Grey Bruce, ON — May 28, 2025 — The Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS) community is mourning the profound loss of Angela McNaughton, a beloved nurse and healthcare leader whose unwavering compassion, strength, and dedication left an indelible mark on everyone she touched. McNaughton passed away unexpectedly earlier this week, leaving behind colleagues, patients, friends, and family grieving the absence of a woman whose presence lit up hospital corridors and hearts alike.
Angela served the GBHS network for over two decades, most recently as a nurse in the Owen Sound Regional Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Known for her calm presence under pressure, her fierce advocacy for patients, and her mentorship of younger nurses, Angela embodied the very essence of what it means to lead with heart.
“We have lost more than a colleague,” said Gary Sims, President and CEO of GBHS. “Angela was the soul of our ICU team. Her passion for nursing, her empathy for patients, and her deep commitment to improving care for everyone in this community will never be forgotten. She was the kind of nurse every patient wanted at their bedside and every colleague wanted by their side.”
Angela’s colleagues describe her as a tireless advocate not only for patient care but for the emotional and mental well-being of her coworkers. During the challenging height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Angela emerged as a steadying force — comforting families over video calls, holding the hands of isolated patients, and supporting exhausted staff with kindness and grace. She organized wellness check-ins, encouraged open conversations about burnout, and volunteered for additional shifts when others needed a break.
“She just showed up — every single day, even when she was tired, even when the work was heartbreaking,” said longtime colleague and friend Melanie Carter. “Angela didn’t just do her job; she poured love into it.”
Beyond the hospital walls, Angela was deeply involved in the community. She frequently volunteered for public health initiatives, led CPR training workshops, and participated in local fundraising efforts for medical equipment and mental health programs. She believed in healthcare as a community partnership and worked hard to build bridges between providers, patients, and families.
Angela’s commitment to lifelong learning was another hallmark of her professional legacy. She earned her critical care certification in 2010 and later pursued specialized training in palliative care, always looking for ways to expand her knowledge and improve her practice. She also mentored dozens of nursing students, who fondly remember her as both exacting and deeply encouraging.
“She expected a lot from us because she gave so much of herself,” said former student and now RN Emily Zhang. “She taught me how to be a better nurse and a better human being.”
Angela is survived by her husband, Daniel, their two children, Olivia and Jack, and a large extended family. The McNaughtons have expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love from the community and have requested privacy as they grieve. A public memorial service will be held at the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Auditorium this Friday at 4 p.m., followed by a candlelight vigil on the hospital grounds.
In honor of Angela’s life and legacy, GBHS has announced plans to establish the Angela McNaughton Nursing Excellence Award, which will recognize outstanding nurses within the organization each year. The award will celebrate those who, like Angela, exemplify compassion, leadership, and excellence in care.
As staff hang white ribbons and post tributes in the hospital’s main lobby, the halls feel a little dimmer without her warm laugh and quiet wisdom. And yet, through the many lives she touched and the compassion she showed, Angela McNaughton’s light continues to shine.
“Angela always said nursing wasn’t just a job — it was a calling,” said CEO Sims. “She answered that call every day. And we are all better because she did.
