Janet Hazelton has been the President of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union (NSNU) since October 2002.

She graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from St. Francis Xavier University, located in her hometown of Antigonish. In 2010, while president of the NSNU, Janet received a Master of Public Administration degree from Dalhousie University.

Janet’s volunteer involvement in the NSNU began in the early 1990s and enabled her to pursue education in labour relations, ultimately leading her to hold the position of Second Vice-President, followed by Secretary-Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the NSNU before becoming President.  

In addition to advocating and negotiating on behalf of nurses, this full-time position comes with the added responsibility of sitting on numerous committees including the Provincial Nursing Network of Nova Scotia, the National Executive Board of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, and the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour.

Since 2005, she has held a seat on the Board of Directors for the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. She is also the NSNU Trustee for the Nova Scotia Health Employees’ Pension Plan and the Trustee for the NSAHO Long-Term Disability Plan Trust Fund.

In June of 2024, Janet received her ICD.D designation. This designation represents a lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom and is granted by the Institute of Corporate Directors after completing the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program.

Janet’s high public profile keeps her busy fulfilling media requests, accepting speaking engagements, meeting with those in public office, and being accessible to her key stakeholders - nurses. 

On behalf of the NSNU, Janet adamantly supports the right to publicly funded, publicly delivered health care for Nova Scotians, regardless of where they live, and safe nurse-staffing ratios in all areas of care. She champions other causes including a national prescription drug program, violence-free workplaces, and mental health supports. 

She works tirelessly to help protect the quality of health care for patients and nurses’ rights.

Janet Hazelton is the longest serving president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union.