Two local nurses, Donna Dumond, RN and Paula Doncaster, RN, learned Friday that they are the 2021 award honourees during a management zoom meeting.
They are the 2021 recipients of the annual Leslie Burt-Manary RN Leadership Award, which honours the dedicated nurse who died of cancer in 2017.
"To celebrate Leslie’s life, her mother established an endowment fund, a lasting legacy to celebrate nursing leadership, which provides an annual grant for professional development. This year, an anonymous donor stepped forward to fund a second grant, providing the opportunity to honour two incredible leaders, both from Inpatient Surgery; Donna Dumond, RN and Paula Doncaster, RN, Clinical Nurse Educator," according to a news release.
Donna Dumond, RN, for more than 30 years, has provided her patients with the highest level of nursing skills and care as well as mentoring new staff that come to the unit. No matter what situation is unfolding, Donna is always there lending her skills and expertise to ensure the best outcomes. Donna’s guidance is valued by all staff, particularly new grads. She takes the time to mentor both new and experienced staff.
Paula Doncaster has been a nurse for 31 years. Her positivity and willingness to listen is appreciated by all staff, patients and families on the unit. She is an advocate for change and is always willing and available to help staff, not only on her unit but other nursing units as well. Paula is always there to support and encourage staff during challenging times. She supports staff in their learning through creativity, mentoring, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Leslie Burt-Manary was born in France in 1959, and graduated from Canadore College in North Bay as a Registered Nurse in 1979. She began working at the former Civic Hospital in 1987 and continued her career with NBRHC.
“Leslie loved being a nurse and often said, ‘It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am.’” Leslie had a positive outlook on life, and shared her cancer experience on social media in hopes of demystifying the journey and helping others. Her sense of humour and self-deprecating wit stayed with her throughout her illness,” said her mother, Pauline Burt.
“The endowment fund and bursary is a meaningful way to remember the impact Leslie had in motivating others to aspire to obtain the values and qualities that made her exceptional,” said Tammy Morison, President and CEO, NBRHC Foundation. “In 2018, the endowment fund was seeded with a donation from Pauline Burt, Leslie’s mother. Additional donations to the Leslie Burt-Manary Endowment Fund will help it reach the threshold of $25,000 so that the annual grant can be sustained, grown and funded through interest,” she added.
