History Repeating – UBC Nursing Receives a Timely and Iconic Gift
History Repeating – UBC Nursing Receives a Timely and Iconic Gift
Named after the Italian city in which she was born, Florence Nightingale entered the world almost 200 years ago. To celebrate this British social reformer, trailblazing statistician and founder of modern nursing—but also the millions of midwives, registered nurses and nurse practitioners who represent half of the workforce of many countries today—the 
World Health Organization has declared 2020 the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife.”
It is fitting, then, that Helen Shore, Associate Professor Emerita and long-time, loyal UBC supporter, has gifted memorabilia related to Nightingale to the School of Nursing. Donations from Helen include both an encased model and framed etching of the social reformer. In fact, Helen (BSN 1961, MA 1971) happens to be a distant relative, and in her memoir Shore to Shore, she points out that Florence’s father was born a Shore but later changed his surname to Nightingale.
The school is grateful for this generous gift, which symbolizes the legacy of nursing at UBC. The model and etching are proudly displayed in the Director’s office and the School’s main office. The year 2019 also marks the School’s centenary: 100 years ago, the university offered the first baccalaureate degree in nursing in the entire Commonwealth of Nations.
 Helen Shore, an alumna and associate professor emeriti, engages with Dean of Applied Science James Olson while Elizabeth Saewyc, Director of the School of Nursing, pins the Centenary Medal of Distinction at the Nursing Gala in May. |
 Dr Saewyc poses with the Florence Nightingale model and etching that has been gifted to the School of Nursing by Helen Shore, a long-time supporter of UBC. |