It’s 1963. The Beatles released their first album. Bread cost 22 cents a load. Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister. And, a young nurse started what would turn out to be a 46-year career with Guelph General Hospital! Nancy Steele started as a student in the former GGH School of Nursing and became an employee upon graduation. Now employed for 43 years and counting, Nancy is GGH’s longest-standing staff member.

As you can imagine, Nancy has lots of stories to tell and has seen lots of changes.

She started her career in the Operating Room for three years and then worked in the Emergency Department. When she started, ‘Emerg’ was only two rooms and in the winter, snow blew in the back door. She recalls one particular night when the department was full with rowdy patients. The physician on duty (Dr. Andrew Maykut, now one of our anaesthetists) asked her to call the police and she called Switchboard with the request. A short time later, a priest arrived – switchboard had misheard the request! The priest stayed and helped calm things down.

It’s been a great journey. “I’ve never regretted my decision to be a nurse. I’ve had a super career," said Nancy, reflecting on her time at GGH.

For the last few years, Nancy has worked in our Day Surgery Department, part of a team caring for patients before and after their same-day surgical procedures.

When she’s not working, she’s enjoying her grandchildren, swimming, walking (you’ve probably seen Nancy on one of her long, long walks around town and not known it. In fact, my sons when they were young would call out as we passed her, “There’s nurse Nancy who walks.”). She also plays the flute at the Grade 8 Royal Conservatory level.

Nancy Steele – a senior member of the team of exceptional people here at GGH.