The Foundation for Registered Nurses of Manitoba Inc. is honoured to administer the following awards named in honour of Manitoba nurses and nursing organizations.
The Dennis D. Norbury Award
Dennis Dale Norbury, LPN, RN (1944-1996) began his career as a LPN in Moosomin, Saskatchewan and Dauphin, MB. He went on to practise at nursing stations in Kiskitto, Grand Rapids, Easterville and Moose Lake before completing his RN in Winnipeg in 1976. At graduation, he received the award for obstetrics — the first male to have been so honoured. He worked in the Burn Unit at Winnipeg Health Science Centre and later in Elder Care at Tuxedo Villa.
Dennis was known for his stubborn commitment to provide respectful and compassionate care that often challenged prevailing medical practices and institutions. This led to his founding Volunteer Home Support (VHS), a non-profit, non-funded charitable volunteer organization comprised of volunteers inspired by Dennis’s philosophy and expertise. His special concern was to provide the terminally ill with the opportunity to be involved in decisions about treatment and the opportunity to die at home with dignity.
In Dying at Home: Making the Transition Easier for Patients, Family and Caregivers (Norbury, 1992) Dennis wrote about shared language in the circle of life and death: “If we are more able to see dying in terms of living, we are more able to use the skills we have in common, skills developed because we share the common experience of life itself.” Dennis was a great friend and advocate for palliative care and death with dignity. Dennis was a delightful human being whose compassion, wisdom and individuality continues to transform others. His vision was inclusive, his creativity, intuition and generosity profound.
The Dennis D. Norbury Award is offered annually to a practising registered nurse who works in the areas of obstetrics or palliative care and is enrolled either part time or full time in a BPRN, certificate program, or in graduate studies. The amount of the award is determined by the interest generated by the Dennis D. Norbury fund held in trust by the Winnipeg Foundation. There is no separate application form for this award.
If you are eligible for this award, be sure to check off the applicable box on the General Application form and discuss in your application letter how you meet the criteria for this award.
If you are a University of Manitoba graduate student, you may apply for this award using the guidelines in the graduate application policy and follow the instructions on the Graduate Awards page. There is no application fee for this award.
The Kay De Jong Award
Kay De Jong graduated from St. Boniface School of Nursing in 1958 and was the Director of Inservice Education at St. Boniface Hospital from 1964-1974. Following this, she was the Continuing Education Advisor for the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses (MARN) from 1974-1984 and was a nationally recognized leader in this field. While working at MARN she also managed scholarship funds and investments. She is one of the visionaries who recognized the importance of growing funds to support nurses in continuing education.
When she retired, her colleagues started this award to honour the contributions she has made to forwarding our profession in Manitoba. She now splits her time between Manitoba and Texas.
This award is offered annually to a practising registered nurse who lives and works in the Norman Region or north of the 53rd parallel and is enrolled either part time or full time in a BPRN, certificate program, or in graduate studies. True to the original intent of this award it is now once again available to LPNs, RPNs and RNs who are pursuing continuing education. The amount of the award is determined by the interest generated by the Kay Dejong fund held in trust by the Winnipeg Foundation. There is no separate application form for this award.
If you are eligible for this award, be sure to check off the applicable box on the General Application form and discuss in your application letter how you meet the criteria for this award and follow your applicable category guidelines. If you are a LPN or RPN, see the FAQ page for more information on how to apply for this award.
If you are a University of Manitoba graduate student, you may apply for this award using the guidelines in the Graduate Awards policy and follow the instructions on the Graduate Awards page. There is no application fee for this award.
The Manitoba Gerontological Nursing Association Award
The MGNA in collaboration with the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses established this award in 1997 to support members of the MGNA in pursuing BPRN, certificate program, or graduate studies. The amount of the award is determined by the interest generated by the MGNA fund held in trust by the Winnipeg Foundation. There is no separate application form for this award.
This award is offered annually to up to two practising registered nurses who are members of the MGNA and are enrolled either part time or full time in a BPRN, certificate program, or in graduate studies. The amount of the award is determined by the interest generated by the MGNA fund held in trust by the Winnipeg Foundation. There is no separate application form for this award.
If you are eligible for this award, be sure to check off the applicable box on the General Application form and discuss in your application letter how you meet the criteria for this award. A photocopy of your MGNA membership must be included with this application.
If you are a University of Manitoba graduate student, you may apply for this award using the guidelines in the graduate application policy and follow the instructions on the Graduate Awards page. There is no application fee for this award.
If you would like to establish a special named award, look on our donations page for further information.
Foundation for Registered Nurses of Manitoba Inc., 2014
23-845 Dakota St., Suite 321, Winnipeg, MB R2M 5M3