On Saturday March 15, the Ontario Nursing Games once an annual event, returned for the first time since 2019 after being forced to pause due to the COVID19 pandemic. The student-led event brought together nursing students from colleges and universities across Ontario, providing a unique opportunity for future nurses to network with one another, expand their clinical skills in a friendly, competitive environment, and ultimately have fun.
Jade Gracey, the lead organizer of the 2025 games which were hosted at the University of Toronto’s Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, was determined to create an event that celebrated the hard work, dedication and camaraderie within the nursing student community. Alongside her 26-member planning committee, Gracey worked to reinvigorate the return of a much-loved event and make a meaningful impact on the nursing student community.
“There was a sense of excitement at being able to host the games for the first time in five years here at U of T and I think it really solidified for many of us our professional relationships and friendships with another,” says Gracey.
The day began with an opening ceremony welcoming the teams followed by a prize-worthy cheer off featuring signature and unforgettable moves as teams fought to win this first challenge of the day. Along with two teams from the University of Toronto, participants included three teams from McMaster University, the University of Ottawa, Laurentian University, Georgian College, University of Windsor, Brock University, York University and Nipissing University.
“It’s wonderful to see the return of the Nursing Games this year. This event not only celebrates the nursing profession but also highlights our students’ nursing knowledge and clinical skills,” says Heather Thomson, Director of the undergraduate program and an assistant professor teaching stream. “Most importantly, the Nursing Games offer a chance for students to have some fun while building a strong sense of community and camaraderie among future colleagues across Ontario.”
The teams competed throughout the rest of the day in a series of challenges. The first took place in the Health Sciences Building and Bloomberg Nursing’s Simulation Lab, where teams rotated through a series of tasks including, determining errors in a patient’s care, finding an accurate heart rate and pulse in under a minute, lobbing an inflated medical glove without it touching the ground, and the most challenging of them all, saving lives during an intense CPR challenge.
Teams also participated in athletic challenges at Hart House, a chance to let off some steam and have a good laugh, with dodgeball, relays, and some three-legged races.
While competing the students, who come from a range of experiences and programs, were able to refresh their knowledge in clinical learning, and life saving practices all while earning enough points to claim victory over the various challenges. The day ended with the overall win going to the team from Nipissing University.
“My team and I wanted to be here, because we felt it was a great way to make our university known, represent our nursing society, meet fellow nurses, network, and get to know what our future is going to look like,” says Lacey Sisson, the team captain for Nipissing University.
Networking was a huge draw for the event, with most of the teams eager to speak to their peers from different institutions and learn more about everyone’s different experiences and the opportunities available in clinical practice across the province.
For Gracey and the U of T Nursing Undergraduate Society, it was a successful event that allowed students to take a break from their busy schedules and clinical rotations.
“I believe it was important for us to have this event, because we were able to foster a sense of community and encourage the building of valuable, professional relationships,” says Gracey. “These connections can be invaluable for future collaborations, mentorship and career opportunities, and a chance to interact with peers who may later become our colleagues. It is a chance to set-us up for success in the nursing workforce.”