Celebrating Wendy Roberts
shared by social workers of the QEII-VG
Wendy Roberts, MSW, RSW retired from Nova Scotia Health on March 31, 2026. This tribute, written by a group of her former colleagues, honours Wendy as one of our social work heroes.
Though she was raised in Toronto, the seeds of Wendy’s social work career were planted during her Katimavik experience on Cape Breton Island. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Ryerson University in Toronto, and later returned to Nova Scotia where she completed her MSW at Dalhousie University.
Over the past 37 years, while fostering youth, raising her twin daughters, and opening her home to international students, Wendy gained invaluable experience and expertise in healthcare social work. Her career took her from coast to coast, from the Emergency Unit and ICU in Prince George BC, to liver transplant and nephrology here in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Wendy’s introduction to nephrology social work practice came while covering the inpatient Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Unit at the Victoria General (VG) site of the QEII Hospital. For many years, she supported liver transplant patients who came from communities across Atlantic Canada, developing meaningful long-term relationships with patients and their families. Over time, Wendy truly became a leader in this field; she helped to plan and coordinate the annual Transplant Atlantic professional education day and contributed to the development of Atlantic Canada’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program.
After decades of working in acute inpatient care, Wendy chose to transfer to the new dialysis unit that opened at the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Clinic in November 2023. Her open and welcoming presence helped to establish a supportive culture and community space for dialysis patients to receive their treatments three days a week.
Wendy has praised the courage, resilience and day-to-day heroism of dialysis patients. Her colleagues have been impressed by her ability to project a sense of calm, and her remarkable capacity to build rapport, develop trust, and to truly get to know those she supported.
One colleague noted, “I remember seeing so many folks dropping by her office and sitting down for a while. It’s like she slows things down somehow, and consistently had an open door for patients, families and team members alike.” Another often heard Wendy say late in the afternoon that she was going to visit her floors one last time to “tuck people in” before ending her workday.
Healthcare systems do not always fully understand the role of social work; and practitioners can sometimes be drawn into practices that fall outside the values, ethics & scope of the profession. However, Wendy’s praxis has been consistently grounded in her strong professional identity. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated compassion, creativity, imagination, initiative, and leadership, while consistently meeting the highest ethical standards. She is a fierce advocate for the social work profession and is highly regarded by both social work peers and interprofessional colleagues.
Throughout her career at Nova Scotia Health, Wendy was a valued mentor to many of her social work colleagues, and generous and enthusiastic field supervisor for students preparing to join the social work profession. She welcomed new team members with warmth, offered thoughtful guidance, and modeled a sustainable practice grounded in self-care and professional connection. She encouraged regular consultation, reflection, and resource sharing among social workers, helping others feel supported in their practice. Over the years, she has remained connected with many former students and colleagues, and the ripple effects of those relationships continue to shape a wide network of social workers; Wendy’s love for the profession has created a lasting sense of community.
Wendy’s remarkable career reflects a deep commitment to patients, families, colleagues, and the social work profession. We are proud to celebrate her many contributions, and the lasting difference she has made for our teams, our practice, and the communities she served.
Congratulations, Wendy, and thank you for everything! It has been both a privilege and a joy to work with you.
The social workers of the QEII-VG are proud to recognize Wendy Roberts and celebrate her many contributions to the profession. This tribute was prepared by Michelle Jensen, RSW, Rachel Millett, RSW, and Amy Fredericks, RSW, on behalf of the Social Work team at the QEII-VG, with Carol Miller, MSW, RSW, Social Work Professional Practice Coordinator at Nova Scotia Health.
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