The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing community is remembering the life and legacy of Lillie Johnson, a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, who died in August 2025 at the age of 103.
This Black History Month, the Faculty honours Johnson’s legacy and impact as a Black nursing leader which has driven changes in the health system and nursing workforce, and has earned her countless awards and recognition, including the Order of Canada in 2024.
“It has been an honour for Bloomberg Nursing to have had Lillie Johnson as one of our most esteemed alumni and we are proud to recognize her incredible and lifelong work that has sought to improve public health and care delivery for countless populations across Ontario and Canada. Her many accomplishments are an example of true nursing leadership,” says Robyn Stremler, dean of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
Johnson was born in Jamaica in 1922 and arrived in Toronto in 1960, where she began working for the Victorian Order of Nurses. Her love of working in the community is something she says was inspired by her parents and her upbringing, and was one of the driving forces behind her decision to pursue a career in public health nursing.
Throughout her career, Johnson achieved significant milestones. She was the first Black Director of Public Health in Ontario, where she oversaw the Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark districts and in 1981, she founded the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario (SCAO).
The SCAO advocates for the needs of individuals with Sickle Cell disease, recognizing the health impact on members of the public. In 2005, the SCAO with Johnson at the helm, successfully lobbied for sickle cell disease to be included in newborn screenings across Ontario.
In 2008 she also co-founded the TAIBU Community Health Centre which provides culturally appropriate primary health care and related services to Black communities in the GTA. In 2011, she was recognized by Bloomberg Nursing with a distinguished alumni award for career championing improved health care for Black communities.
In addition to her public health achievements Johnson has been recognized by a variety of organizations for her impact on the health care system and community. In 2010 she received the Order of Ontario, and in 2015 was the torch bearer for the PanAmerican Games hosted in Toronto. In 2016 she was named a 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Honoree, and received the Long-term Care Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Long-term Care Association.
In late 2014, Johnson published her memoir entitled “My Dream,” which details her motivations and journey as a Black nursing leader and advocate for the health of all.