On this Remembrance Day, we pay tribute to the courage and compassion of Canadian nurses who served in wartime, and to those, like Joan Doree (1919–2016).
Joan devoted her life to caring for others, from the hospital wards of wartime England to the classrooms and communities of British Columbia. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, she pursued nursing during the Great Depression thanks to the steadfast support of her parents, Mabel and Henry Doree. Their belief in education inspired her to later establish the Mabel and Henry Doree Family Memorial Bursary with RNFBC, ensuring that future generations of nurses could follow their dreams as she did.
After completing her nursing training at St. Paul’s Hospital School of Nursing in Saskatoon, Joan served as a Lieutenant Nursing Sister with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps during the Second World War, caring for soldiers in the burn wards of Basingstoke, England. For over 70 years, she rarely spoke of her experience, only sharing her story with a close friend shortly before her passing at age 97.
Following the war, Joan earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UBC and a Master’s in Public Health Administration from the University of California, Berkeley. She spent her career as a public health nurse and community leader, dedicated to advancing health and education. A founding member of RNFBC, Joan remained an active supporter throughout her life.
As we remember the nurses, doctors, and soldiers who served with courage and compassion, we honour Joan’s story – one of resilience, humility, and enduring generosity. Through her bursary, Joan’s legacy continues to support the next generation of nurses who care for others in times of need.
Lest we forget.
To learn more about Joan and the Mabel and Henry Doree Family Memorial Bursary, visit: rnfbc.ca/donor/mable-and-henry-doree-family