UPEI mourns passing of Founder and Founding Dean of Nursing Margaret Munro
The University of Prince Edward Island is mourning the passing of Dr. Margaret Munro, UPEI Founder and Founding Dean of the UPEI School of Nursing, now the UPEI Faculty of Nursing, on February 25, 2026.
Originally from Ontario, Dr. Munro began her career as a registered nurse and then moved on to the education of nurses. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1963, followed by a Master’s and a PhD degree in Education. She devoted her entire professional career to educating nurses, teaching at the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, and UPEI.
In 1990, she was seconded from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary to develop a nursing program at UPEI. As a result, the UPEI School of Nursing was established in 1992, led by Dr. Munro as Founding Dean. Under her leadership, the school transformed nursing education from the diploma to the baccalaureate level, making PEI the first province in Canada to adopt baccalaureate education as the exclusive entry-to-practice requirement for registered nurses.
Because of her vision, the school’s curriculum was the first in Canada to be developed based directly on the principles of primary health care. She and her faculty team developed the PEI Conceptual Model for Nursing: A Nursing Prospective of Primary Health Care. Her groundwork paved the way for a school rich in leadership, research, and partnership.
She was a strong advocate for nursing students, encouraging them to be critical thinkers and thoughtful practitioners. She enjoyed mentoring them and supported them through numerous awards and scholarships.
Dr. Munro served as dean of the UPEI School of Nursing until her retirement in 1997. In 2000, she wrote the book Forward in Faith: Establishing the School of Nursing at the University of Prince Edward Island, which tells the story of the creation of the nursing program. In 2011, she was named a Founder of the University for her vision of and contributions to nursing education at UPEI. In 2012, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The full obituary may be read here. The University extends condolences to Dr. Munro’s family, colleagues, former students, and friends.
