RNFOO is pleased to congratulate Margaret Blastorah, RN, PhD, and Heather Jones on being named the Foundation’s 2026 Honorary Life Members. Both Margaret and Heather have made exceptional contributions to RNFOO and to the nursing community, and we were honoured to recognize them at this year’s Annual Gala.
Margaret Blastorah, RN, PhD has been a dedicated leader within RNFOO since joining the Board in 2020. She served in several leadership roles, including President from 2021 to 2024 and Past-President from 2024 to 2025, and contributed to the Finance, Gala, Awards, and Fund Development, Marketing and Communications Committees. She also supported RNFOO as a Review Panel member and founding donor of the Nurse Innovator Award.
During her presidency, Margaret provided thoughtful leadership and was a strong advocate for RNFOO’s fundraising initiatives, including Step Out for Nursing. Her contributions to nursing extend beyond RNFOO, with a distinguished career in clinical practice, research, education, leadership, and innovation. She has held senior roles at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Markham Stouffville Hospital and served as Assistant Professor and Director of the Graduate Program at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
Heather Jones has also made an extraordinary and lasting contribution to RNFOO. Heather began supporting the Foundation in 2011 and brought dedication, creativity, and a deep commitment to RNFOO’s mission to her work over many years.
Heather played a key role in strengthening the Foundation’s Annual Gala, fundraising initiatives, Awards and Scholarships program, and donor relations. She helped RNFOO successfully transition to a virtual Gala and online auction during the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented a new online awards application system, strengthened the reviewer process, and supported Board onboarding and governance initiatives.
Although Heather is not a nurse herself, her compassion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to nursing have earned her the deep appreciation of the nursing community. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on RNFOO and the nurses and nursing students supported by the Foundation.
RNFOO is deeply grateful to Margaret and Heather for their years of service, leadership, and dedication.
Congratulations, Margaret and Heather, and thank you for your remarkable contributions to RNFOO and to nursing!
