Local companies and students team up to show appreciation for nurses

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – To ring in National Nursing Week, several local companies and students from Bert Ambrose Elementary partnered to show their appreciation for nurses in the community.

As part of the celebrations, nurses in the community received a tote bag with a journal, pen, and mints. Hand-made thank you cards made by Bert Ambrose students were also included.

Laurie Wright, principal of Bert Ambrose Elementary, says the school was happy to participate.

“It was such a great opportunity for our students to give back to the community, and they had so much fun creating the cards,” Wright said.

Items in the bags aim to showcase this year’s theme #WeAnswerTheCall, developed by the Canadian Nurses Association to highlight the many roles nurses play in a patient’s healthcare journey.

ATCO Two Rivers, the City of Fort St. John, Enbridge, Ideal Office Solutions, and SJA Promo sponsored the production of tote bags and pens, while Home Hardware added the journals.

“With everything nurses have done to support our community during these challenging times, we wanted to make sure they know how much their work and dedication are appreciated,” Owner and General Manager of SJA Promo, Kailey Odermatt, said.

“Our customers obviously feel the same way; within hours of reaching out, we had the support we needed to make this happen!”

About 200 bags were put together by volunteers Rosalie Brandl, Councilor Lilia Hansen, and Nancy Lawson. Northern Health and the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation will work to distribute the bags to nurses working in many different roles at numerous locations across the region. At the same time, ATCO will give bags to nurses working at Site C.

SJA Promo has additional bags available for nurses in the community not employed through Northern Health or ATCO Two Rivers. Those interested can pick theirs up at SJA Promo.

National Nursing Week is an annual celebration which takes place the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12th.

The week draws attention to nurses, increasing the awareness of the public, policy-makers and governments of the many contributions of nursing to the well-being of Canadians.