The Story of the First Graduating Class of Certified Nursing Assistants in Saskatchewan In 1946 the Saskatchewan Government set up a class to mainly train ex service women. The class was to be in Regina with twelve people enrolled. However, since living accommodations were hard to come by at that time, the class was moved to Maple Creek. Since the hospital in Maple Creek had recently burnt down at that time, the Board took over what had been the Military Hospital. Parts of the hospital were not being used, so they were quickly turned into classrooms and a dormitory. On October 15, 1946, twelve young ladies arrived in Maple Creek to start their training with Miss L. Marie Young, an ex army nurse. Two of them soon quit, leaving ten to complete the course. According to Mrs. Audrey Hopkins, these ladies became like sisters and to this day still remain close. They graduated in May 1947 – 65 years ago. Four of these ladies are still with us today, enjoying retirement. Despite the distance between the four, they still talk on the phone on a regular basis.
Graduating Class of 1947 (left to right)
Kay Dack , Audrey (Gasser) Hopkins, Pearl (Owen) Kriwoken, Norma (Gust) Henderson, Ann (Leslie) Morrison, Miss L. Marie Young, Helen (Rudd) Briggs, Marie (Schaeffer) Helmer, Margaret (McKnight) Wadsworth Missing: Doris (Heath) Walker, Lil (Mcdonell) Coulliard
Graduating Class of 1947 Picture taken in May 2007 (left to right) Pearl (Owen) Kriwoken, Ann (Leslie) Morrison, Doris (Heath) Walker, Audrey (Gasser) Hopkins
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