| description: | Mary Ellen Birtles O.B.E. Born In Hepworth, England In 1858. Graduated In 1889 From The First Class At The Winnipeg General Hospital. After Graduation, Worked For A Few Months In A Small Hospital In North Dakota. In 1890, She Went To Work In A Newly Built Hospital In Medicine Hat, Nwt. Following This Appointment, She Served At A New Hospital Which Opened In 1892 In Brandon, Mb. Next Move Was Taking Charge Of A New Hospital In Calgary In 1894, Where She Established The First Training School For Nurses. In 1898, She Returned To Manitoba Where She Was Matron Of The Brandon General Hospital, And Remained There Until She Retired On August, 31, 1919. In 1935 She Received The Order Of The British Empire From The Right Honourable The Lord Tweedsmuir. She Died On June 22, 1943 After A Long Illness |