Blog

After an extensive review of our internal processes, costs and a comparison to other similar Foundations across the country, the RNFBC Board of Directors has agreed that engaging a management company to administer operations offers the best way forward.

As with any change, there is the sadness of saying goodbye to the dedicated resources who saw us through the last several years. Our thanks to Jennifer Davis for her outstanding work as our administrator, Bruce Bouchard as our fundraiser and Peter Baetsen at McLaren Trefanenko, the accounting firm.

We would like to introduce you to First Stage Enterprises Ltd. (FSEL) who will be managing our day to day administration, finances, bursary process and, once settled, our donations. Our main contacts will be Heather Jones, Manager, Barbara Gorman, Bookkeeper, Ellen Kaine, Administrator, Karen Thompson, Designated Accountant, Lisa Bateman, Administrator and Alison Toscano, President, FSEL.

The phone number for RNFBC will remain 604-739-1944. However, as the cooperative we used as a Vancouver office is closing, our address has changed to:

9 Foxwood Drive,
Port Moody, BC
V3H 4X3

There will be a slight disruption as we make this transition and hope you will bear with us during this time. We look forward to keeping our members, supporters, and the BC nursing community informed about the Foundation’s work through our website and news updates. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

Heather Mass
President
RNFBC

by loving friends and family of Mary Bellis

Margaret Mary Bellis’s love of children is rumoured to have begun as the second child of six. Mary’s genuineness, curiosity, friendliness, compassion and loyalty to her family, friends and colleagues are legendary and reminiscent of the attributes of one who was raised in a large family. Her curiosity, sense of adventure, outgoingness and adaptability are likely linked to having a father who was a Wing Commander with the RCAF, as this meant she and her family experienced life in multiple cities across Canada. Upon her father’s retirement in 1962, the Bellis family relocated to the Vancouver area from Ottawa, finally settling in Burnaby in 1964.

Mary’s passion as a caregiver was a large part of what drove her to choose nursing as her profession. Mary went to nursing school at St. Michael’s in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1970. Her first nursing job was as a pediatric nurse at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops in 1973, finally moving back to Burnaby to work at the VGH’s Health Centre for Children in the mid-1970s. Mary’s dedication to lifelong learning was evident early in her career when she pursued a specialty certification in neurological nursing from Foothill’s Hospital in Calgary, AB. Mary returned to BC and moved from VGH to BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) when it opened in 1982, where she worked until her retirement. She was a pioneer in family centered care before it was labelled as such. Mary recognized the impact an intensive care unit had on children and their families and she made it her mission to create a warm, child friendly environment for the children and their families. Mary role modelled excellence in her clinical skills, decision making and communication while caring for her patients and their families.

What a year this has been for all of us!   As with almost all non-profit societies it has certainly been challenging for us to carry out our mandate this past year. That said, we are proud to report that we still managed to provide 182 bursaries to BC’s nurses to assist with their basic and advanced education in 2020.  We have also been exploring some new opportunities for RNFBC going forward and are excited to share them with all of our members, donors, and friends.

Since the opportunities to meet in person are very limited right now due to Covid 19, we have chosen the option given by BC Societies to not hold an AGM in 2020 and instead push it forward to a date in early 2021.   We will let you know when and where it will be as soon as the date is set.  Meantime, if you are not an active member, please consider becoming one so you can join us.  If you are a member, please be sure to renew your present membership in order to have voting rights at the AGM.  You can access our membership page at www.rnfbc.ca/membership.  We need and depend on your support and valued input!

With the difficult year that was 2020 now closed and as we move into 2021, we consider the horrendous impact this pandemic has had on our loved ones and colleagues and hope you also think about the amazing skills nurses have demonstrated and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make in caring for so many sickened by it.  As a way to recognize and support their work, please consider making a meaningful one-time or monthly gift to RNFBC to help support our current and future nurses.  The process details can be found on www.rnfbc.ca.

In closing, on behalf of the RNFBC Board of Directors and our terrific staff, I would also like to thank you all for your interest and support.  It means more than you know!  Until we can actually meet in person, please stay in touch – and stay safe.

Best regards:

Heather Mass RN Msc, Interim President
on behalf of the Volunteer Board of Directors
Registered Nurses Foundation of BC

What a year this has been for all of us!   As with almost all non-profit societies it has certainly been challenging for us to carry out our mandate this past year. That said, we are proud to report that we still managed to provide 182 bursaries to BC’s nurses to assist with their basic and advanced education in 2020.  We have also been exploring some new opportunities for RNFBC going forward and are looking excited to share them with all of our members, donors, and friends.

Since the opportunities to meet in person are very limited right now due to Covid 19, we have chosen the option given by BC Societies to not hold an AGM in 2020 and instead push it forward to a date in early 2021.   We will let you know when and where it will be as soon as the date is set.  Meantime, if you are not an active member, please consider becoming one so you can join us.  If you are a member, please be sure to renew your present membership in order to have voting rights at the AGM.  You can access our membership page at www.rnfbc.ca/membership.  We need and depend on your support and valued input!

Also, with the difficult year that was 2020 now closed and as we move into 2021, we consider the horrendous impact this pandemic has had on our loved ones and colleagues and hope you also think about the amazing skills nurses have demonstrated and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make in caring for so many sickened by it.  As a way to recognize and support their work, please consider making a meaningful one-time or monthly gift to RNFBC to help support our current and future nurses.  The process details can be found on www.rnfbc.ca.

In closing, on behalf of the RNFBC Board of Directors and our terrific staff, I would also like to thank you all for your interest and support.  It means more than you know!  Until we can actually meet in person, please stay in touch – and stay safe.

Best regards:

Heather Mass RN Msc, Interim President
on behalf of the Volunteer Board of Directors
Registered Nurses Foundation of BC

The Registered Nurses Foundation of BC pays special tribute to Helen Louise Shore and is grateful for the support we have received in honour of her memory.  

Helen made many meaningful connections and contributions during her distinguished life in nursing.  She worked in Community Health Nursing and then dedicated her career to Nursing Education.  

Helen L. Shore also completed a book at age 95 entitled “Shore to Shore: A record of the Shore family of Sheffield, England, to London, Ontario” describing some of her family stories dating back to the 15th Century – including one very famous family member, Florence Nightingale.  

Helen earned many honours for her numerous contributions and achievements.  She was also an active community volunteer supporting nursing and community service organizations.  Helen touched many nurses and countless others through her lifetime.   She is missed by many who share deep admiration for Helen’s contributions.