This National Social Work Month, we celebrate a century of organized and professional social work in Canada, marked by the founding of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) in 1926. This milestone is not just a moment to honour the past, but a call to action for the future—a future rooted in the profession’s enduring commitment to human dignity, human rights, and social justice.
Over the past 100 years, social workers have played a critical role during times of transformation and upheaval. From the Great Depression to the global pandemic, they have stood alongside individuals, families, and communities, advocating for equity and addressing systemic barriers. Today, as we face new challenges, the values and principles of social work remain as vital as ever.
A Distinct Profession with a Broad Mandate
Social work is a distinct profession that extends far beyond clinical health services. Social workers serve in diverse settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, child welfare programs, and community development initiatives. Their work addresses not only individual well-being but also systemic forces such as poverty, racism, and gender-based violence. This broad mandate is what makes social work unique and indispensable.
Advocacy: The Heart of Social Work
Advocacy is not an optional or secondary aspect of social work—it is its very foundation. As Robert Wright, President of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, recently emphasized, “Advocacy is an essential component of social work practice, not a separate or optional element.” This commitment to advocacy enables social workers to address systemic inequities and protect the most structurally vulnerable populations.
Marian Brown, a social work educator and advocate, echoed this sentiment, describing recent legislative challenges as a potential attempt to silence the profession. “The critique brought by the College over the years is uncomfortable for government,” she stated. “It’s informed by evidence, fuelled by conviction, and rooted in the values of the common good.” Brown’s words remind us that social work must reflect the diversity and complexity of the profession, rather than narrowing its scope to fit a biomedical framework.
Reflecting on Our Past, Reimagining Our Future
The theme for this centennial year, “Reflecting on Our Past, Reimagining Our Future,” calls on the profession to honour its legacy while envisioning a more just and inclusive future. This vision requires a commitment to open communication, mutual respect, and shared purpose. It also demands that we strengthen professional integrity, advance common priorities, and prepare future generations of social workers to meet emerging challenges with courage and care.
As Wright and Brown have both emphasized, the future of social work depends on preserving its distinct identity and unwavering commitment to advocacy.
Changing Tactics
We have made the decision to cancel our 2026 NSCSW Conference: Navigating Complexity Together. The recently announced legislation that will transform regulation of the profession in our province has staff, council, and committees reflecting on the resources, both financial and human, that will be needed to prioritize these regulatory changes and consultations with social workers.
Our plans are not being discarded, they are only changing shape. We anticipate pivoting several of the planned conference sessions to an online format, as part of our ongoing professional development programming. We are grateful to the many presenters and speakers who submitted proposals and agreed to support the development of competence for social workers in Nova Scotia.
If you have any questions about the decision to cancel this year’s conference, please reach out to Tyler Colbourne, Professional Development Consultant, at [email protected].
A Commitment to the Next Century
As we celebrate 100 years of social work in Canada, we express deep gratitude to the social workers who live the values of the profession every day. Often working under extraordinary strain, they continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to equity, justice, and community well-being.
Looking ahead, we stand united across the pillars of the profession—education, regulation, and practice—resolved to meet fear and division with empathy and to insist that compassion, justice, and human dignity prevail. Together, we can build a regulatory system that protects the public, empowers social workers, and advances the values of equity and justice.
This National Social Work Month, let us honour the past, embrace the present, and reimagine a future where the values of social work guide us toward a more equitable and inclusive society. Here’s to the next century of courage, care, and collective action.
Alec Stratford (He/Him) MSW, RSW
NSCSW Executive Director/ Registrar