JACQUELINE PATRICIA ROBARTS

October 15, 1930 – November 9, 2025 Jacqueline Robarts was born in Windsor on October 15, 1930. She died on November 9, 2025, a few days after her 95th birthday at Royal Rose Place in Welland, Ontario. She was predeceased by her parents, Louis P. and Eva Robarts. Both parents died in the mid 1950s when Miss Robarts was in her twenties. Miss Robarts was a lifetime resident of Ontario and had lived in Fonthill, Ontario, since 1978. She was a private person whose gifts of vision, leadership and caring were freely and often quietly given. After completing her Secondary School education, Miss Robarts attended Moody Bible College in Chicago, Illinois. She was called home during her second year to attend to a family illness. This event was the beginning of her seventy years of caregiving. Miss Robarts completed her R.N. at Hamilton General Hospital's School of Nursing in 1954. She earned a Certificate in Nursing Education and her BScN., University of Toronto, Magnum Cum Laude, in 1961. She continued her interest in innovative programming at the Lawrence Bloomberg Facility of Nursing at the University. She continued her studies on a part time basis at O.I.S.E., University of Toronto. After beginning her nursing career in Nursing Services and Nursing Education at Hamilton General Hospital, Miss Robarts continued her career as the Director of Nursing Services and Director of Nursing Education at Chatham Public Hospital, Chatham, Ontario. She was the youngest Director of Nursing Education hired in Ontario. While in Chatham, Jackie was elected as the President of the RNAO's Kent Chapter. In 1965, Miss Robarts was appointed as the Founding Principal of the Osler School of Nursing in Toronto. In 1973, the Regional and remaining Hospital Schools of Nursing were integrated in the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario. She became the Director of the Osler Campus of Humber College and in 1974, she was appointed Vice-President, Academic, at Humber. This position included responsibility for three of the College Campuses, including Quo Vadis Nursing Education. In 1978, Miss Robarts became the President of Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology (NCAAT). She was the first woman President of a post secondary, public institution in the province. She was the longest serving woman President in the system, retiring from Niagara in 1990 after 12 years of service. In her position as President, she was elected as chair of the Council of Presidents, and continued to be a visible, and active role model. Miss Robarts had an exceptional ability to envision, develop and implement administrative models, some of which became benchmarks for the Ontario College System and beyond. Examples include; The Management Development Institute and the Teaching Effectively Programme. This latter programme became required instructional certification for all College professors teaching the Ontario System and beyond. Under her leadership, NCCAT designed and implemented International programming, including for post-secondary institutions in China. Management Development internships for post-secondary educators from China were also offered at NCAAT. There are many other such initiatives which remain as part of Miss Robarts' legacy. One is the outcome of many years of negotiations to provide for the transfer of credits from the College to the University sector. During her tenure as President of Niagara College, Miss Robarts was also appointed to a number of committees including the Council of Regents Steering Committee for Collective Bargaining, College Special Needs Committee and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities Advisory Committee on College System Effectiveness. Miss Robarts' retirement years, until the onset of one of the forms of dementia, were filled with volunteer activities. In 1996, the Ministry of Health established a system of Community Care Access Centres. In 1997, Miss Robarts was appointed to the Board of CCAC, Niagara. In 1999, she was elected to the Board of the Ontario Association of Community Care access Centres. Miss Robarts' gentle spirit responded to the needs of friends in her community, especially if she was able to use her nursing skills. She was a long time member of Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church in Fonthill. Serving on the Board of Managers, she became the first woman to be elected as Chair of the Board. In 2001, she was elected to convene and chair Kirk's Building Committee. Two additions to Kirk were successfully completed, with an emphasis on making Kirk accessible and providing a loving place for infants. If not attending to the work of these volunteer activities, Miss Robarts could be found working in the garden at her home. Her propensity for gardening is the source of many stories. If not resting from gardening, caring for an ill or recovering friend, tending to the care of her two little poodles, who were in charge of one corner of her life, Miss Robarts could be found reading one of the newest of novels. At the request of the Recreation Therapy programme at Niagara College, she learned the skill of communicating via Zoom. Graduating students were able to interview her about her life, especially as the first woman President. These interviews were used as part of a presentation at the International Conference on Aging and have been used as a teaching resource for students learning about the impact of dementia. In her latter years Miss Robarts gradually became wheelchair dependent, requiring 24/7 personal care. As her life closed, unable to speak or eat, she remained gracious, ofttimes offering what seemed to be a "thank you" to her caregivers of the time. Jacqueline Robarts was a community builder, through her chosen vocation and profession and through her faith. She always saw the possibilities, rather than the challenges. She gave freely of her wisdom and life experiences to others. Her faith, positivity and stewardship were immensely valued by all whose lives she touched. Jackie lived her faith. It was her wish that she leave a legacy which will provide support for students in a Health Science programme at NCAAT. A Journey of Remembrance will be held at Pelham Funeral Home, 1292 Pelham Street, Fonthill, Ontario, on Saturday, November 22nd, at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at the Fonthill Legion, Branch #613, 141 Hwy. 20 E., Fonthill, Ontario. A private interment will happen on a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the JACQUELINE P. ROBARTS SCHOLARSHIP, Niagara College, in support of women nursing students. Contributions can be made online at: donate.niagaracollege.ca, or by cheque payable to: Niagara College (135 Taylor Road, NCBC Suite 303, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0). Condolences can be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca.