SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two Yellowknife nurses are among 100 registered nurses being honoured with the Canadian Nurses Association's Centennial Award.

Marnie Bell and Barb Round received the award on May 12. Round retired in March 2007, and now lives in Campbell River, B.C., with her husband.

Barb Round, left, is seen here donating a quilt to Dayle Handy with the Bailey House Project on May 23, 2007. Round has been honored with a Canadian Nurses Association Centennial Award. - NNSL file photo

In Yellowknife she worked as a family life education co-ordinator.

She was an occupational health nurse with the Workers' Compensation Board, held a health outreach position with Yellowknife Health and Social Services and was the nursing recruitment and retention consultant for the Government of the Northwest Territories.

She was also the executive director of the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. She is completing a certificate program in third-party mediation.

"I've tried it all and had a really good time doing it," said Round, "I can't tell you what a huge honour it is ... the company I'm in ... many of them I know and have looked up to for years."

Bell joined the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services in 1989.

She provided administrative leadership in nursing through the development of several territorial guidelines in standards, nursing administration, core program standards and clinical practice.

Bell contributed to nursing education and a nurse mentorship program. Her volunteer work includes chairing the registration committee of the Registered Nurses Association of Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Both Northern winners of the Centennial Award were nominated by members of the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The Centennial Award coincides with the centennial year of the Canadian Nurses Association, which began in 1908.

The Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut was established in 1975.

It registers nurses, promotes the standards of nursing practice and education and is involved in issues related to professional conduct.