Congratulations to our 2023 student bursary recipients!
These student members each received $500 to help them achieve their academic and professional goals while completing accredited social work programs at Canadian universities.
For those who are continuing their studies, we wish them well in their academic pursuits. And for those who received the award in the last year of their program and have just graduated, we are delighted to welcome them as they take the next steps in their professional journeys.
Please join us in congratulating them!
Allison E. Cascanette (she/her)
Dalhousie University
Allison is originally from Ottawa, Ontario, located on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people, and now resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, situated on Mi’kma’ki ancestral land, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. In 2014 she began her undergraduate studies at Dalhousie University, and in 2018 she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology with a certificate in Interdisciplinary Health Studies.
For several years, Allison has worked full-time in the residential community housing sector, working with adults with developmental disabilities and supporting them with their daily living. Her social work praxis is shaped by her experiences as a disabled woman and incorporates disability justice theory, mad studies, and trauma-informed approaches. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new recipes, and swimming in lakes or the ocean.
At the time of this award Allison was finishing her second and final year of her Master of Social Work graduate degree at Dalhousie University. Upon graduating, she hoped to focus on increased involvement in the macro-level policy sector, particularly addressing issues related to disability and other marginalized communities.
Liette Comeau
Université Laurentienne
Crystal Foster
Dalhousie University
Nurturing roles define my life in Yarmouth, N.S., as a devoted mother of two, and supporting wife, sharing our home with cherished pets.
I am a firm believer in honesty and integrity. These values serve as guiding lights, shaping my interactions at home, at work, and in the community. With a Bachelor of Arts in community studies and a current pursuit of a Bachelor of Social Work, my academic journey aligns with my passion for social justice.
As a community outreach worker in the education system, I channel this passion into action by fostering community partnerships and connections that amplify our collective impact. Through family, education, and community engagement, I strive to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing story of positive transformation in our communities.
Jesse Hatch (they/them)
Dalhousie University
Having worked in a variety of social service settings over the past decade, I was inspired to pursue a Master of Social Work degree at Dalhousie University in order to grow my professional skillset and expand my critical knowledge base. Currently, I hold an undergraduate degree in equity studies from the University of Toronto. The anti-oppressive learning that I gained in this degree, as well as my lived experience, continue to guide my values both professionally and personally. I hope to continue centering equity, belonging and accessibility as I learn to translate theory into practice in my current program and upon graduation. My areas of interest include harm reduction, gender affirming care and housing access.