Good day Members,
We hope you are enjoying your month! With fall upon us, we are excited to continue offering engaging events and celebrating the accomplishments of our members.
RNAO Fall Tour
Nurses across Ontario will have the opportunity to connect with RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, to share insights, raise concerns, and discuss pressing issues in nursing, health, and health care.
As part of RNAO’s 11th-annual Fall Tour, Dr. Grinspun will meet with RNs, NPs, and nursing students during the Fall Tour Webinar to hear directly from the nursing community about the challenges they face in providing care and the solutions they envision.
“This year marks RNAO’s 100th anniversary, and there is no better way to honour this milestone than by amplifying the voices of nurses who are shaping our profession, the health system, and society every day,” says RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. “Their stories and perspectives are essential to driving change and building a stronger, more robust health system.”
The Fall Tour runs from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, with stops in Thunder Bay, Toronto, Markham, Ottawa, Hamilton, and Kingston. Specialty groups such as the Black Nurses Leading Change Interest Group, Men in Nursing Interest Group, Palliative Care Nurses Interest Group, and Nursing Students of Ontario will also participate.
“We’re eager to hear from members across the province and learn from their knowledge and lived experiences,” adds Dr. Grinspun. “We encourage all nurses and nursing students to join the conversation and speak up about the issues that matter most to them and the communities they serve.”
Join the conversation online using #FallTour.
Event details:
What: RNAO’s 11th Annual Fall Tour
When: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, from 6–8 p.m. ET
Who: Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO, RNAO
Register: https://myrnao.ca/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1890
Inaugural Canadian Black Nurses Conference 2025
From Oct. 15–17, 2025, the Pan-Canadian Association of Nurses of African Descent (PCANAD) hosted its Inaugural Canadian Black Nurses Conference.
Our very own Chair Lori Zozzolotto, Finance ENO Daria Juüdi-Hope, and Communications ENO Dwight Barrett, were guest panelists at this remarkable event. The conference brought together Black nurses from across the country to explore and discuss how Black nurses are navigating today’s health care system and marketplace.
It was a wonderful opportunity for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. We extend our sincere thanks to PCANAD for hosting such an impactful event and for inviting our executive members to contribute as panelists.
Congratulations to Lori, Daria, and Dwight for their insightful contributions and engaging discussions!
Webinar Update: Navigating Post-Graduate Applications – Rescheduled
Due to unforeseen circumstances and a recent event, our webinar with Dr. Bukola Salami will be rescheduled. Please stay tuned for the new date and details.
We would also like to sincerely apologize to all attendees, executive members, and especially to Dr. Salami, for the disruption caused by the cyberattack that occurred during the original session. RNAO is actively investigating the incident to ensure the security and integrity of our future webinars.
CIBWE Awards
We are thrilled to share that our very own Political and Policy ENO, Donna Lawrence, was recently recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Black Women to Watch (2025) by the Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE) organization. Donna received both a nomination and an award—congratulations, Donna, on this well-deserved recognition!
Strut Your Stuff: Featuring Dr. Bukola Salami
This month, we are proud to recognize Dr. Bukola Salami for her exceptional contributions to nursing, research, and leadership.
Dr. Salami is a Professor at the University of Calgary, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Black and Racialized People’s Health, and Vice President of the Canadian Nurses Association. Her remarkable accomplishments include:
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Becoming the first African immigrant woman to hold a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Health Sciences
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Founding the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program (2019–2020)
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Establishing the African Child and Youth Migration Network
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Receiving the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Hall of Fame Award
Dr. Salami continues to be an inspiration and mentor to many young Black students pursuing nursing research. Congratulations, Dr. Salami!
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For questions, collaborations or event inquiries, email us at [email protected].
Warm regards,
The Black Nurses Leading Change Executive Committee