News & Events

TORONTO, May 28, 2008 -- Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University, today announced that the University is naming its School of Nursing in honour of Daphne Cockwell, recognizing her family’s ongoing support for Ryerson and its Master Plan development.   Jack Cockwell, Group Chairman of Brookfield Asset Management, is a Member of the Ryerson University Board of Governors.  His family has made lifetime contributions of $11.5 million to the University, including a recent gift of $5 million directed to the School of Nursing. 

The Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing is named after Mr. Cockwell’s mother, who started her career as a nurse.  This is Canada's first university nursing school to be named for a nurse.  The family’s most recent gift will be used as capital funding towards a new facility for the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, which will be developed within the framework of Ryerson’s recently completed Master Plan.
 
“We are honoured to name the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, and to recognize her family’s ongoing commitment to Ryerson,” said President Sheldon Levy. "For more than 10 years, Jack Cockwell has made an invaluable contribution to the University through his commitment of time and overall leadership.   Ryerson students will benefit for many years to come as the University continues to build the facilities and space required to deliver our unique undergraduate and graduate programs.”

“Ryerson University is unlike any other Canadian university, with its career-focused approach to education, excellent academic standards, and highly relevant research,” said Mr. Cockwell, who emigrated from South Africa in the 1960s and quickly rose to prominence in the Canadian business community with his leadership at Brookfield and its predecessor companies, operating in the real estate, power generation and financial sectors.  “I am proud that its School of Nursing now bears my mother’s name.  The School’s students, faculty, staff and alumni are outstanding health-care professionals who share her pride in compassionate care of the highest standard.”

Ryerson University’s School of Nursing is Canada's largest undergraduate nursing program and a leader in Canadian nursing education. It offers an innovative curriculum and features community-based partnerships with health-care organizations.  In 2005 the School of Nursing also launched a successful master's program. 

Alan Shepard, the University’s Provost and Vice President Academic, announced today that the University is also creating a new University Chair in Nursing and a Distinguished Visiting Professorship in Nursing for the 2008-09 academic year.

“The naming of the School of Nursing signals Ryerson’s growing leadership in health sciences and health-related education,” said Usha George, Dean, Faculty of Community Services, in which the School of Nursing resides. 

“We are particularly proud that this is Canada’s first School of Nursing to be named after a nurse,” said Kileen Tucker Scott, Director, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing.  “The naming reflects our fundamental philosophy of graduating leading health-care practitioners with a deep, personal commitment to the wellbeing and care of their clients.”

Daphne Cockwell trained as a nurse in East London, South Africa in the 1930s, and later worked as a volunteer with veterans returning from the Second World War.  Now 93 years of age, she devotes her energies to horticulture and preserving the natural environment, including sponsoring nature trails along the southern coast of Africa.

Jack Cockwell is Group Chairman of Brookfield Asset Management. He was re-appointed to the Ryerson Board of Governors in 2005 and was appointed Vice Chair from 2006-07, having previously served on the Board from 1995 to 2001.  He serves in a voluntary capacity for a number of community organizations including as a Governor of the Royal Ontario Museum, and a Director of the C.D. Howe Institute and Waterfront Toronto Corporation.  He also Chaired the Building Fundraising Committee for The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University.

The Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Ryerson University is Canada’s largest undergraduate school of nursing. It also offers a Master of Nursing program and nursing education through The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education.

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in career-focused education, offering close to 90 PhD, master’s, and undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Communication & Design; the Faculty of Community Services; the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science; and the Ted Rogers School of Management Ryerson University has graduate and undergraduate enrolment of 25,000 students. With more than 64,000 registrations annually, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education.

-30-

For more information contact:
Janet Mowat
Director, Public Affairs
Ryerson University
Office: 416-979-5000 x 7002
jmowat@ryerson.ca