Bernice Redmon made history in 1945. She became the first Black registered nurse in Canada and the first Black nurse to work in public health. At a time when Black women were shut out of nursing schools and hospital jobs in Canada, Redmon broke barriers and opened doors for others.
Though she faced discrimination and roadblocks, Redmon’s courage and talent left a lasting mark on the country’s healthcare system.
The Journey to Nursing Began in Childhood
Bernice Redmon, born Bernice Carnegie, came from a hardworking Jamaican-Canadian family in Toronto. She was the fourth of seven children and spent her early years in North York, enjoying sports, music, and the outdoors. Even as a child, she knew she wanted to become a nurse.
At just eight years old, after a short stay at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, Bernice told her family about her dream. She loved taking care of her siblings and even nursed sick pets back to health. Despite her passion, racism would soon stand in her way.
Canadian Nursing Schools Refused Black Students
After graduating from high school in Toronto, Redmon tried to pursue nursing in Canada. At the time, no Canadian nursing schools would accept Black students, and hospitals wouldn’t hire them. These restrictions lasted into the late 1940s.
A minister at her church suggested she apply to nursing schools in the United States. In 1941, she was accepted into the St. Philip School of Nursing in Richmond, Virginia. This was an all-Black school tied to the Medical College of Virginia. Even there, racism was common. Black students had fewer resources than white students and faced discrimination in public spaces.
Graduating Against the Odds in Segregated America
Bernice Redmon worked hard through these challenges. In 1944, she completed the three-year nursing program with above-average grades. She also earned a scholarship for graduate studies in Public Health.
Although war regulations threatened to pull her back to Canada before finishing her diploma, support from her nursing school’s dean helped extend her stay. In 1945, she received her diploma in Public Health Nursing.
Breaking Barriers as Canada’s First Black Registered Nurse
Later that same year, Bernice married Canadian engineer Nathan Redmon. Eager to begin her career in Canada, she applied to have her U.S. credentials approved. On June 23, 1945, the Ontario Department of Health officially registered her as a nurse, making her Canada’s first documented Black registered nurse.
But the struggle was not over.
Facing Discrimination in Public Health Work
Redmon’s first job hunt in Nova Scotia was tough. Although nurses were needed, officials hesitated to hire a Black nurse. Redmon recalled visiting the local health office multiple times, only to be told to return again and again.
“I just decided he was giving me the run-around,” she remembered years later. Refusing to be ignored, she hired a lawyer to press her case. In time, the health department approved her application.
She became the first Black public health nurse in Canada, serving families and workers in Sydney’s steel mills. She gave immunizations, visited new mothers, and provided after-surgery care.
A Career with the Victorian Order of Nurses
After a year in Nova Scotia, Redmon returned to Toronto and applied to the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON). At first, they showed the same hesitation. But after two months, the local director hired her without seeking national approval.
She worked with the VON until 1968, rising to senior positions, including acting director of the local branch. Though she faced racial prejudice from some patients, many came to trust and respect her care.
Lifelong Learning and Community Service
Redmon valued education throughout her life. She took extra courses in psychiatry and other fields at the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital. She also briefly worked in psychiatric care at Humber Hospital in 1974.
Outside work, she was active in community organizations. She supported groups for Black women, worked with the Children’s Aid Society, and volunteered for the United Nations Association. She also taught Sunday school and sang in choirs.
A Lasting Legacy in Canadian Healthcare
Bernice Redmon passed away from cancer in 1993, just before her 76th birthday. She left behind a rich legacy, not only as a nurse but as a pioneer who challenged racist hiring practices and opened paths for others.
Her determination helped shift the landscape of healthcare in Canada. By 1948, two other Black women — Ruth Bailey and Gwennyth Barton — graduated as nurses in Canada, following in Redmon’s footsteps.
Reflecting on her life, Redmon once said, “My life has been difficult but on the whole life is not easy if you are going to make a success.”
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