Oxford County Public Health nurse receives province-wide special recognition award.
WOODSTOCK -- A local nurse is being recognized on a provincial level as this year's recipient of the Toronto Star's Nightingale Award.
This is the 13th year for the award which is handed out to a nurse that best embodies qualities of excellence, skill and dedication.
Oxford County Public Health Nurse Lisa Gillespie beat out 170 nominees province-wide .
"I've been a nurse for 21 years and I know that nurses do fabulous work but for the fact that a colleague of mine took the initiative to nominate me and say such wonderful things about me, I'm just completely blown away and honoured."
Gillespie says she received the call from the Toronto Star a few weeks ago.
"I think I was speechless. It was a great moment. Certainly a moment that I never expected to happen but I am so thrilled and honoured."
Gillespie was nominated for her work on the County's needle exchange program as well as leading in the implementation of a new provincial program aimed at preventing opioid-related overdoses.
"Basically it is aimed at people who are at risk for an opiate overdose and what the training does is to teach people how to prevent an overdose but also how to recognize an opiate overdose as well as how to respond to an opiate overdose and to give Naloxone."
Gillespie says the program started March 10 and so far she has trained 11 people with her goal for the year set at 20.
Gillespie says she will display the award on her mantle for at least a few weeks before finding a permanent place for it.

3rd Annual Running with the Bulls Shines
Mischief in Tillsonburg is Under Investigation
Upgrades Completed for Woodstock Disc Golf Course
OPP Enforcement for Civic Holiday Weekend
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Anthony Scalisi
Drug Trafficking Investigation Leads to Charges
EZT Candidate Profile - Don Chowan
Oxford County Requesting Public Input
Norwich Man Charged in Brant County
SPWH Wants You to Know Drinking Risks
Charges Laid after Truck Hits Bridge
Ingersoll Candidate Profile - Mike Tucker
Motorcyclist Killed in Oxford Collision
Tip Tuesday with the Oxford OPP - July 2026
Oxford OPP Briefs - July 28th, 2026
Cat Thrown from Vehicle in Norfolk County
Environment Canada Issues Yellow Watch for Thunderstorms
Oxford Mosquito Traps Tests Positive for West Nile
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Sandeep Sidhu
Comments
Add a comment