Sixth Annual Nursing Now Ontario Awards Celebrate Outstanding Nurses

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Three exceptional nurses, celebrated for their unwavering dedication to improving peoples’ lives and advancing Ontario’s health-care system, will be honoured at the sixth annual Nursing Now Ontario Awards (NNOA). These prestigious awards recognize excellence in nursing across three categories: nurse practitioner (NP), registered nurse (RN), and registered practical nurse (RPN).

Aligned with National Nursing Week (May 12-18, 2025), the awards spotlight the critical role Ontario’s nurses play in delivering exceptional care while supporting the global goals of the Nursing Now campaign—a movement aimed at enhancing health worldwide through the power of nursing.

Presented by two leading professional nursing organizations—the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN) and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)—the NNOA highlight outstanding contributions to the profession. This year’s winners were selected from more than 100 nominations by a distinguished panel of nurses. Each honouree exemplifies excellence in professional standards, clinical expertise, and compassionate care.

While countless nurses across Ontario have demonstrated extraordinary contributions to health care, these three individuals were chosen for their remarkable leadership, dedication and commitment to advancing nursing practice and the wellbeing of Ontarians.

Join us in celebrating the winners of the 2025 NNOA at a virtual ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET.

What: Sixth annual Nursing Now Ontario Awards ceremony

When: Friday, May 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET

Who:

Award recipients

• Amy Horton, nurse practitioner (NP)
• Rodolfo Lastimosa Jr., registered nurse (RN)
• Quinn (Luzenia) Uy, registered practical nurse (RPN)

Presenters

• Angela Corneil, president, WeRPN Board of Directors
• NP Lhamo Dolkar, president, RNAO

Where/How: Virtual ceremony held via Zoom. Please register online. Reporters are welcome to attend and are encouraged to reach out to one of the contacts below to interview award recipients.

About the Nursing Now Ontario Awards

The Nursing Now Ontario Awards celebrate the dedication and achievements of nurses across the province. These awards honour the extraordinary work of NPs, RNs, and RPNs who go beyond expectations to improve the lives of Ontarians and shape health care in Ontario.

Quotes

"Each year, the Nursing Now Ontario Awards give us the opportunity to recognize the outstanding impact of RPNs, RNs, and NPs who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care," says Dianne Martin, CEO of WeRPN. "The 2025 winners exemplify the highest standards of dedication, skill, and leadership, making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and communities. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and to champion the invaluable contributions of all nurses across Ontario."

“RNAO congratulates this year’s Nursing Now Ontario Awards’ recipients, whose actions and commitment to the profession and Ontario’s health system is exceptional,” says RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. “The NP, RN and RPN winners have all gone above and beyond to provide expert and compassionate care, foster collaborative working environments and expand their nursing knowledge. We stand tall with them for their superb contributions and look forward to celebrating their achievements – as well as the collective impact of all nurses – during the awards ceremony and Nursing Week.”

About us

WeRPN is the professional voice of Ontario's 60,000+ Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs). WeRPN builds the profile and professional capacity of RPNs so they can better care for patients and better support their fellow health-care workers. For more information about WeRPN, visit werpn.com and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public we serve. For more information about RNAO, visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.