Dr. Strang Receives First "Dr. Strang Award"
Nova Scotia has created a new award to honour healthcare professionals for exceptional service in trying times.
The award is named after Dr. Robert Strang and he is also its first recipient.
The Dr. Robert Strang Mayflower Award for Healthcare Professionals will recognize those who, like its namesake, demonstrate outstanding strength, perseverance, and courage in delivering frontline healthcare in challenging circumstances.
Premier Tim Houston said, “We all looked to Dr. Strang for guidance and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic — and he always showed up for us, even on the most challenging days.” Houston added, “Dr. Strang's unwavering commitment to protecting the public's health made Nova Scotia among the safest places to live during the pandemic. But he was always the first to say he is simply the voice of an entire team.”
The reference to the Mayflower — Nova Scotia’s official flower — notes the flower blooms even in adverse conditions.
Beginning in 2023, the Dr. Robert Strang Mayflower Award for Healthcare Professionals will be awarded annually in May to as many as five people.
All frontline healthcare workers are eligible, including nurses, doctors, paramedics, continuing care assistants, and pharmacists. They can be full or part-time, casual, temporary, or permanent, new to the field, or with many years of experience.
Each of the mayflower's five petals on the award represents the values Dr. Strang demonstrated each day during the pandemic: commitment to protecting public health; courage of conviction needed to make difficult but necessary decisions; and the 'three Cs' he spoke of so often — caring, compassion, and community.
Dr. Strang said, “I am truly humbled to receive this award today.” He quickly added, “I accept it on behalf of the many skilled and dedicated professionals who worked just as hard, faced just as many challenges, and showed up each day to protect the health of all Nova Scotians. It has not always been easy, but it has been a pleasure and a privilege and it's one I will never forget.”
The photo shows Premier Houston presenting the award, joined by former premiers Iain Rankin and Stephen McNeil who also worked closely with Dr. Strang during the pandemic.
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