Edith Rainsford Dick (1 March 1906 – 29 March 1978) [1] was a Canadian nurse who served with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps for World War II as a Major Matron. She was a recipient of the Royal Red Cross First Class Award.
Dick was born in Milton, Ontario on 1 March 1906 to W.I. Dick and Margaret Young, one of nine children. [1] [2] She attended her early schooling in Milton. Dick went to the University of Toronto for a Bachelor of Arts for two years, which she left to enroll in the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. [1] She returned from John Hopkins to Canada to finish her Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto, [1] [3] which she then completed a Certificate in Public Health Nursing from the University. [1]
Dick became Assistant Superintendent of the Ontario Hospital in Whitby in 1932. [1] She became the Superintendent of Nurses for the Toronto Psychiatric Hospital in 1934, following her role at the New Toronto Hospital the previous year. [1] In 1935, Dick applied to the Nursing Branch of the Ontario Department of Health, becoming the Inspector of Schools of Nursing for Ontario. [1]
She served in World War II as a major matron in two Canadian hospitals established in both England and France. [4] After her service, Dick was awarded the Royal Red Cross First Class Award by King George VI in 1948. [4] [5] [6]
Dick was inducted into the Milton Walk of Fame in 2014 for her influence on Canadian nursing standards. [4] [6]
Edith Rainsford Dick (1 March 1906 – 29 March 1978) [1] was a Canadian nurse who served with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps for World War II as a Major Matron. She was a recipient of the Royal Red Cross First Class Award.
Dick was born in Milton, Ontario on 1 March 1906 to W.I. Dick and Margaret Young, one of nine children. [1] [2] She attended her early schooling in Milton. Dick went to the University of Toronto for a Bachelor of Arts for two years, which she left to enroll in the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. [1] She returned from John Hopkins to Canada to finish her Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto, [1] [3] which she then completed a Certificate in Public Health Nursing from the University. [1]
Dick became Assistant Superintendent of the Ontario Hospital in Whitby in 1932. [1] She became the Superintendent of Nurses for the Toronto Psychiatric Hospital in 1934, following her role at the New Toronto Hospital the previous year. [1] In 1935, Dick applied to the Nursing Branch of the Ontario Department of Health, becoming the Inspector of Schools of Nursing for Ontario. [1]
She served in World War II as a major matron in two Canadian hospitals established in both England and France. [4] After her service, Dick was awarded the Royal Red Cross First Class Award by King George VI in 1948. [4] [5] [6]
Dick was inducted into the Milton Walk of Fame in 2014 for her influence on Canadian nursing standards. [4] [6]