NurseGrad8May1930nhgp0205
Calgary Herald
8 May 1930
nhgp0205
Thirty-Seven Nurses
Graduate From General
Excitement reached its height Thursday evening for thirty-seven nurses, and a
great audience of friends in the First Baptist church, when His Worship the
Mayor announced the names of the winners of special awards at the annual
graduation exercises of the Calgary General Hospital Training school for
nurses. Of this, the largest class to graduate from the training school in the
past 32 years of its history, three girls received the honors for 1930: Miss
Ella Fretwell, Lloydminster, Sask., class president, gold medal for highest
general proficiency; Miss Jeanette Foster, Calgary, silver medal for general
proficiency and Miss Marion Inches, Calgary, $200, scholarship for post
graduate study, awarded for excellence in theory.
Before a mass of floral tributes, which completely concealed the altar of the
church, the nurses took their places. Each carried a bouquet of yellow and red roses,
the school's color against her trim uniform. Seated on the platform were the
speakers of the evening together with Miss Sadie Macdonald, superintendent of
nurses, and Miss A. Hebert, Mme. Beatrice Chapman, who has provided the musical
accompaniments for similar graduations for many years again played the
processional marches. Rev. J. T. Turnbull opened the services with prayer and
later conducted the impressive Florence Nightingale Pledge.
Traced History
Mayor Andy Davinson, who acted as chairman, traced the
history of the training school in his introductory remarks. In 1898 the first
nurses were graduated and since that time 400 graduates, including the present
class, have gone out into general service. In speaking of the future
development of the school his worship looked forward to the time when there
would be better nurses' homes for those in training. He also expressed his
appreciation to the medical men of the city who give so liberally of their
services in the training of the nurses. To Miss Macdonald, superintendent of
the nurses, and other members of her staff he also offered his sincere
congratulations. Wires of good wishes were read from former graduates of
the hospital.
Dr. George R. Johnson touched on many topics of vital interest to the graduates
when he gave the address to the graduating class. He pointed to the
difficulties of the tasks ahead when the nurses will be required to depend on
their own judgment.
"Do not neglect the scientific side of your profession if you would get
the most out of it and do the most good. There is an art in your profession and
personality and character mean a great deal." He urged the nurses to be
loyal to their school, loyal to themselves and loyal to there profession, if
they would succeed. He dealt briefly with the varied avenues opened to trained
nurses and stressed the importance of specialized nurses.
His Worship the Mayor made the presentation of the medals and scholarships,
while Dr. Duncan Gow, medical superintendent, presented diplomas and pins.
Musical enjoyment was provided when Miss Mary Crozier, and Norman Kennedy gave
solos while an organ solo was played by Mme. Chapman. A large basket of flowers
was presented to Mme. Chapman and a bouquet to Miss Crozier.
A reception followed later in Al Azhar temple.
Extracted by J. Kynman 2010-01-21
