Nurses in Windsor-Essex are receiving some extra special recognition.
This year’s RNAO Lois Fairley award is being given to all nurses because they have all gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Normally an award is given to one particular person, this year we've gone ahead and provided the award to the entire nursing community and in honour of that we have two commemorative benches," says Crystal Hepburn, RNAO Windsor Essex Chapter President.
Lois’ son John Fairley says it’s great to see the award shared amongst the community.
"This year we decided the best nurse is every nurse in Windsor and Essex County and I think with that, we honour and celebrate all the hard work of the nurse," says Fairley.
The annual award recognizes a nurse that demonstrates a commitment to serving the community through excellence in delivering patient care.
Two commemorative benches have been set-up in Windsor-Essex with one in Windsor at Jackson Park and another in Amherstburg outside of the Amherstburg Health and Wellness Centre.
President of the Ontario Nurses Association Local 8 Barb Deter was the 2019 recipient.
The award is named after Lois Fairley who was a graduate of Grace Hospital's nursing program in 1955, where she served until her retirement in 1993. She passed away in 2007.