RNAO is profoundly saddened by the passing of nursing leader, past president and long-time member Charlotte Noesgaard on May 14.

As president of RNAO (1997-98), Charlotte put a lot of time, attention and hard work into promoting the baccalaureate degree as a requirement for entry-to-practice. In 2000, her hard work was recognized as the government announced that new registered nurses (RN) would require a baccalaureate degree beginning in 2005. The announcement highlighted the vast knowledge RNs require when entering practice in their role.

Charlotte also served as a co-chair of the expert panel for RNAO’s 2016 BPG Practice Education in Nursing and provided her knowledge and insight to enhance practice education for nursing students. In 2006, she received RNAO’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her long-standing and formidable contributions to the association.

Charlotte attended every Annual General Meeting (AGM) with her infectious laugh and positive outlook. She served as a parliamentarian for many years. The Waterloo Chapter was her grassroots home, and she always showed pride for the many initiatives the chapter led.

Charlotte will be dearly missed and will live in our hearts as a dedicated colleague, beloved friend, active RNAO leader, respected teacher and mentor who served the nursing community, fully and generously.

Along with her work at RNAO, Charlotte was a passionate and valued professor at Hamilton’s McMaster University School of Nursing. She spent one day each week accompanying students on their clinical placements in hospitals around Hamilton. Being a professor in both classroom and clinical settings was important to Charlotte. She said it gave her the opportunity to support “…students to be the type of nurse I would want to have looking after me or one of my family members.”

“Charlotte will be dearly missed and will live in our hearts as a dedicated colleague, beloved friend, active RNAO leader, respected teacher and mentor who served the nursing community, fully and generously,” says colleague and friend RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. RNAO extends its deepest condolences to Charlotte’s spouse Henrik Noesgaard, her children and extended family and friends. 

To learn more about Charlotte and her accomplishments, read her RN profile in the 2008 issue of RNJ (page 11). You can also visit the family’s obituary online. In partnership with Charlotte’s family, RNAO has created a scholarship in her memory. To contribute, please donate to The Charlotte Noesgaard Scholarship, RNFOO online.