On October 29th, WeRPN hosted its 62nd – and first virtual- Annual General Meeting(AGM). Each year, this special event is an opportunity for RPNs from across the province to gather, exchange ideas, and build connections. While the pandemic restrictions didn’t allow us to be physically in the same space, they did not prevent our nursing community from coming together. This invigorating evening event provided RPNs with an opportunity to celebrate nursing. WeRPN planned an engaging evening, including keynote addresses from inspirational speakers.
We kicked off the evening with motivator Orlando Bowen, whose enthusiasm and energy set the perfect tone for the evening. He shared stories about perseverance, strength and maintaining an optimistic outlook in the face of adversity. The Board of Directors’ reports provided members with updates on key organizational financial and membership activities. Our CEO report highlighted the various ways WeRPN continued to engage and support RPNs throughthe pandemic. We also recognized the contributions of our outgoing President, Linda Keirl and welcomed our new Board President, Suzanne Schell, to the role.
This year, we introduced online voting in advance of the AGM to allow more members from across Ontario to have their say on key matters, like approval of financial statements and the election of new board members. We were thrilled to see high engagement levels from our membership and will continue to leverage online voting to engage our community in the future. A resolution was put forward to the membership requesting approval for a modest increase to membership fees to manage a significant increase in the cost of providing our liability insurance. The membership agreed to the increase, which will take effect in July 2021.
Following the conclusion of official business, we heard from another engaging leader, Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser. Hayley shared stories of her triumphs and tribulations as one of the best female hockey players in the world and how they compare to the emerging challenges she faces as she charts a new course in medicine. As a fellow health professional on the frontlines of the pandemic, she spoke of the pressures facing RPNs and her admiration and appreciation for the incredible work that nurses do.
We concluded the evening with our Awards of Excellence Ceremony, recognizing nursing excellence across the province. While the format of this year’s event was different, we valued the opportunity to bring nurses together to celebrate thepast year’s achievements and look ahead to the next. We look forward to seeing you, whatever the format, at this year’s AGM on October 28th, 2021.
