A passionate and dedicated advocate for street-involved, homeless youth, this year’s registered nurse (RN) recipient of the third-annual Nursing Now Ontario Awards is Marisa Bannavong.
With much compassion and excellence, Marisa has consistently demonstrated care to street-involved youth and their children at the Yonge Street Mission in Toronto. For more than nine years, she has continued to maintain strong relationships with youth from the clinic’s previous location on Yonge Street to a new one on Spadina Avenue. Marisa initially started as a volunteer foot care nurse at Evergreen Health Centre providing high quality and tender care to the feet that have walked in places we hope we never have to go. It was here that she found her calling and passion for community care. She now runs the popular foot clinic service for youth alongside dedicated volunteer nurses. She frequently can be found meeting and engaging with youth from all walks of life at the Evergreen Centre.
During the pandemic, while many were working from home or were unable to come onsite, Marisa continued to faithfully be in the Health Centre, available for youth whenever the government allowed them to be open. Sometimes, she was the only health professional that youth could access without going to an Emergency Department.
Untiring in her efforts, Marisa’s colleagues have called her “the glue that holds the health centre together” and the “backbone” of the centre. She collaboratively works with many various health-care professionals including nurse practitioners, physicians, social workers, and therapists, most of whom are volunteers. She welcomes them and encourages youth to see them to improve their overall health. Marisa is a true team player and can work well with all.
Marisa’s gentle and professional care to some of the most marginalized in Toronto is a true testament to her strong sense of justice, fairness, excellence and compassion.
The recipient of 2022's RN category in the Nursing Now Ontario Awards is Marisa Bannavong.
