Established by Major-General John W.B. Barr, CMM, KStJ, CD, QHP, MD, CM'40, Meds '40, in acknowledgement of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's longstanding contribution to the medical and nursing care of Canadian service personnel as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp. and, later, of the Canadian Forces Medical Service.
Dr. Barr, MD 1940, had a close relationship with the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother was very interested in students in need be given a helping hand.