Fonds JR - Jackie Robarts fonds

Jacqueline “Jackie” Robarts was born in Windsor, Ontario in 1929, and spent much of her youth there and in Brantford, Ontario. She graduated from Hamilton Civic Hospitals School of Nursing in 1954. She also attended the University of Toronto, where she obtained a certificate in Nursing Education in 1956, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in 1961.

Robarts went on to become the Director of Nursing at Chatham Public General Hospital, where she oversaw the opening of a nurses’ education building in January 1964. When the Osler School of Nursing opened its doors in 1966, the Board appointed Robarts as the Principal of the School, a position she held until the School was absorbed by Humber College in 1973.

In 1974 Robarts was appointed the first woman Principal of the North, Osler, and Quo Vadis campuses of Humber College, a role she held until her appointment as Vice President of Academic at Humber in 1977.

In 1978 Robarts was appointed President of Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology, the first woman president of a Community College in Ontario. Robarts held that position until her retirement in 1990.

After her retirement, Robarts lived in Fonthill, Ontario with Marion Cameron, until Marion’s death in 2013.