Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk facts for kids

Clotilda Adessa Douglas-Yakimchuk CM ONS (born Clotilda Adessa Coward on January 11, 1932, and passed away on April 15, 2021) was a very important Canadian nurse. She made history as the first Black Canadian to finish her nursing studies at the Nova Scotia Hospital School of Nursing. She also became the first Black president of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Nova Scotia. This organization helps nurses in Nova Scotia.

Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk: A Trailblazing Nurse and Activist

Early Life and Overcoming Challenges

Clotilda Adessa Coward was born in Whitney Pier, Nova Scotia. Her parents were Arthur and Lillian Coward. Growing up, her family faced unfair treatment because of their race. This is called discrimination. For example, her father lost his job at a steel plant because of this. Her sister also struggled to find work.

Education and First Achievements

In the early 1950s, Clotilda wanted to become a nurse. She applied to many nursing schools. However, she did not get accepted and was never told why. Clotilda thought that these schools were not ready to accept Black students then.

Despite these difficulties, Clotilda did not give up. In 1954, she achieved a major milestone. She became the first Black person to graduate from the Nova Scotia Hospital School of Nursing. Later, she continued her studies. She earned a special certificate in psychiatric nursing from the Nova Scotia Hospital. She also received a Diploma in Adult Education from Saint Francis Xavier University.

A Career of Care and Leadership

After becoming a qualified nurse, Clotilda Douglas started her career. She worked at the Nova Scotia Hospital. There, she was a Head Nurse in a unit that managed patient admissions and discharges.

Nursing Roles and Milestones

Soon after, Clotilda and her first husband, Benson Douglas, moved to Grenada, an island in the West Indies. In Grenada, she became a Director at a hospital that helped people with their mental health. While there, she also earned a special diploma in midwifery. This meant she could help mothers and babies during childbirth.

By 1967, Clotilda Douglas returned to Canada. She took a job as a Staff Nurse at the Sydney City Hospital.

Leading the Way in Nursing

A few years later, Clotilda made history again. She was elected as the first Black president of the Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia. This was a big achievement. However, she still faced discrimination. After she won, another candidate asked her to step aside. Clotilda bravely refused to give up her rightful position.

During this time, Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk also started the Black Community Development Organization (BCDO). This group helped provide homes for older people and families with lower incomes. She also worked hard to convince Cape Breton University to start a nursing degree program.

Clotilda retired in 1994. Her last role was as the director of education services at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney. She always stood up against prejudice. She remembered a time when a patient doubted her nursing skills just because of her skin color.

Fighting for Community and Environment

Clotilda noticed serious problems in her community of Whitney Pier. Many Black families lived near a steel plant. This plant caused air pollution and created "tar ponds." These environmental issues were making people in her community sick.

Protecting Her Community's Health

She realized that not many Black Canadians were involved in environmental protection. So, she joined the Sierra Club of Canada. This group works to protect the environment. Clotilda spoke up loudly about the pollution. She demanded that the government clean up the tar ponds.

Her strong efforts paid off. The government listened and provided money to clean up the polluted areas. Her work even led her to meet with important environmental leaders from Mexico and the United States.

Personal Journey and Legacy

After finishing nursing school, Clotilda met Benson T. Douglas. They married in 1955. Benson was from Grenada and had studied law at Dalhousie University. They had five children together: Carl, Valerie, Kendrick, Sharon, and Leslie.

Family Life

Later, Clotilda and Benson separated. Benson returned to Grenada and became a judge before he passed away in 1975.

In 1984, Clotilda married Dan Yakimchuk. They were married for 27 years until Dan's passing in 2011.

After she retired, Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She wanted to be closer to her family. She passed away in Halifax on April 15, 2021, at 89 years old. She died from COVID-19.

Recognitions and Awards

Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk received many important awards for her hard work and dedication:

• In 1991, she received the Harry Jerome Award for her achievements in culture and community.
• In 2003, she became a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors.
• In 2010, Cape Breton University gave her an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
• In 2018, she was made a Member of the Order of Nova Scotia.