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That I May be of Service |
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The
members of the Alumnae Association always felt that the field
of nursing was strengthened by continued contact with fellow
graduates and other nurses. Consequently, much of the work of
the Association focused on arranging social activities.
They
organized events such as annual garden parties, dinners, anniversary
celebrations, reunions and fund raisers, all of which helped
maintain and strengthen the bond shared by graduates of the
school.
The document
to the right is a program for a reunion dinner held in 1922
at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.
Over 600 nurses returned to the city to attend. The hotel opened in 1903, but the Crystal
Ballroom, the most fashionable in the city, was not added
until 1921. The reunion was among the first events held there.
The Alumnae Association also organized dances which were extremely popular.
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Click
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Programme for reunion dinner for graduate nurses
1922
City of Toronto Archives
Series 866, File 36 |
Anniversaries
were greeted with much enthusiasm and fanfare by the Alumnae.
They regularly organized dinners on such occasions, such as
the Reunion dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school.
They also organized an annual dinner for current graduates.
Click
to see a larger image
Programme for reunion dinner in celebration of the school's fiftieth anniversary
June 12, 1931
City of Toronto Archives
Series 948, File 1
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Programme for graduation dinner
April 30, 1937
City of Toronto Archives
Series 946, File 9
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It
was common for graduates to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of
their graduation, and the photograph below shows the class of
1923 gathered in May of 1948.
The
60th anniversary dinner of the Alumnae Association, in 1954,
shown in the picture below was a great success.
Click
to see a larger image
School of Nursing, Toronto General Hospital, 60th anniversary
1954
City of Toronto Archives
Series 1200, Subseries 1, File 6
Two
years later, in 1956, the Alumnae Association played a major
role in organizing the events marking the 75th Anniversary
of the School of Nursing.
Click
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School of Nursing, Toronto General Hospital
75th Anniversary
Commencement Exercises
1956
City of Toronto Archives
Series 1200, Subseries 1, File 2
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School of Nursing, Toronto General Hospital
75th Anniversary Commencement Exercises
1956
City of Toronto Archives
Series 1200, Subseries 1, File 2 The
class of 1913 was the first to return to celebrate their Golden
Anniversary. For this initial event, in 1963, Robina Stewart
travelled from Guelph to be reunited with her only graduating
class. Following that celebration the 50th class reunion became
an important event at each graduation ceremony.
In
1974, they sponsored a tea honouring the graduating class of
1974, then celebrated their own 80th Anniversary with a dinner
at the Royal York Hotel attended by 1,400 grads.
Click
to see a larger image
Display for School of Nursing, Toronto General Hospital, 80th Anniversary
1974
City of Toronto Archives
Series 1200, Subseries 1, File 7
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Though the School of Nursing program at Toronto General Hospital was transferred to George Brown College in 1974, the Alumnae Association remained an active and vital force amongst its members.
Click to see a larger image
Alumnae Association, School of Nursing, Toronto General Hospital
100th Anniversary program
1994
City of Toronto Archives
Series 866 File 35
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Twenty years later, the Alumnae Association celebrated their 100th anniversary with a reception and dinner at the Sheraton Centre's Grand Ballroom on May 16th, 1994.
Click to see a larger image
Alumnae Association past-presidents cutting 100th anniversary cake
May 16, 1994
Photo credit: Dr. Fred B. Fallis
Declining numbers resulted in a decision to cease operations in 2010. A gala dinner planned for May 3rd, 2010 will be the Alumnae Association's final gathering.
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