Back Row: Annette Thorimbert, Ruth
Steeves, Lois Stevenson, Alfonse
Gaborieau, Ann Marie Boisjoli
Front Row: Marg Fidler, Bill Leyland,
Joan Ronald
The Last Faculty Photograph 1992
L-R:
Dianne Gaboreau (Director); Pat Helwer; Sandy Huff (Secretary); Audrey Wasnie;
Melanie Shumilak; Jeanette Warren; Ruth Enns; Richard Bartlinski (Asst Director);
Christine Hoeschen; Dianne Stolar; David Ezzard.
The nurses residence and
school of nursing were
opened in 1926. However,
in 1921, Doctor Charles
Barnes organized the first
nurse training program. All
subjects were taught by
medical staff and the
Assistant Matron.
At this time all students
were female and required
to live within the residence. Their clinical
practice was supervised by senior nurses.
Amongst their many duties were keeping
the patients clean, dressed, assisting with
their meals as well as looking after soiled
linen, garbage, washing, waxing and
polishing the floors. Lectures continued for
two years and in the third year the student
nurse was now a senior and able to take
charge of the ward.
Students were paid $40.00 per month. In
the 1930s and 1940s, the students
graduated as Psychiatric Nurses. In 1949,
the first male students were allowed to take
classes with the females. It was not
however until the early 1950s that a nurse,
Margaret Solar, was specifically appointed
as a nurse teacher for the school.
In 1959 the block system of training
commenced. This was the first move to
prevent students from attending classes
after working on the wards the same day.
The class of 1963 was the first to graduate
under this new scheme. In 1960 the
Registered Psychiatric Nurses act came
into existence. A minimum number of
theoretical hours was established. Also, at
this time a separate nurses library came
into existence. The emphasis within the
education program was “re-motivation” of
chronic patients due to the advent of
psychotropic medications which made the
patients more accessible to their
surroundings.
In 1980 the new RPNA Act received Royal
Assent which included responsibility for
establishing and maintaining standards for
psychiatric nursing education.
However, in 1991 the Provincial budget
discontinued funding for the Selkirk school
and the last class to graduate was in July
1992. The preparation of psychiatric nurses
was transferred to Brandon University for a
4 years undergraduate program leading to a
Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing.
Uniforms from 1924 to 1992