St. Lawrence College Diploma Nursing Program. -

2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the entry of the first cohort of the St. Lawrence College Diploma nursing program.

For several decades, many hospitals operated their own schools of nursing and provided practical experience in those hospitals and others with which they partnered for short placements.

A Local Educational Milestone, 50th anniversary of the entry of the first cohort of the St. Lawrence College Diploma nursing program. — On September 11, 1967, Margaret Lawson of St. Andrew’s West arrived bright and early at the new regional school of nursing to receive her registration forms from Mrs. Tatiana Labekovsky, the school’s director. She was the first student to register.

In 1967, across Ontario, nursing training began moving away from hospital-based schools. Locally, that saw the creation of the Cornwall Regional School of Nursing. In September of 1967, the school registered its first student at its temporary campus, located in a former residence at 331 Second Street East.

Architect’s Sketch of Regional School of Nursing

During that first year, a brand-new campus was under construction at 801 Fourth Street East at McConnell Avenue.

Cornwall Mayor Nick Kaneb at Regional School of Nursing Plaque Unveiling on September 30, 1968

Planned to include a ten-storey main structure, the campus officially opened the following September with an eight-storey residence with an attached two-storey classroom wing to the south.

Students already enrolled in the Cornwall General Hospital School of Nursing (1898-1969) as well as in the St. Joseph’s (Hotel Dieu Hospital) School of Nursing (1929-1969), continued their studies in those schools, graduating in 1968 and in 1969. From 1968 until 1989, the Cornwall General found another niche which saw the hospital school shift its focus to a new course of studies for Registered Nursing Assistants (now known as Registered Practical Nurses.)

Cornwall Regional School of Nursing December, 1973

In 1973, Saint Lawrence College took over the torch from the Regional School, which became the Mille Roches Hall student residence for St. Lawrence College and is now a seniors’ residence.

801 4th St. E. Sold by St. Lawrence College – August, 1997 having been on the market since January of 1996

Joining the ranks of other colleges that offer such programs, in 2020 SLC was approved to offer standalone nursing degrees without requiring a university partner.

Joanne Lamoureux received her diploma in October of 1987.

Alumni check-in at the 2023 50th anniversary reunion.

Alumni from the class of 1975 all the way up to the time of the reunion gathered to celebrate 50 years of nursing at SLC on Saturday May 13, 2023.

Educational display at the 50th anniversary celebration

The public was welcome to join in the celebrations that day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Local newspaper, radio and television outlets carried coverage.

Graduating Class photos adorn the corridors.

There were nursing education displays, a memorabilia section, opportunities to visit the labs and a light refreshment area. Nursing 50th Celebrations – Cornwall – St Lawrence (stlawrencecollege.ca)

One of two state-of-the-art practical labs

Acknowledgements:
Sykes-Staff. “New School of Nursing Sees 91 Registrations.” Standard-Freeholder, 11 September 1967, p. 7. Post Media Archives at the Cornwall Community Museum.
Staff. “Regional Nursing School Start likely in November.” Standard-Freeholder, 23 August 1966, p. 7. Post Media Archives at the Cornwall Community Museum.
Quenneville, Marcel-Staff. “School of Nursing Said Investment in District Youth” Standard-Freeholder, 30 September 1968, p. 7. Post Media Archives at the Cornwall Community Museum.
Staff. “Unknown” Standard-Freeholder, 28 December 1973, p. Unknown. Post Media Archives at the Cornwall Community Museum.
Staff. “Unknown” Standard-Freeholder, 14 August 1997, p. Unknown. Post Media Archives at the Cornwall Community Museum.
Hooper, Len-Staff. “A Proud Moment for SLC Grads” Standard-Freeholder, 19 October 1987, p. 3. Post Media Archives at the Cornwall Community Museum.
Smith, Don, “Alumni check-in at the 2023 50th anniversary reunion”, 13 May 2023
Smith, Don. “Educational display at the 50th anniversary celebration”. 13 May 2023
Smith, Don. “Graduating Class photos adorn the corridors”. 13 May 2023
Smith, Don. “One of two state-of-the-art practical labs”. 13 May 2023
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