Member of public elected president of body overseeing nurses

TORONTO, March 15, 2017 /CNW/ - For the first time in its 54-year history, the governing Council of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has chosen someone who is not a nurse to preside over its board. Dalton Burger, a practising lawyer and law professor, will assume the role of Council President in June.

As the regulator of nursing, CNO sets the standards the province's 160,000 nurses must meet to provide safe and ethical care, and holds nurses accountable to those standards. CNO's current governing Council (board) consists of 20 nurses who are elected by their colleagues and 15 members of the public who are appointed by the government.

Mr. Burger believes his election demonstrates the College's commitment to being leaders in ensuring the public is the focus of its work and decisions.

"There is strong collaboration between the nurse and public members who make up the Council," says Mr. Burger. "Having a member of the public in this position affirms the foresight the profession continues to show in its efforts to maintain trust and confidence in nurses. It demonstrates how well the public and 160,000 nurses in Ontario work together and the mutual respect they have."

Mr. Burger was elected to the role at Council's March meeting. He has been a public member of Council since 2014, serving on numerous committees, including those related to patient relations and investigations. He will hold the position of President for one year beginning June 7, 2017 when CNO's Council is next scheduled to meet. He will replace the current President, Megan Sloan.

Also elected to the Council's executive committee were:

Vice President (Registered Nurse)	Cheryl Evans
Vice President (Registered Practical Nurse)	Connie Manning
Other Members of the Executive	Cheryl Barnet (nurse member)
	Cathy Ward (public member)

More information about CNO and the work of Council is available at www.cno.org

SOURCE College of Nurses of Ontario

Questions should be directed to: Deborah Jones, Director, Communications, 416 928-0900 or toll-free in Canada 1 800 387-5526, Ext. 7609 E-mail: [email protected], 416-928-0900 ext. 7609