Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel Margaret Ruth Page

Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel Margaret Ruth Page, CM CD MSc

Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel Margaret Ruth Page, CM CD MSc 

• Date of Death: March 3^rd, 2011
• Accomplishments related to: Healthcare, Armed Forces
• Major affiliations: Lakehead University, HMCS Griffon, the Canadian International Development Agency, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario

Margaret Ruth Page was born in Logan Township in Perth County, Ontario, to John Alexander and Charlotte Maud Drummond (nee Sinclair). At London, Ontario’s Victoria Hospital, she learned the basics of nursing, continuing her education with Certificate in Public Health Nursing, a Diploma of Advanced Public Health Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Public Health.

Her nursing career began in Cochrane, Ontario, but she eventually joined the Ontario Society of Crippled Children and became District Nurse for Kirkland Lake, Cobourg, and Fort William. Margaret soon spent time at the Ontario Department for Public Welfare in Port Arthur as a field worker, and was Welfare Administrator for the Shuniah and Neebing Municipalities. She would also act as Nursing Instructor in Port Arthur General and McKellar General Hospitals’ Schools of Nursing, working throughout Northwestern Ontario.

Margaret would become a leader as Supervisor of Public Heath Nursing at the Port Arthur and District Health Unit, and later Assistant Director of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s Public Health Nursing division. She also continued teaching by becoming an Assistant Professor at Lakehead University School of Nursing in 1973. By 1977 Margaret became full Professor and was further promoted to Director of the School of Nursing, where she remained until 1980. She would eventually bring her work to nations around the world, such as Pakistan and Iran.

Margaret supported professional associations, including the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian and American Public Health Associations, the Canadian University Teachers Association, and more. She further headed the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario as President from 1964 to 1965. She also assisted community organizations such as the Lakehead University Alumni Association, the University of Malawi, the Canadian International Development Agency, University of Nairobi, Kenya, and the Ontario Science Centre, among many others. Her efforts extended to the military, as Margaret was also a Nursing Sister with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, HMCS Griffon, Thunder Bay. This lead to her being appointed Honourary Lieutenant Colonel 18 (Thunder Bay) Medical Company and Commander of the Thunder Bay Commandery.

For her work was awarded the Order of Canada, the Order of St. Stanislas, a Canadian Forces Decoration Medal with bar, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Volunteer Service Award, the Commemorative Medal 125th Anniversary of Canadian Federation, RNAO Award of Merit and Member Emeritus. Locally, she was granted Fellow of Lakehead University, but Lakehead University Student Health Centre was named The Margaret R. Page Health Centre in her honour. 

 View Margeret Ruth Page's obituary.

 View honours recipients from the Governor General of Canada.