Alum, Sandy Hyman: Leaving a legacy of compassion and change

When Sandy Hyman [BSW/67, MSW/69] graduated with her Bachelor of Social Work and went on to earn her Master of Social Work, she knew she was entering a field that would challenge her values, her resilience, and her heart. What she didn’t know was how profoundly it would shape her life – and the lives of so many others.

Sandy’s commitment to community and politics was evident early on. In 1967, she was elected Lady Stick of Social Work, a leadership role that foreshadowed her later public service as a Winnipeg City Councillor from 1991 to 1995. During her time on council, she remained true to her social work roots, focusing on constituent needs and advocating for vulnerable populations. “I loved politics,” says Hyman, “a passion that has always been about making meaningful change.”

Over the course of her nearly four-decade career in child welfare and education, Sandy encountered both the triumphs and the heartbreaks that come with serving on the front lines of human struggle. When asked why she has remained so passionate about her chosen profession, Sandy responded, “Sometimes I think it’s anti-social work. Often, a social worker is alone, uncertain what’s next or what to do; neither education, on-the-job training, nor life experience prepared me for the challenges I encountered.”

One of Sandy’s most unforgettable experiences involved a teen who had been labeled extremely behaviorally disordered. He was housed alone in a group home with 24/7 supervision. “He so wanted to be with his mom,” Sandy recalls. “He was kept isolated in the group home because every system considered him a danger – to students, staff, and even himself.”

Her voice trembles as she recounts writing the funding application for this youth’s education plan, an effort involving multiple systems and extraordinary financial resources to create a safe learning environment. “As I filled out his funding application, I shed tears. This boy’s story was almost unbelievable, so deeply painful,” Sandy explains. “Writing this application felt crucial… a final opportunity to offer this teen a thread of hope, a way to learn how to be with others, and with himself, safely.”

Sandy’s career was filled with these moments; raw, real, and often heartbreaking. But she never wavered in her belief in the power of care, coordination, and courage. “We held our breath and followed the plan diligently to ensure all systems were on board,” she remembers. And it worked. A teen who had once been feared by every system around him began to experience moments of connection, learning, and growth.

Now retired, Sandy is focused on giving back to the profession that shaped her so profoundly. In honour of her MSW Class of ‘69, Sandy created a bursary for students pursuing a Bachelor or Master of Social Work, hoping to raise a minimum of $25,000 to endow the award and support future generations of compassionate social workers, like Sandy.

“This bursary is about legacy,” Sandy says. “It’s about giving someone else the chance to learn, to serve, and to make a difference – just like I had the privilege of doing.”

In every word and action, Sandy Hyman exemplifies the heart of social work. Her story is one of dedication, empathy, and hope. And through her legacy, the impact of her work will resonate for generations to come.

For more information on the MSW Class of ’69 Bursary, please contact Jennifer.triggs@umanitoba.ca or call 204-299-6641.