JGH nurse honoured with cake and accolades from managers and colleagues
Happy 50th anniversary, Katherine Byford! The Operating Room Nurse at the Jewish General Hospital was fêted in November for her five decades of service, receiving a specially decorated cake, a plaque, and the accolades of managers and colleagues.
It was a rare and impressive milestone. Ms. Byford graduated from the JGH School of Nursing in 1972, the last graduating class at the hospital before nursing instruction across the province shifted to the CEGEP system. The class valedictorian, she received a bedside nursing award and a scholarship for post-graduate study, and pursued her training before launching a diverse and rewarding career at the JGH. Among her positions, she was Clinical Instructor in the Intensive Care Unit, Nursing Coordinator on the hospital’s float team and, for the past 22 years, a Registered Nurse in the OR.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Ms. Byford says. “You never imagine it’s going to be 50 years, but looking back, it’s been an amazing experience.”
Serge Cloutier, Director of Nursing, says he was honoured to witness the recognition offered by Ms. Byford’s colleagues at the anniversary celebration. Ms. Byford is an outstanding example of dedication and passion for the nursing profession, he adds.
“During the event, she said: ‘I love nursing.’ These words say so much,” says Mr. Cloutier. “We are honoured in the Nursing Directorate to recognize Ms. Byford’s 50 years of service.”
Isabelle Caron, Associate Director of Nursing, thanked Ms. Byford for her service.
“Celebrating 50 years in nursing is such a tremendous milestone and we’re honoured to share this with Kathy and her OR family,” Ms. Caron says. “Kathy’s dedication and enthusiasm are infectious. Her co-workers describe her as hardworking, caring, and always ready to lend a hand. We cannot thank Katherine enough for her commitment and dedication to our organization over all these years.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Byford has no plans to retire. “For me, this not a job—it’s a community here, it’s like my second family. And the way we work as a team is energizing,” she says. “I still love what I do.”
