This is a February 9 article by Mélissa Généreux, Associate Professor, Faculty of medicine and health sciences, Université de Sherbrooke; Gabriel Blouin-Genest, Associate professor, School of applied politics, Scientific codirector, CIDIS (Centre interdisciplinaire de développement international en santé), Université de Sherbrooke; and Mathieu Roy, Professeur associé, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke.

This week RNAO celebrated Black History Month with the launch of the Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) final report. I invite you to visit RNAO’s In Focus webpage on Black Nurses and RNAO, which captures the comprehensive and challenging work that RNAO is doing, led by outstanding Black nursing leaders.

RNAO recognizes the continued importance of sharing stories and perspectives from the Black community and is celebrating Black History Month in February. This past year, RNAO has remained dedicated to its advocacy and work to bring awareness to and end anti-Black racism and discrimination, especially in the nursing profession. In partnership with its members, RNAO has made progress in addressing the systemic racism within nursing, as well as all health-care sectors and academic settings.

The rate of vaccination in the poorest countries remains dismal, and rich countries such as Canada continue to fail in their promises to help. The following is an October 22 CBC Radio article. The original article can be found here. It was written by Mehek Mazhar. Interview with Brittany Lambert produced by Katie Geleff.

Update: The Canadian government is appealing a Federal Court ruling that upheld a landmark Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling on Indigenous child welfare compensation.

A Q&A with Former Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco, a recap of RNAO’s 96th Annual General Meeting, the impact of being an RNAO member by President Morgan Hoffarth, our CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun's reflections on the evolution of our profession during COVID-19, and a profile on Aaliyah Hoo Kim-Baker, an RN who’s bringing a voice to marginalized populations. These are only a few of the many captivating stories in the latest issue of RNJ.

RNAO congratulates RoseAnne Archibald for her historic election as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. National Chief Archibald becomes the first woman to lead the Assembly.

On behalf of our 46,000 RNs, NPs and nursing student members, RNAO condemns the violent and fatal attack on the Afzaal family on June 6 in London, Ontario. Our members work to heal and save lives and, collectively, we are heartbroken by the loss of these precious lives and the injuries to their nine-year-old son. Such a despicable act of hate has no place in Canada or anywhere around the world and RNAO condemns – in the strongest terms – all acts of hate and terror.

As the vaccination rollout advances, the discussion on vaccine passports intensifies. This is a complex issue with no easy answers, and RNAO intends to address it in the months to come from a perspective of equity and health for all. The following is an introductory article by Yara M. Asi, Post-Doctoral Scholar, Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, originally published March 12.