Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) National Historic Event
© Canada Department of Manpower and Immigration/Library and Archives Canada
The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) was designated as a national historic event in 1997.
Historical importance: Major national organization which provides health services to poor and isolated Canadians.
Commemorative plaque: Argyle Street, Ottawa, OntarioFootnote 1
Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada
For more than a century, this national organization has provided vital home nursing and health education to Canadians. Founded in 1897 by Lady Aberdeen, the Order developed innovative programs to improve the health of mothers and children, particularly among the poor and the isolated. It established the first Canadian training homes for public health nurses, set a national standard for visiting nurse services, and later expanded its work to meet the needs of the elderly and the chronically ill. Through advocacy and by example, the VON helped lead the way to broader public health care programs.
© Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada/Library and Archives Canada/e002712846
© Victorian Order of Nurses/Library and Archives Canada/e002504612
© Library and Archives Canada/e002504613
The National Program of Historical Commemoration relies on the participation of Canadians in the identification of places, events and persons of national historic significance. Any member of the public can nominate a topic for consideration by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
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