Lifetime Achievment Award Recipients
Honorary Lifetime Members
CPCNA recognizes members of CPCNA who have made tremendous contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing.by awarding them the CPCNA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Recipients of this award are nurses who dedicated their careers to supporting and developing quality palliative care nursing practice in order to further support optimal palliative patient care. These individuals were integral in developing a network of nurses with a shared interest in advocating for and providing palliative care for all persons in Canada.
2026 Life Time Achievement Recipient
David Kenneth Wright PhD, RN, CHPCN(C)
Quebec
David lives in Québec and practices in Ontario. He is a passionate nurse, educator, researcher and respected international leader in promoting excellence in palliative care. He served on the board of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Nurses’ Group (CHPCNG) from 2018 to 2020, then helped to establish the new CPCNA, serving on its inaugural board from 2021 to 2025 as the Director of Research. He has served as an expert consultant to CNA, on multiple initiatives relating to palliative and end-of-life care, and for the last decade has helped plan and organize the Montreal International Palliative Care Congress.
David is a Full Professor of Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, spending time between Ottawa and Montreal through the years in both clinical and academic capacities. He holds a PhD in Nursing from the University of Ottawa and completed post-doctoral work in Biomedical Ethics at McGill. Providing bedside palliative care has informed his context for teaching and research. He is the academic lead and founder of the Palliative Care and Nursing Ethics Hub out of Ottawa, where scholars, clinicians and students engage with the ethical and relational dimensions of care.
As a scholar, David has built an influential program of research that has reshaped how we understand moral identity, medical assistance in dying, grief, inclusive care for LGBTQ2S+ communities and relational ethics in palliative care. Always attentive to the voice of nurses, his national work on palliative care nurses’ experiences with MAiD has given language to the tensions many carried in silence. His qualitative research on nurses’ experiences during COVID-19 visitor restrictions continues to inform practice and policy conversations to this day.
David has published widely and trained dozens of graduate students, truly shaping palliative care nursing practice across Canada. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, most notably being recognized in 2020 by St. Christopher’s Hospice in the U.K. as a global Nurse Pioneer for shaping palliative care worldwide.
His CV is extensive, yet colleagues and students speak most sincerely to the person David is. “David’s work advances how we come to know, care for, and be with one another, particularly in moments of vulnerability. This is not just what he studies, but how he lives and works every day. David meets others with openness, humility, and genuine curiosity. His stories – drawn from experiences of love, friendship, loss, and his clinical practice – are the very foundation of his identity as a nurse and scholar.” “David brings incredible joy to his work and to the lives of those he works with. We come away from conversations with him feeling more hopeful, more capable, and more grounded in our own work.”
The CPCNA is truly honoured to present Dr. David Kenneth Wright with this prestigious recognition for his lifetime of promoting excellence in nursing and in palliative care. He truly exemplifies the principles of CPCNA, helping patients, colleagues, and students, to ‘Live Well, Die Well and Nurse Well’.
Past Recipients
Coby Tschanz RN, PhD, CHPCN(c)
British Columbia
Awarded in 2025
Coby lives in British Columbia, and is a passionate nurse, educator, consultant, researcher and respected leader in promoting excellence in palliative care. She was an active member of the CHPCNG for many years, serving on the Board and helping to develop national Palliative Care Nursing Standards. Coby was present at CPCNA’s founding in 2021, and has remained an involved member, particularly supporting ongoing education and professional practice initiatives.
Although her nursing career began in Calgary, Coby eventually moved to Victoria BC, establishing her long association with the Victoria Hospice Society. For more than thirty years, she has served in a variety of inpatient settings, and been an integral part of the Victoria Hospice Palliative Response Team.
A true leader and mentor who is dedicated to lifelong learning, Coby holds a PhD in nursing from the University of Victoria. Dr. Tschanz is a respected scholar and nursing professor at UVic, who continues to work as an on-call palliative nurse consultant with Community Health Services. She has several publications, and speaks to audiences locally and nationally, in areas related to nursing and palliative care.
Her colleagues speak highly of her deep passion for the human side of nursing. “A collaborator by nature, Coby seeks input from patients, families, and teammates including nurses, physicians, counsellors, volunteers, and health care assistants. Patients and families appreciate her calm, respectful approach and exceptional listening skills. In clinical settings, Coby integrates her love of education and research, helping stimulate colleagues to ask new questions, review research, and reflect on their practice.”
Coby actively participates in scholarly projects at Victoria Hospice, Island Health and UVic, and envisions integrating university and hospice palliative care environments to strengthen both communities. “She is a role model for the integration of clinical and academic excellence, and for bringing her full, authentic self into whatever role she takes on. She continues to inspire and transform the way we conceptualize and enact palliative nursing care, from one human to another.”
Jeanne Weis RN, MN,LPN,CHPCN(C)
Alberta
Awarded in 2024
Jeanne began her career as a Health Care Aide and has over 24 years experience as a professional nurse, holding specialization in palliative care. As a palliative nurse, Jeanne nursed in tertiary care, case management, community care, oncology, research, education, and leadership. Jeanne’s knowledge of governance was integral in launching the CPCNA where she served with the board until 2021. Jeanne has led significant nursing initiatives at a local, provincial, national, and international level that have contributed to supporting competent nursing practice, research, education, and regulation.
Despite her many achievements, Jeanne remains humble and steadfast in her commitment to advancing palliative care. We thank Jeanne for her dedication and wisdom. She is truly an inspiration to all and well-deserved recipient of the CPCNA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kath Murray
British Columbia
Awarded in 2023
Kath is a passionate nurse, educator, author, advocate, consultant, and internationally respected leader in promoting excellence in palliative care. She was an active member of the CHPCA Nurse’s Group for many years, and served on the inaugural board for the CPCNA from 2020 to 2022. She played an integral role in launching CPCNA, and continues to be an active member and volunteer. Kath began her career in 1988 at Victoria Hospice and early on developed a dedication to educating and supporting others. After many year of facilitating workshops, she founded Life and Death Matters (LDM) in 2005. She has advocated in particular for Personal Support Workers, and over almost 20 years, has worked with colleges and universities across Canada to assist educators to develop curriculum and strengthen palliative care competencies. In addition to working with Canadian health authorities and associations, her material has been adapted for Nepal, Mexico and in the US. She truly exemplifies the principles of CPCNA and has helped us all Live Well, Die Well and Nurse Well.
Julia Johnston
Ontario
Awarded in 2022
Julia has been a nurse specialist, educator, researcher, advocate, leader, consultant and nurse practitioner who has contributed to the growth and development of Hospice and Palliative care capacity building and who was a pioneer for the development of hospice palliative care nursing and palliative nurse practitioners in Ontario and across Canada. She is an expert in programme development and built standards of practice in the field of palliative care that are used nationally and globally. Julia has been very actively involved in the development of a recognized hospice palliative care nursing association in Canada and was a driving force in the establishment of CPCNA becoming a standalone national nursing association. In addition she was actively involved in its incorporation, including writing bylaws, policies and all documents required for incorporation.
Laurie Anne O'Brien RN
Newfoundland/ Labrador
Awarded in 2018 (CHPCNG)
Laurie Anne is well known as one of the passionate pioneers of hospice palliative care since the 1970s. In her palliative care practice of over 40 years she has worked in various roles as manager, consultant, clinician, educator, advisor and advocate. Laurie Ann is also a respected and dedicated leader, colleague, mentor, teacher, trainer and volunteer. She has made significant contributions to hospice and palliative care nursing in each of these realms locally, provincially, and nationally.
Judy Simpson RN
Nova Scotia
Awarded in 2016 (CHPCNG)
Judy Simpson’s nursing career spans more than forty years and consists of diverse roles, including staff nurse, educator, administrator, mentor, consultant and volunteer – most of which were devoted to the advancement of palliative care nursing in Canada. She has a strong background in interprofessional education, developing, leading and evaluating projects and has co-authored standards, competencies and practice guidelines. Judy’s accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honours and awards.