Rural healthcare holds key to national sovereignty, legendary nurse says
‘I'm just delighted that rural, remote and northern nursing and health care are being acknowledged,’ says Order of Canada recipient Martha MacLeod. / FACEBOOK PHOTO
Former University of Northern British Columbia professor Martha MacLeod was appointed to the Order of Canada on June 26 for her contributions to rural and remote nursing.
Over her career, MacLeod has trained thousands of nurses. As chair of UNBC’s school of nursing for 12 years, she also led the development of the university’s nursing curriculum, introducing the Rural Nursing Certificate Program, which continues to support nurses in BC and Alberta today.
“I am both humbled and thrilled," MacLeod told the Prince George Citizen. “I'm just delighted that rural, remote and northern nursing and health care are being acknowledged. It's been a long time coming. So I'm really pleased about that, as well.”
According to MacLeod, quality rural healthcare is not only essential to community well-being, but also national sovereignty. “Rural and remote communities generate 30 per cent of Canada's GDP. I think it's critical for Canada's safety, security, sustainability, and sovereignty that these communities are healthy," she said.
Since her retirement in 2022, MacLeod has volunteered to mentor and teach PhD students studying nursing in rural communities.
