By Neil Armstrong
Centenarian Lillie Johnson — who based the Sickle Cell Affiliation of Ontario and can rejoice her 102nd birthday on March 16 — has been lauded for her advocacy for sickle cell illness in Ontario.
At a particular ceremony held at Extendicare Rouge Valley, the long-term care residence the place she lives in Scarborough, Ontario, on February 27, Johnson was invested into the Order of Canada by Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Studying the quotation to accompany the presentation of the insignia, Dr. Jim Lai, the aide-de camp of the lieutenant governor, famous that investitures into the Order of Canada normally happen at Rideau Corridor in Ottawa. Nonetheless, on the request of the governor normal this investiture was occurring in Scarborough.
“Nurse and educator, Lillie Johnson, is a devoted public well being advocate. Founding father of the Sickle Cell Affiliation of Ontario, she led the group for 4 many years encouraging larger understanding of the illness on the public and educational ranges, and efficiently lobbying for its inclusion in new child screening in Ontario. She has additionally been concerned within the improvement of specialised organizations to additional handle the well being wants of the Black neighborhood.
“By command of the Proper Honourable Mary Could Simon, Governor Common and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, Lillie Johnson of Scarborough is hereby invested as a Member of the Order of Canada.”
Johnson was born on March 16, 1922, in St. Ann, Jamaica, to folks who had been each lecturers. She was one among ten youngsters and after graduating from Wolmer’s Excessive College, she attended Shortwood Academics School, taught at varied faculties within the Nineteen Forties earlier than leaving for Edinburg, Scotland to grow to be a nurse within the Nineteen Fifties, after which went to England the place she studied midwifery and labored in Oxfordshire.
Johnson returned to Jamaica and labored on the College School of the West Indies for just a few years earlier than leaving to work as a nurse at Beth Israel Hospital in New Jersey. In 1960, she migrated to Canada to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital, then the Hospital for Sick Youngsters. She was the primary Black director of public well being in Canada.
Elaine Thompson mentioned she has identified her for a few years, from being her Mary Kay buyer to attending her well being briefings for CUSO, the worldwide improvement company for Canada, and being a board member of the Sickle Cell Affiliation of Ontario (SCAO), which Lillie Johnson based in 1981.
Legiston Ferron, nephew-in-law of Johnson, and niece Verna Robinson had been in attendance. Talking on behalf of the household, Ferron thanked everybody who attended the investiture and had a particular appreciation for the workers at Extendicare for “making this establishment a second house for our aunt during the last seven years or so.”
“I’ve usually mentioned that each household ought to have a Lillie Johnson for her tenacity, her robust opinions and she or he’s normally proper, and her softer sense of true caring, good humour and her means to mentor younger individuals and to have enjoyable on the acceptable time.”
Dr. Michael Guerriere, the president and chief government officer of Extendicare, mentioned they had been extraordinarily proud to have Johnson as one among their residents and congratulated her on the appointment and expressed how honoured they felt that she was being invested into the Order throughout Black Historical past Month. He famous that her ardour and pursuit of bettering well being care has modified numerous lives.
