Shelly Philip LaForest
Shelly Philip LaForest has been a Registered Nurse since 1999. Originally a diploma-trained nurse, Shelly returned to school to complete a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, a Master of Nursing Degree and is currently enrolled in an Interdisciplinary Social Research PhD program.
Drawing on her vast clinical expertise and joy of teaching and learning, Shelly has been an educator for over 14 years, having taught nursing students at the College and University level for various post-secondary institutions.
For many years, Shelly has actively volunteered with several community organizations. Some of her current roles are as an Executive Committee Board member for Epilepsy Ontario, and as a Data Review Committee member for the Ontario Brain Institute.
Shelly is also involved with not-for-profit initiatives that have been instrumental with strengthening the voice of Black Nurses and nursing students in various healthcare forums. In 2021, Shelly founded and is the Executive Director of the Ontario Black Nurses’ Network [OBNN] and is also the Founder and Administrator of the Black Nurses Leadership Program. Shelly is the Vice-President of the Pan-Canadian Association of Nurses of African Descent [PCANAD] and on the Advisory Board for the Black Healthcare Professionals Network.
For her volunteer work and various publications, Shelly was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2023 and is a nominee for the RBC Women of Influence Entrepreneurship Awards for 2024.
