Queen’s School of Nursing has received a generous estate gift of $1 million from the late Mary Joan Dolores Webber, continuing her long-standing commitment to supporting Canadian nursing education.
Her gift will enhance the existing Mary Joan Dolores Webber Nurse Practitioner Award, which supports students in the Master of Nursing (Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner) program. Established in 2017, the award recognizes academic excellence; this new endowment increases the award value from $2,000 to $5,000, providing even greater support for future Queen’s nurse practitioners as they prepare to meet primary care needs across Canada.
Born in Verdun, Quebec, Mary worked as a Laboratory Technician and Secretary at Geigy Pharmaceuticals, Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation, and Touche Ross Auditors. She graduated from Marianopolis College with a Bachelor of Science. Her generosity to Queen’s reflects a deep belief in health education, and her legacy will continue to support Canadian health care for years to come by providing opportunities for future nurse practitioners.
"Nurse practitioners play a vital role in ensuring every Canadian has access to care. Supporting NP students as they build the knowledge and skills for their careers is essential,” says Dr. Roger Pilon, Director of the School of Nursing and Vice-Dean of Health Sciences. “This award celebrates academic excellence and provides financial support, allowing students to focus more on their studies and clinical training. In doing so, it helps them it helps them become the confident, skilled practitioners who will strengthen our primary care system and improve health outcomes across the country."
If you are interested in how you can support the future of nurse practitioner education at Queen’s, like Mary, please get in touch by emailing fhsadvancement@queensu.ca.
For more information on how to create your own meaningful legacy at Queen’s, please visit our alumni gift planning web page or email gift.planning@queensu.ca.