Nursing celebrates 40 years – October 15, 2009

More than 90 alumni, donors, current and former faculty and staff celebrated the Faculty of Nursing’s 40th anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Rozsa Centre. Guests reconnected while viewing a visual retrospective of the past 40 years, including archival material like original uniforms and crests on loan from the University of Calgary Archives.

Congratulatory greetings from the University of Calgary, offered by Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr Alan Harrison, were followed by a conversation between the first dean* of the faculty, Marguerite Schumacher and master of ceremonies Nan Sparks, Professor Emeritus. Discussion focused on the sometimes turbulent yet foundation-building years of the early 1970s. Dr. Dianne Tapp, MN’93, PhD’97, the Faculty’s current dean, spoke of her strong connection to the faculty as a graduate student and now a member of the professoriate. PhD student Louise Folkmann, concluded the program by citing an African proverb: if you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together, noting the number of alumni and faculty she feels are walking with and inspiring her on her educational journey.

*(When nursing first joined the university, it was as a school, not a faculty and was led by a director, Shirley Good, followed by an acting director, Fred Terentiuk. Marguerite Schumacher became the third leader and dean when the status changed.)