History
In 1986, the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto explored the formation of an international chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.  Progress was steady and the first induction ceremony for the University of Toronto Honour Society in Nursing was held on November 6, 1987.  The initiative was strongly supported by the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and the Provost of the university. The activities of the Honour Society included co-sponsorship, with the Faculty of Nursing, of an annual Research Day and the financial subsidy of graduate and undergraduate students to these events.  Scholarly programs were offered regularly, to enhance the professional development of nurses educated in the university setting.  On April 18, 1990, the Lambda Pi Chapter, University of Toronto, was officially chartered as an international Chapter of Sigma Theta

To foster the goals of the chapter and those of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), a research grant was established for members in the amount of $3000, and later $1500.  The amount of the research grant was reduced in order to redirect funds to support student presentations at STTI conferences.  In addition, awards of excellence have been offered in clinical practice, education, and administration to recognize outstanding performance by the membership.  Academic achievement awards have been offered to graduating students in both undergraduate and graduate programs for significant contributions to clinical practice and to a doctoral student for outstanding dissertation.  A mentor program was established for new members and is attracting significant interest.

In the spring of 1996 the Ryerson University School of Nursing Honour Society was initiated as a result of a mutual desire between the University of Toronto Lambda Pi Chapter and the Ryerson School of Nursing to establish an At-Large Chapter.   The initiative was strongly supported by the Director and faculty of the Ryerson School of Nursing, the Dean of the Ryerson Faculty of Community Services, the Ryerson Vice-President Academic, the Dean of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, the Board of Directors of the Lambda Pi Chapter, and the University of Toronto Senior Administration.  The original steering committee for the Ryerson Honour Society included: faculty, alumni, and students and was formed in May, 1996.  The composition of the steering committee remained representative of these groups throughout the period preceding the At-Large Chartering. 

The Ryerson School of Nursing Honour Society held it’s inaugural induction ceremony on May 29, 1997.  The ceremony inducted over 200 individuals from local, national, and international locales.  Academic representatives included senior university administrators from Ryerson including the Vice-President Academic, Dean of the Faculty of Community Services, Director and Associate Directors of the Ryerson School of Nursing, the President of Lambda Pi, Dean of the University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing, and the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at Queen’s University, who served as guest speaker for the ceremony.  The induction consisted of a ceremony for new members followed by a reception.  Subsequent induction ceremonies with receptions occurred May 28, 1998, May 17, 1999, and May 15, 2000.  Over three hundred members were inducted into the Ryerson School of Nursing Honour Society prior to the Lambda Pi At-Large Chartering.

The establishment of the Ryerson School of Nursing Honour Society was with the intention to form an at-large chapter with Lambda Pi.  With this goal in mind, the Ryerson Honour Society collaborated actively with Lambda Pi chapter through the provision of regular progress reports and profiles of Honour Society members for the Lambda Pi Newsletter, “Pillar”, co-sponsorship of the keynote speaker and financial support of the abstract book for the University of Toronto’s Nursing Research Day.  The Honour Society also developed and published its own communication update that featured members, upcoming events, and the progress toward the at-large chapter status.  In addition, the Honour Society and the Lambda Pi chapter co-sponsored four scholarly programs in the two years preceding the at-large chapter chartering ceremony. 

A Lambda Pi At-Large chapter liaison committee, comprised of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni from both the University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing and Ryerson University School of Nursing, as well as community leaders, worked in collaboration with the Lambda Pi Board of Directors and the Ryerson School of Nursing Steering committee to plan and coordinate the At-Large Chartering Ceremony held on May 28, 2001.  At the time of the Lambda Pi At-large chartering, the Lambda Pi membership numbered in the 700s.  At the Chartering ceremony, 253 (218 inductees from the Ryerson Honour Society and 35 Lambda Pi inductees) new members were inducted into the Lambda Pi At-Large Chapter.  Dr. Lillian Douglass, STTI Board of Directors representative, served as the Installing Officer at the Chartering.  The ceremony was preceded by a stand-up reception for members, inductees, and guests of the inductees.