CARE Centre 25th Anniversary
CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) celebrated the organization’s 25th anniversary on October 20th in a gathering of nursing leaders, former and current staff, past and present board members, previous executive directors, employer and education partners, representatives from professional associations, past winners of the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards, and graduate IENs who completed our program and obtained their nursing licensure in Ontario.
Stephanie Tuurngaq, an Inuk nurse from Iglulik, Nunavut who delivers workshops for CARE Centre, opened the evening with a recorded Qulliq Lighting Ceremony.
The event continued with a greeting from Ontario’s Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice and Assistant Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Karima Velji, joining virtually, who shared the encouraging statistic that IENs now make up 30 percent of Ontario’s nursing workforce.
CARE Centre Board Chair Lesley Hirst also spoke on Zoom, noting that both she and Executive Director Rola El Moubadder are both IENs, a leadership first in CARE Centre’s 25-year history. Lesley also noted many milestones for the organization including that the Pre-Arrival and Post-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) program, celebrating 10 years of service, now assists IENs across all provinces and territories.
“As an IEN myself, who went through the CARE Centre program to achieve registration, I am forever grateful to the amazing staff, many of whom have been with us for well over a decade,” said Executive Director Rola El Moubadder.
“We have also benefitted from dedicated board members who give freely of their time and expertise to support the organization. We like to say, ‘Teamwork Makes the Dream Work,’ and I am humbled by the talent and commitment that surrounds our member IENs.”
— Rola El Moubadder, Executive Director, CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses
Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Leigh Chapman, attended in person, congratulating CARE Centre on its many achievements, and cutting the ceremonial cake with Board Member and Vice Chair David Kilburn, and previous and current Executive Directors Dr. Ruth Lee and Rola El Moubadder.
Representing the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care, Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket-Aurora and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, spoke about visiting long-term care homes in the province, and recognizing IENs for their important contributions to the sector.
After dinner, attendees were treated to a rousing performance by the Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Own) with kilts, pipes and drums. The photo booth in the hotel lobby was popular throughout the evening.
The next section of the evening’s program congratulated all 340 graduates who registered as RPNs or RNs in the preceding period. Valediction Tarsila Da Cruz spoke about her challenging journey to registration, and her current role as Manager of Library Services and the Canadian Simulation Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
CARE Centre took the opportunity to recognize the 15th anniversary of the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards, with several previous winners in attendance or joining virtually. The 2026 IEN of the Year, Raymund Mendoza, was also present and will receive his award at his employer Toronto General Hospital later in the year.
Next, the Mentor Award of Excellence was presented to Anita Damjee, who spoke about her own IEN journey and giving back to other nurses. Anita also works at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where she currently serves as an Advanced Practice Nurse in Hemodialysis, along with mentoring CARE Centre members.
The Mentor Award of Excellence for the PASS program was bestowed on Fey Villacampa and accepted on her behalf by PASS Program Manager Meghan Wankel.
Three nursing professional associations finished the evening, with speeches from Canadian Nurses Association President Dr. Tracie Risling, who shared anniversary congratulations by video; Director of Professional Practice Norma Tomlin speaking about the benefits of joining WeRPN, the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, and the Past President of RNAO, Lhamo Dolkar, promoting membership and activities with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
