Earlier this spring TWU nursing faculty and alumnae reconnected at an annual nursing educators conference in Alberta. TWU was well-represented at the Western and North-western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (WNRCASN) conference in Calgary. Hosted by three Alberta universities, the WNRCASN conference focused on Reimagining Nursing Education: Innovations for the Future. Altogether, ten TWU professors and alumnae participated in the conference – including four MSN alumnae.
Keynote speakers included TWU Nursing’s Dean of Nursing, Dr. Sonya Grypma, who spoke on “Past as Prologue: A (Scandalously) Brief History of Nursing Education’s Future.” Other keynotes included Dr. Sharon Moore, who opened the conference with a poignant presentation on hope, and Elder Doreen Spence, who gave insights on nursing through the eyes of an indigenous grandmother.
TWU faculty and alumnae presenters included Dr. Landa Terblanche and MSN alum Nicole Ahmed (BN breastfeeding education), Dr. Maggie Theron and Anne Redmond (BSN students and social media), Dr. Barb Astle (research literacy, with Dr. Sonya Jakubec from Mount Royal University), Dr. Sonya Grypma (historically-informed nursing) and MAIH alum (and current York University PhD candidate) Lydia Wytenbroek (nursing history). TWU Assistant Dean of Nursing Heather Meyerhoff also attended.
Other TWU MSN alumnae and student delegates, each of whom work in nursing education in Alberta, included Heather Bensler (University of Calgary), Stacy Oke (University of Calgary) and Mary DeLong (Prairie College).
The conference was excellent, well organized and meaningful. The opportunity to connect with and learn from nursing colleagues from across Western Canada was inspiring. And the opportunity to re-connect with and hear about the ways in which TWU MSN alumnae are extending their professional reach? Well, that was the most valuable of all.
Think deeply. Act justly. Care generously. TWU Nursing.