The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) Biennial Nursing Education Conference was held May 29-30 in St. John’s, Nfld. Over 500 participants took part in the event, including some online.
The event offered over 200 nursing education presentations under the conference theme of anti-discriminatory pedagogy.
The keynote speakers were Dr. Annette Browne, professor and associate director at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Colleen Varcoe, professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, and Amélie Blanchet Garneau, associate professor at Université de Montréal. Their presentations provided attendees with strategies to support antiracism and anti-discriminatory nursing education.
An opening prayer and address was given by Calvin White, one of the founders of the Aboriginal revival in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The College of Nursing faculty and staff presenters at the conference included Rhonda Campbell, Lauressa Garson, Marnie Kramer, Brenda Longclaws, Kim Mitchell, Tyla Turman and Vanessa Van Bewer.
College of Nursing graduate students Shireen Bell, Renée Boily, Jess Crawford, Karamveer Kaur and Trinh Nygen also presented their research. Undergraduate students Nicole Fontaine and Winter Traverse from Mahkwa omushki kiim: Pathway to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE) shared their experiences in nursing education.
“Conference presenters shared research findings, innovative projects and practices, and stimulated deep reflection and important conversations about preparing nurses and nursing faculty for anti-discriminatory practice and pedagogy,” said Donna Martin, associate dean, graduate programs. “Barbara Goodwin, Christa DeGagne, Dr. Lynn Scruby and I attended the conference, and we were so proud of the important work conducted by our colleagues and students at the University of Manitoba.”