In September of 1967, a large group of eminent young women began their journey towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Toronto. Five came from my high school in Toronto. I don't even know how many started but according to the grad photo, 71 graduated.
It wasn't exactly a motley crew but we were from a wide spectrum of mostly-Ontario communities. Rural, urban, the north, were all represented equally. It was a very homogenous group though in terms of colour (white) and gender (females) and ethnicity (anglo/european). And bright! I remember thinking how smart these folks were.
"Whiter Shade of Pale", "Respect", "The Letter" - as we gathered at Carr Hall in September of 1967, these were the songs that were playing in my ears.
We were celebrating Canada's 100 birthday. Pierre Trudeau wasn't quite in power yet but his heyday was coming. The Vietnam war was in full swing and for many of us this rankled deeply. Yorkville was swinging, drugs were on offer and for a little old Catholic girl, there was a lot of learning to do!
Four years later, we went our separate ways - to hospitals and community health, some to more education, some to marriage and kids right away.
And then life happened.
There were couple of reunions along the way and when 45 years had gone by, we decided to take it one step beyond a reunion, and capture some of the stories of our lives - and so this blog.
We're asking "the Women of 7T1" to send us your stories, just like Ginny Robinette did in our first entry. Give us a peak at what happened over those 45 years plus maybe what nursing did or did not mean to you? From the conversations at the May reunion, this group has contributed mightily to the health system in Ontario and Canada - and it's time we blow our horns a bit.
Also, if you've got photos of the early years or of your latest grandchild, send it Pat (psanagan@gmail.com) and I'll put them up here. Or add a comment or a pic below.
July 19, 2016
ReplyDeleteDear Pat,
Thank you so much to you and Moya for organizing our 45th reunion!!! I have been to several reunions of our class over the years but somehow this one had some added magic and also added excitement of being together. I felt we just picked up the strands of our lives from where we left off whether our last connection was 1971 or more recent. I came away deeply appreciative of the four years we had together at UofT and how amazing we all are!
Thank you for starting this blog! I do like the new background being US! None of us had nearly enough time together on May 28, 2016, despite all the events and a full day so it will be fun to see people's life stories on our blog. Thank you to Ginny for starting our stories with her story!
And you have set the scene well Pat for those years of 1967 to 1971. For me, I was 17 when I arrived at UofT (I turned 18 that December). I grew up in Ottawa and had just graduated from Fisher Park High School as had Liz Ross and we both ended up in residence that first year -Liz at 146 and me at Burton Hall. My parents drove me to Toronto and settled me in to room 521; my first time living away from home. The UofT girls had the 5th floor at Burton Hall, the Nurses' Residence for Women's College Hospital. I had fun exploring a bit to Toronto with my parents -and then they drove home and there I was not sure what to do next. Lorrie Sadler (became Banks) knocked on my door and invited me out for a coca cola; she seemed very sophisticated as we walked to Yonge St! That was when the drinking age was 21! I feel very lucky to have had that marvellous group of 10 women to share that first year of nursing at Burton Hall! Thank you Lorrie (Sadler) Banks, Dixie (Doan) Loewig, Melanie (Butler) Barnes, Linda (Kindrachuk) Primeau, Louise (Allen) Fillatre), Jane (Underwood) Blackwell, Sue (Swanson) Morrison, Sally (Healey) Johnson, and Jane (Skelton) Evans!! And my Big Sister in nursing , Maureen Driscoll (became Fox) lived there too -remember your Big Sister? We had a lot of fun all together and I am not sure how any of us managed to pass that first year!
I was actually quite shy in high school and just beginning to find myself when I went away to UofT and decided to just immerse in everything possible! Sports, Sneezles, the Yearbook, Student Council,... - I was very lucky! For second, third, and fourth years I was in an apartment (22 Walmer Rd. near Bloor and Spadina -it is still there!) and each year I had a different roommate as my roommate got married each year! First Maureen, then Lorrie, and then Mary (Williamson) Angelson! Apartment 604 was very very fun too!
So many memories of those years...I have been going through old photos recently in an attempt to purge some "stuff" and have been retrieving some fun (and some crazy) memories. Remember how we took zoology with Miss MacGregor (and not anatomy - no one believes me when I tell them we did not have an anatomy course!!) and we had to dissect pithed frogs? Sue Shepard's (she was beside me -alphabetical order you know!) pithed frog was not pithed enough and jumped off the table as she made her first cut!!! I still have giggles thinking about that one! And did you know that guys at Frat Houses would phone our residence asking for nurses for a party? And Melanie and I actually went one time -and there was no party! We did not stay long! Oh my....many more memories....
I wrote more than 4096 characters so shall continue in the next comment box!
To continue.....
ReplyDeleteWe did have some amazing instructors - Judy Humphreys, Mary McCullough,.....It was Mary McCullough and others who went to some Northern Health Seminars in the Arctic during our 4th year and then inspired Brenda Liston and me to go north! We went to Inuvik, NWT, really wanting to go just for the summer but they would only hire us for a minimum of 1 year and we each ended up staying more than 2 years! My first head nurse was an Irish Midwife, Agnes Walsh (I was on obstetrics and surgery in the 100 bed Inuvik General Hospital) and Agnes made a point to tell me that, just because I was a 4 year BScN grad, I should not think I knew anything. I was very humble -yes Miss Walsh! She did teach me a lot!
We have each taken a variety of diverse paths since 1971. I look forward to hearing everyone's stories!
Perhaps another part of our blog can be pictures from the various reunions we have had over the years......I am sure I will find some of those pics as I keep digging through my boxes!
I shall work on my own story of the past 45 years soon.....
Sending you each love and hugs and thanks for being such a significant part of my life, ages 17 to 21 and then beyond!!! Here we are!!! 2016!
Robin xo :)
Great stories Robin!
ReplyDelete