FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 January, 2026
KJIPUKTUK (HALIFAX, NS) – The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) revoked the registration of Sherri Boyd (also known as Sherri Lynn Boyd and Sherri Lynn Ashcroft Boyd), registration #7501, following a hearing held on October 27, 2025. This decision reflects the College’s commitment to ensuring the safe and ethical delivery of social work practice and maintaining the integrity of the profession.
The NSCSW received a complaint in May 2022 from Temperance Winger, which included serious allegations of grooming, harboring, and sexual abuse by Ms. Boyd when Ms. Winger was a minor. Following an investigation, the Complaints Committee imposed interim restrictions on Ms. Boyd’s registration in July 2022, including supervision requirements and a prohibition on providing social work services to individuals under 24 years of age. In July 2023, Ms. Boyd’s registration was further suspended, prohibiting her from practicing or representing herself as a social worker.
In 2025, Ms. Boyd applied for the revocation of her registration, which was consented to by the Complaints Committee and approved by the Discipline Committee. A consent revocation results in the full revocation of a social worker’s registration, identical in outcome to a contested hearing that concludes with revocation. The decision to revoke her registration aligns with the College’s mandate to protect the public, uphold the integrity of the social work profession, and maintain public confidence in the field.
“The College exists to ensure the safe and ethical delivery of social work practice and to maintain the integrity of the profession,” said Valerie Heard, NSCSW’s Professional Conduct Manager. “Disciplinary actions like this one are a reflection of our commitment to this mandate. The revocation of Ms. Boyd’s registration is a necessary step to protect the public and preserve trust in the social work profession.”
The Discipline Committee’s decision was informed by several aggravating factors, including:
- Ms. Boyd’s lack of remorse or insight into her conduct;
- the fact that the complainant, Temperance Winger, was a minor at the time of the misconduct;
- Ms. Boyd’s position of trust as a de facto guardian to the complainant;
- a pattern of grooming and repeated sexual misconduct; and
- Ms. Boyd’s encouragement of harmful and inappropriate discussions about pedophilia.
The Committee also acknowledged the bravery of Temperance Winger, who provided a victim impact statement and requested that her name be included in the decision. Ms. Winger’s statement highlighted the devastating harm caused by Ms. Boyd’s actions and underscored the importance of accountability in this case.
As part of the decision, Ms. Boyd’s registration has been revoked, and she is prohibited from referring to herself as a social worker. She will not be eligible to apply for reinstatement for at least five years and has been ordered to contribute $15,000 toward the costs incurred by the NSCSW in this matter.
The NSCSW remains steadfast in its mission to protect the public and ensure that social work practice in Nova Scotia is conducted with the highest standards of safety, ethics, and professionalism.
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About us:
The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers serves and protects Nova Scotians by effectively regulating the profession of social work. We work in solidarity with Nova Scotians to advocate for policies that improve social conditions, challenge injustice and value diversity.
For more information or to arrange interviews with NSCSW spokespersons, contact: Rebecca Faria, communication coordinator for NSCSW (902-429-7799 ext. 227, [email protected]).