Executive Director Joyce Kristjansson Announces Retirement

After more than 50 years in nursing and health-care leadership across Canada, Joyce Kristjansson RN, has announced her retirement as Executive Director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM). The ARNM Board of Directors has initiated a search for the Association’s next Executive Director.

Joyce’s career has spanned clinical practice, research, education, and executive leadership. Her clinical work focused on older adults and individuals living with disabilities, and her leadership experience has taken her to rural, northern, and urban communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Throughout her career, Joyce has been recognized for her thoughtful leadership, principled advocacy, and deep commitment to advancing the nursing profession.

Joyce joined the ARNM Board of Directors in 2020 and was appointed Executive Director in 2022. During her tenure, she has helped guide the Association through a dynamic period for nursing in Manitoba - strengthening advocacy efforts, supporting professional development opportunities, and continuing to elevate the voice of regulated nurses across the province.

In reflecting on her decision, Joyce shared:

“As I approach a milestone birthday later this year, I have decided it is time to retire and have asked the ARNM Board to begin a search for a new Executive Director. This is an exciting and challenging time for our Association as we work to showcase the profession and support the health of Manitobans. Health is not just the absence of illness, it is also about living in a world that supports us.”

ARNM President Jacob Ahiaegbe reflected on Joyce’s impact:

“I had the privilege of meeting Joyce when I was first elected to the ARNM Board, and I was immediately struck by the grace and candour with which she spoke, and the wisdom that followed each remark. Joyce is a leader who did not simply practice nursing - she lived it. Her commitment to the profession and her tireless advocacy have left a lasting mark on our Association and the nursing community. She has never hesitated to speak truth to power and to stand up for those who are marginalized, even when it meant standing alone.

We are deeply grateful for Joyce’s leadership and the example she has set. On behalf of the Board and our members, I wish her a retirement filled with joy, good health, and the satisfaction of knowing the profound impact she has made.”

The Board of Directors has begun a national search for ARNM’s next Executive Director. This leadership transition represents an important moment in the continued evolution of the Association and its commitment to supporting regulated nurses and advancing the health of Manitobans.

View the Executive Director Posting →
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ARNM thanks Joyce for her extraordinary career in nursing and her dedicated service to the Association. Her leadership and legacy will continue to inspire the work ahead.