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History of ORNAC
The Operating Room Nurses of Quebec were the first to officially organize in Canada under the leadership of three individuals; Isabelle Adams, Victoire Audit, and Mary Taylor. This event took place in 1958. Early in the 1960’s Isabelle Adams and Victoire Audit were invited to spend a few days in Toronto describing how they organized the Quebec OR Group. The beginnings of a national network!
The next momentous event was May, 1965 in Toronto. A group of perioperative nurses met to report on how formation and activity was going in their respective jurisdictions; Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Quebec were in attendance. BC was the “newest” group in attendance. This meeting endorsed the need to work on formation of a national organization. Isabelle Adams was Chair of the National planning committee. Work has started.
1970 saw the first National Conference held in Montreal, Quebec. The work continued with several other National Conferences and meetings held until the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada was officially launched in 1983. 1983 had National Chair Muriel Shewchuk turn the Association over to the first President of ORNAC Valerie Shirreff of Ontario. The birth of ORNAC was recognized in Jasper Alberta at the National Conference held there in 1984.
It took years of patience and dedication to form ORNAC. The early years found working together when in one spot to be best. Face-to-Face meetings were planned around educational sessions. Growth has continued since 1983.
| National Conferences | ||
| Year | Location | Chair |
| 1970 | Montreal, Quebec | Victoire Audit & Mary Taylor |
| 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | Faye Trouten Blenkhorn |
| 1974 | Montreal, Quebec | Victoire Audet |
| 1976 | Vancouver, B.C. | Jean Kerr |
| 1978 | Halifax, N.S. | Gail Currie |
| 1980 | Toronto, ON. | Jean Mitchell |
| 1982 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Jane Malach |
| 1984 | Jasper, Alberta | Muriel Shewchuk |
| 1986 | Montreal, PQ | Jacqueline Craig |
| 1988 | Vancouver, B.C. | Gloria Stephens |
| 1990 | Toronto, ON. | Sharon Corbie |
| 1991 | Banff, Alberta | Jackie Waisman |
| 1993 | Quebec City, PQ | |
| 1995 | Vancouver, B.C. | Sandra Grimwood |
| 1997 | Ottawa, ON | Vija Hay |
| 1999 | Halifax, N.S. | Donna Farid |
| 2001 | Banff, AB. | Gloria Nemecek |
| 2003 | Winnipeg, MB | Karen Steindel & Gerry Boughen |
| 2005 | Montreal, PQ | Line Boucher & Monique Trachy |
| 2007 | Victoria, BC | Marcy McKay |
| 2009 | St. John's, NL | Margot Walsh & Laura Ellsworth |
| 2011 | Regina, SK | Candace Franke & Donna Marin |
ORNAC Logo or the "Red Lady"
A design contest took place in 1985 to create an official logo. All Canadian perioperative registered nurses were eligible; ORNAC received thirty submissions. Jocelyn Patenaude of Montreal was the chosen designer.
ORNAC has proudly displayed the "Red Lady" since that time.
ORNAC Flag
The official ORNAC flag was launched in 1987 at a Greater Toronto Meeting. The Red Lady has flown proudly since that time at each national conference.
President’s Chain of Office
The chain of Office was a reality through the persistence of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Alberta, (ORNAA) and a generous gift from American Hospital Supply Canada Inc. (AHS) first worn at the end of her term by our first President Valerie Shirreff. The end of a Presidents term of office has the Chain passed to the next President. The chain displays the name of each President & term.
ORNAC Gavel
1984 in Jasper was a landmark that is unforgettable in ORNAC History. It was the first official National Conference and the first formal meeting of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada, (ORNAC). To commemorate the occasion the Jasper Planning Committee under the guidance of Muriel Shewchuk presented President Valerie Shirreff with the Gavel. Until 2003 the Gavel and plaque/holder traveled with the President to all meetings. Presently the plaque/holder is in the ORNAC Archives but the Gavel continues to travel with the President.
Constitution
Founding members formed a committee in 1983 to draft a constitution for ORNAC; the final draft was presented at Jasper in 1984. The committee reviewed and revised until 1986 when the revised document was presented and passed.
The Bylaws Committee of ORNAC formed in 1983 and remains to date as a regular agenda item for each meeting. Under this Committee the formation and regular review of the Rules and Regulations of ORNAC continue to be updated and reflect practices of ORNAC. Few revisions took place until 2004. Under the leadership of President Elect Marcy McKay 66 motions to up-date the constitution were done. The most noted change here was the decision to remove the role of Past President from the Executive leaving four Executive members along with two representatives from each provincial member. 2005 is the year this came into effect. After deliberation at the fall 2005 Executive & Board Meeting the Past President was invited back to the Boardroom. ORNAC found with an entirely volunteer organization the role needed to be re-instated to assist with the workload.
Another noted change was language but it shows planning for the future the wording is now provincial or territorial members leaving room for our territories to organize and attend at the Board.
Today’s Project’s, Tomorrows Progress, the theme for the 2005 19th National Conference held in Montreal saw a landmark change to our constitution. Here the decision was made to provide two seats to Affiliate Member Groups of ORNAC to sit at the Board in a limited capacity. These two new Board seats may represent any of the recognized ORNAC Affiliate groups. The Board seat shall provide voting privileges but cannot at this time hold elected executive positions. We welcome in 2005 the Canadian Operating Room Leaders Group, (CORL) under the guidance of Muriel Shewchuk of AB and Pat Pocock of ON and the Registered Nurses First Assistant Network of Canada, (RNFANC). under the guidance of Pam Railton. In November 2009, the Perioperative Nurse Educators of Canada (PNEC) were also granted ORNAC affiliate status. Tracie Scott, as the first PNEC president on the ORNAC Board of Directors, capably represented the new PNEC organization.
