Aman Grewal remembered for advancing the working conditions of nurses
Nurses and health care advocates are mourning the sudden loss of Aman Grewal, former president of the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU). A nurse for 35 years, Grewal got involved with her union during a strike in 1989.
British Columbia Premier David Eby is among those paying tribute to Grewal. Calling her a “fierce advocate” for health care workers, Eby highlighted Grewal’s contribution to winning the first nurse-to-patient ratios in Canada.
Incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Aman Grewal, former president of the @BCNursesUnion. One of the people behind the first nurse to patient ratios in Canada, she was a fierce advocate for health care workers.
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) April 18, 2025
My condolences to her family, colleagues and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/X6Yxuvuuri
A ‘devoted nurse’ and ‘compassionate leader,’ Grewal was BCNU President from 2021 to 2023. She helped negotiate the union’s 2022-2025 provincial collective agreement. The new agreement came with wage increases and the adoption of a nurse-to-patient ratio to improve nurses’ workloads.
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) is also mourning the loss of Grewal who served on CFNU’s national executive board, representing BCNU members, calling her achievements for nurses “groundbreaking.” Her work in establishing nurse-to-patient ratios in B.C. is a demand of nurses across the country, such as in New Brunswick, the province experiencing the largest exodus of young nurses from the profession.
Grewal began her career at the Surrey Memorial Hospital where she found her calling in pediatrics care. She is being remembered for her leadership during post-COVID contract negotiations and for her work with BC Silver Alert that helped build bridges between advocates, researchers, and policymakers throughout Canada. BC Silver Alert is a citizen-led effort that advocates for community alerting systems to notify the public when a vulnerable person, such as someone with dementia, autism, or cognitive issues, goes missing.
The Canadian Health Coalition extends our deepest condolences to Grewal’s family, friends and colleagues. We will miss her presence in our collective struggles for better public health care.
