The History of JCAN
Rebranding the University Hospital of the West Indies Association to the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses (JCAN)
In 2013, UHWI Association rebranded its name to the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses (JCAN). The group wanted to expand their membership to other Jamaican nurses. A new board was elected, comprising, Sheryl Wedderburn, President, Hyacinth Robinson-Powell, Vice President; Millie Robb, Treasurer; Jackie Salmon, Secretary; Sheila Wallace, Director, Dr. Enid Collins, Director; Thelma Neale, Director, Tiney Beckles, Auvriel O’Connor.
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A significant milestone of the newly rebranded organization was when the organization obtained charity status with Canada Revenue Agency in 2014 with the privileges to conduct activities and purposes provincially (Canada) and internationally (Jamaica).
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JCAN continued to serve as a professional and social network for Jamaican Canadian nurses, offering support, mentorship, and educational opportunities to members. Abroad, JCAN continued its commitment to nurses in Jamaica, in honor of the UHWI Association’s pledge to give back to the country that nurtured their own nursing careers.
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JCAN earned recognition as a charity that cares about the health and well-being of black seniors, specifically those at risk for dementia. In 2015 JCAN joined forces with community partners to offer the “Not Forgotten Seniors' program. This program aimed at supporting Black seniors at risk of dementia or with early dementia who faced isolation, loneliness, and cultural barriers. It is through this program that JCAN developed a niche for culturally relevant programs for blacks, recognizing the impact that cultural familiarity has on an individual’s sense of belonging and quality of life. JCAN aspires to eventually own and operate a Long-Term Care Home for seniors that offers culturally relevant care.
Targeted fundraising for seniors’ care began in 2019 when JCAN launched its first charity campaign, “Walk, Run or Roll Fundraiser”. The campaign benefiting seniors living is an initiative that aims to position JCAN to purchase community space for ongoing seniors programming, as a stepping stone to owning and operating a long-term care home in the future that offers culturally appropriate care.
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The COVID-19 pandemic magnified the disparities in health for Blacks in Toronto. To address these disparities JCAN leadership recognized as a collective that Blacks and underserved populations need programs that promote health equity, address systemic racism, and provide adequate support and resources to communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. To respond to the shifting environment and urgent need to mobilize, JCAN needed a targeted approach to address these barriers for blacks and other underserved groups. With this in mind, there was recognition that the scope of the JCANs mission needed to change.
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With almost a decade of service under the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses Brand, the JCAN executive team in 2021 successfully hired their inaugural Executive Director, Dr. Claudette Holloway who now plays a critical role in providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of JCAN. In parallel, the succession of the executive and a new President, Jacqueline Chen with a new vision, positioned JCAN well to respond to the emerging needs of Blacks and underserved communities.
JCAN through its mission continues to amplify the importance of culturally relevant approaches when caring for these groups.
The History of JCAN
The UHWI Association was founded in 1985 by a UHWI graduate, Ms. Sybil Bent. Ms. Bent invited other UHWI graduates to join this Toronto-based organization. The UHWI association learned that the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica was in dire need of medical equipment, supplies, and necessities for patients. Driven by their desire to support the healthcare system in their country of birth, the group quickly mobilized to raise funds and seek donations of equipment and supplies to send to Jamaica. This initiative was the beginning of many fundraising efforts that resulted in donations of medical supplies, hospital beds, linen, computer equipment, and resources that were shipped to the hospital and University in Jamaica over a span of 26 years.
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In 2006, the University Hospital of the West Indies graduated the final group of nurses from the tuition-free diploma nursing program. The closure opened the door to the baccalaureate nursing program that was headed by Dr. Herman Hewitt at the University of the West Indies. This knowledge encouraged the UWHI association to set up a twenty-five thousand endowment fund at the university to support nursing students who demonstrated a financial need and good academic standing. Overall, the UHWI Association played an important role in supporting and empowering Jamaican nurses in Toronto and Jamaica. UHWI’s commitment to excellence, professionalism, and community service laid the foundation for the next generation of black nursing leaders.
"JCAN - Joint Coalition Addressing Needs" - An Organization Servicing Blacks and Underserved Populations
With almost a decade of service under the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses Brand, the JCAN executive team in 2021 successfully transformed the working Board of Directors into a governance board model with the hire of JCAN's inaugural Executive Director, Dr. Claudette Holloway who now plays a critical role in providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of JCAN. In parallel, the succession of the executive and a new President, Jacqueline Chen with a new vision, positioned JCAN well to respond to the emerging needs of Blacks and underserved populations. This charity, simply referred to as "JCAN - Joint Coalition Addressing Needs" is now an organization of like-minded individuals working together to impact the health and wellness of black and underserved populations. JCAN, through its mission, continues to amplify the importance of culturally relevant approaches when caring for these groups.