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Sister Elizabeth Veronica Matthews

Community:

Eskasoni

School:

St. Martha’s School of Nursing

Grad Year:

1961

Nursing Designation:

Honoring Sister Veronica Matthews: A Legacy of Compassion and Advocacy

Sister Veronica Matthews, a proud Mi’kmaw nurse from Eskasoni, Nova Scotia, dedicated her life to healing, advocating, and breaking barriers in healthcare for Indigenous communities.

A Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, she combined her deep faith with an unshakable commitment to improving healthcare access for her people.Her journey into nursing began in 1958, leading to a distinguished career defined by service and leadership. She earned her RN designation from St. Martha’s School of Nursing in 1961 and continued her studies in pediatric and psychiatric nursing, later obtaining a BScN from Dalhousie University.

Over the decades, Sister Veronica worked at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, St. Rita’s Hospital, and Eskasoni Community Health, where she saw firsthand the systemic challenges Indigenous patients faced.

Determined to create change, she worked tirelessly to remove barriers to care, founding the first certified Aboriginal Diabetic Clinic in Atlantic Canada. Through her work with the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, the Eskasoni Health Board, and Cancer Care Nova Scotia, she shaped policies that prioritized Indigenous voices in healthcare decision-making.

Sister Veronica was more than a nurse — she was a trailblazer, mentor, and fierce advocate for Indigenous healthcare reform. Her research on the work-life experiences of Aboriginal nurses in Atlantic Canada and her studies on neurological diseases affecting Indigenous women helped advance medical knowledge and improve healthcare strategies. Her dedication earned her numerous accolades, including the Cape Breton District Health Authority Leadership Award, the Atlantic Native Health Award, and the Chief Donald Marshall Senior Elder Award.

Despite her many achievements, she remained humble, always guided by her faith, culture, and a profound sense of justice. She saw her work as a calling, rooted in the belief that everyone deserved access to quality care, dignity, and respect.

Her impact continues to inspire Indigenous healthcare professionals and community leaders. Sister Veronica’s legacy lives on in the policies she helped shape, the programs she founded, and the countless lives she touched. She was not just a nurse—she was a healer, a teacher, and a force for change, leaving behind a path for future generations to follow.