The Honourable Anita R. Neville with Helen Mann 50th Anniversary Award Recipients
Homecoming 2023: Celebrating 80 years of social work education
Eighty years ago this October, the Faculty of Social Work opened its doors to meet the shortage of trained staff in Manitoba social welfare agencies. This year, we celebrate the alumni who have graduated from our Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work and Ph.D. programs over the past 80 years.
The Faculty of Social Work 80th Anniversary Homecoming reception was be hosted by The Honourable Anita R. Neville, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba on September 14th.
This year’s Homecoming celebration welcomes alumni from the past 60 years. During the reception, we will be presenting the Helen Mann 50th Anniversary Award to members of the community who have made outstanding contributions to the field of social work. The Helen Mann 50th Anniversary Award recipients honoured during our Homecoming 2023 reception:
- Jill Taylor-Brown (2023)
- Lynne Fineman (2022)
- Lindsay Bacala (2021)
- Lorna Hanson (2020)
- Jainna Cabral (2019)
Jill Taylor-Brown
[BSW/72, MSW/88]
What is one contribution you have made to social work practice that you are most proud of?
Developing a robust support group program at CancerCare Manitoba, including, programs for children whose parents have cancer, for younger women with breast cancer, for women with advanced breast cancer, Art Therapy, Music to My Ears, Yoga, and more.
Do you have any advice for students entering the field of social work?
Recognize how much we learn from our clients, be collaborative and authentic and stay humble.
Lindsay Bacala
[BAAdv/13, MSW/18]
What is one contribution you have made to social work practice that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of my long-term advocacy and work creating and implementing services for those with hoarding disorder. Hoarding disorder often carries a lot of stigma and I have seen how support has made lasting positive changes for those with lived experience.
Do you have any advice for students entering the field of social work?
Be opened to trying any field, any job in social work. You may be surprised where you find your passion!
Lorna Hanson
[BSW/89, MSW/21]
What is one contribution you have made to social work practice that you are most proud of?
In a 34-year career in social work, the contributions are many (or they should be). One that I am most proud of is my ability to mentor and lead other social work staff so that collectively we can provide families with the best services. This is done through mentoring and supporting best practice approaches, listening, advocating and finding the opportunities and solutions that best meet the needs of each unique family. More broadly, my leadership and mentoring has driven system change through legislative amendments, policy decisions, funding, cross sector work and collaboration with so many, and all of this has driven continuous practice shifts in social work and specifically child protection.
Do you have any advice for students entering the field of social work?
Often, I wish that back when I started, I knew what I know now, but, that is just not possible, as it is a path. My best advice is to listen, be flexible, fiercely advocate and find creative ways to help your families and the individuals you have the privilege to work with. Most importantly, be a disruptor of systems, as they often create barriers and inequity. Push the boundaries, ask questions and be embrace discomfort because this facilitates change. My final advice is that as Canadians and social workers we must actively, continuously learn about the impacts of colonization and add this knowledge to our social work toolkits (and practices) as this provides each of us with hope and a path towards a healthy and safe society for everyone.
The Helen Mann 50th Anniversary award recipients were honoured during the reception on September 14th at 5:00 p.m. (CDT) A live stream of the reception can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-zJtruCec0