Black History Month: Celebrating Marilyn Todd

February is Black History Month in Canada. Women’s College Hospital and Women’s College Hospital Foundation are recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Black Canadian trailblazers who have made meaningful contributions to our hospital and to our community.

Marilyn Todd was the first Black student nurse to be voted Valedictorian at the WCH School of Nursing in 1958.

Todd began her nursing career at WCH. Over the next four decades, she worked as a nurse in orthopaedics, urology, and was a Team Leader in surgery. In 1970 she was recruited to join the newly built York-Finch Hospital where she directed its Employee Education program until her retirement in 1997. Throughout her nursing career, Todd was also an active member of the Ontario Nurses’ Association and held a position on its executive committee.

In honour of Black History Month, we share and celebrate the achievements of Marilyn Todd who for over four decades was a caring and compassionate leader in the field of nursing.

To learn more about the history of Women’s College Hospital, visit The Miss Margaret Robins Archives of Women’s College Hospital.