments of the many contributions of nursing to the well-being of Canadians.
In 1971, ICN designated May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, as International Nurses Day. In 1985, Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) members passed a resolution to begin negotiations with the federal government to have the week containing May 12 proclaimed as National Nurses Week annually. Soon after, the federal minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nurses Week. In 1993, the name was changed to National Nursing Week to emphasize the profession’s accomplishments as a discipline.
National Nursing Week is centred around International Nurses Day, which takes place annually on May 12.
National Nursing Week at the NC Libraries
Staff from the NC Libraries and Learning Commons at the Welland Campus are also shining a spotlight on nurses in honour of National Nursing Week. Check out their display dedicated to nursing in the library near the service desk.
