Victorian Order of Nurses (Middlesex-Elgin Community Corporation)

The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Middlesex-Elgin Community Corporation is part of a larger charitable organization known as the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Canada. VON Canada is a national, nonprofit community health organization dedicated to providing nursing care in the home, particularly for the elderly and the chronically ill.

History of VON Canada

The Victorian Order of Nurses was founded on January 29, 1897, by Lady Aberdeen as a tribute to Queen Victoria during her Diamond Jubilee. Its initial goal was to provide visiting nursing services to districts without access to medical facilities and to establish cottage hospitals in isolated areas. Over time, VON set up numerous cottage hospitals across Canada, with responsibility for running these institutions eventually being transferred to local community groups. The last VON-operated hospital was passed to local control in 1924[5].

Evolution and Services

VON Canada has been at the forefront of community and home care, offering services such as well-baby clinics, school health services, and coordinated home care programs[1]. It established the first Canadian training homes for public health nurses and set a national standard for visiting nurse services[4]. Today, VON focuses on providing a wide range of community-based services, including home-based palliative care, adult day programs, foot care clinics, respite care, and primary health care clinics[5].

Structured Operations and Impact

As of 2005, VON Canada had a staff of over 7,000 and more than 14,000 volunteers, making it the largest single national home care organization in Canada at that time[3]. Local branches operate under volunteer boards to tailor services to community needs. However, due to funding challenges, VON closed operations outside of Ontario and Nova Scotia in 2015[3]. VON Canada continues to play a significant role in Canadian health care, supporting over a million Canadians annually[5].

Historical Recognition

In 1997, the Victorian Order of Nurses was designated as a national historic event, recognizing its significant contributions to Canadian public health[4]. This recognition underscores the organization's enduring impact on the lives of Canadians, particularly those in remote or underserved areas.

Business Registration

The Middlesex-Elgin Community Corporation is registered under the Business Registration Number 137508057RR0001.

Role in the Community

VON's ongoing commitment to community health and its history of innovation in nursing care highlight its importance in shaping Canada's healthcare landscape. Through its broad range of services and community engagement, VON continues to support vulnerable populations across the regions it serves.