In Memoriam: Glennis Zilm (BSN '58)

A proud and energetic member of the UBC School of Nursing Class of 1958, Ms. Zilm was woven into the fabric of the School of Nursing for more than six decades. As a member of that vibrant class, Ms. Zilm was instrumental in establishing the Nursing Class of 1958 Emergency Award to support undergraduate nursing students in emergency situations.

Her stellar service and leadership were recognized through Nursing’s Community Partnership Award (2015), the UBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal in 2016, the School’s Centenary Medal of Distinction (2019) and, in 2020, the UBC Alumni Builder Award. Additional recognition included the UBC Nursing Division Award of Distinction (2000), the John B. Neilson Spaulding Award in 2004 for the long-standing contribution to the history of health care in Canada, the UBC Blythe Eagles Volunteer Leadership Award in 2010, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Kwantlen University College in 2006.

Throughout her long association with the UBC School of Nursing, Ms. Zilm brought insight, commitment, and enthusiasm to every role she held. She taught as a Lecturer in 1984 and 1985, later served as an Adjunct Professor in 2005, and in 2006 was named an Honorary Professor. After her “retirement,” she remained engaged with the School and events. Many faculty and alumni remember with great fondness her appearances at BSN orientation, where she arrived dressed in historical nursing uniforms—an unforgettable way to welcome new students and to remind them that they were joining a profession with a rich and storied past.

Ms. Zilm was equally known for her skill as a writer, editor, and communicator. Holding credentials that spanned both nursing and journalism, including RN, BSN, BJ, and MA (Communications), she built a career that bridged the two fields for over 40 years. With Ethel Warbinek, Glennis co-authored Legacy: History of Nursing Education at the University of British Columbia, 1919–1994, an important text documenting the School’s founding and evolution. She also contributed significantly to Canadian health-care publishing, as assistant editor of The Canadian Nurse and as managing editor of the B.C. Medical Journal. She also worked as developmental editor for two nursing textbooks.

Her passion for nursing history extended well beyond the classroom. Ms. Zilm edited an award-winning newsletter for the BC History of Nursing Society, where she was a founding and Honorary Life Member, and also edited the newsletter for the History of Nursing Professional Practice Group of the Registered Nurses Association of B.C. (as it then was, now known as the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC). Through this work, she helped preserve and celebrate the stories that shaped the profession she loved.

She did not want a memorial service or remembrance ceremony, but we offer our sincere condolences to her family, and to all whose lives she touched. Glennis Zilm’s legacy as an educator, historian, storyteller, and proud alumna will continue to inspire the UBC School of Nursing community for years to come.