Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
80TH ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION FOR U OF M FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK
Government House
Thursday, September 14, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
(please check against delivery)
Good evening, and welcome to this celebration of 80 years of social work education.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is an absolute pleasure to welcome you to Government House, the ceremonial home of all Manitobans, here in the heart of Treaty One territory.
As we celebrate a faculty that is dedicated to human rights and dignity, to social inclusion and social justice, I acknowledge and celebrate that this beautiful and diverse province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree Dakota, Dene and Metis peoples. It also includes lands in the north that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
Together, we must continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all.
The story of our province is one of a dawning of respect for the worth and dignity of all. It’s an ongoing process, and it’s one that has taken many steps, many struggles and many, many dedicated advocates.
And for the last 80 years, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work, and the dedicated professionals it has produced, have been and continue to be an integral part of shaping our community.
For eight decades, graduates have worked to help individuals and families access health, housing, education and other services. They have advocated for the safety, rights and opportunities of the vulnerable. They have pushed society to listen and understand and re-examine its structures and biases.
The social work profession is founded on bedrock values: respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all, pursuit of social justice, service to humanity, integrity, confidentiality.
Advances in understanding within the profession and development of innovative community partnerships and services have been accomplished through the efforts of generations of U of M alumni.
And so it is fitting that this 80th anniversary celebration is also an opportunity to honour recipients of the Helen Mann 50th Anniversary Award.
The individuals recognized today will continue the long tradition of leadership and learning as alumni devote themselves to building a province that offers health and safety, community and compassion, and hope and opportunities for all.
To all the partners and supporters, faculty and students, and graduates of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work, congratulations on this milestone anniversary. Thank you for your leadership and dedication to our community, and to the greater good.
May this celebration inspire you to continue to grow with open hearts and minds in the years to come.
Enjoy the evening.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.
