All Windsor-Essex nurses honoured with Lois Fairley Award

REGIONAL — In recognition of the outstanding contribution nurses make in caring for residents throughout Windsor and Essex County, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (R.N.A.O.), Windsor Essex Chapter, recently awarded the 14th Annual R.N.A.O. Lois Fairley Nursing Award to ‘All Nurses in Windsor-Essex.’

The annual award recognizes a Windsor-Essex County “Nurse of the Year”, selected from dedicated and outstanding nurses who make a difference every day with their patients throughout the community.

Traditionally, this award was chosen by R.N.A.O. Windsor Essex Chapter members and the Fairley family after reading through multiple nominations from the community, highlighting an amazing nurse in Windsor and Essex County.

“In 2021, our community continues to fight and respond to the pandemic; it has been reinforced over this past year, the nurse’s role as frontline as healthcare heroes,” said John Fairley, son of Lois Fairley. “This year we gratefully announce that ‘All Nurses Throughout Windsor and Essex County’ are the deserving recipients of the 2021 R.N.A.O. Lois Fairley Nursing Award.”

“This year, this award recognizes the extreme dedication, loyalty and hard work that all of our nurses are providing to ensure our community continues to be safe and healthy during this pandemic,” said Crystal Hepburn, President of the R.N.A.O. Windsor Essex Chapter.

John Fairley looks on as Crystal Hepburn, President of R.N.A.O. Windsor Essex Chapter, displays the Lois Fairley Award.

As a symbol of their service to the community, there will be a dedicated bench in Leamington’s Seacliff Park to recognize the valuable contribution of Windsor and Essex County nurses.

This is the second year this award has honoured nurses throughout Windsor and Essex County.

In May 2020, the selection committee members decided the award would be given to all nurses throughout Windsor and Essex County during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, there are two dedicated benches announced to recognize the important role of nurses in the region. One bench is at Windsor’s Jackson Park, and the other at the Amherstburg Health and Wellness Centre, near Centennial Park.

The award honours Lois Fairley, a graduate of Grace Hospital’s nursing program in 1955. Lois spent her career serving patients at Grace Hospital in Windsor as a nurse and head nurse. She also represented the nursing profession as a member of the Provincial Board of Directors of R.N.A.O., served as President of the Ontario Nurses Association and a member of the St. Clair College the Program Advisory Committee.

Lois passed away in July of 2007. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (R.N.A.O.) instituted this award for Windsor Essex nurses in 2008.