An Overview of the Project

Jane Wisdom who was born in Nova Scotia in the late 1800's, was the first professional social worker in Nova Scotia. She was asked to head up the Bureau of Social Services in Halifax in 1916 and later accepted a position as the first welfare officer for Glace Bay. (Click menu bar for more Pioneers of the profession)

It is facinating to read about the early work and accomplishments of the pioneers in our profession. The History Project is being researched so that members of the profession and the public of today can appreciate the contributions that were made to establish and to develop the profession in Nova Scotia. Some made personal sacrifices and others struggled to change the prevailing public attitudes and social policies of the times that often resisted change.

Our research will take us from the early days of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW). Development of professional associations were commonly formed at the local or provincial level which then led to the formations of national ones. In the case of the NSASW, it was the national organization, the CASW, which developed first and then led to the formation of the provincial association. We will follow the roots of the evolution of the NSASW from these beginnings to the present day.

The Maritime School of Social Work also played an important role in the development of the NSASW. Many of the social work pioneers had direct involvement in the formation of the school and supported it throughout their careers as well as guiding it to where it is today.

In the same way, we have found that those in government had a direct influence in the formation and development of the Association. Some of the pioneers had great vision and struggled to ensure that staff had professional education and continued to support their profession and to contribute their skills and talents.

Regulation of the profession was an on-going concern from the beginning. Assisted by the national organization, the debates, discussions and studies helped to clarify the issues and to advise provincial members on the best form and the right timing for introducing legislation to protect the public and promote the profession. From the least form of regulation, voluntary registration, to the highest form, licensure, the debate lasted 30 years as the membership grappled with all the divergent opinions.

Finally, we want to recognize the leadership of the social workers who have volunteered to fill the position of President of the Association from the beginning in 1963 to the present day. A plaque has been prepared listing all the Presidents and is displayed in the Association's office. As well, by searching through past issues of our newsletter, CONNECTION, and minutes of AGM's, Council, Executive, and committee meetings, we have tried to pull out the names of countless other individual social workers who were found to be engaged in, and contributing to, the work of the Association over the years.

This website has been set up to provide a summary of the work that is currently being done. If anyone reading this has historical information that they would like to see included, please forward it on to us using the e-mail link below. Eventually, we plan to publish a full and detailed document of the results of this project. The intention of this project is to provide a source that will accurately record the accomplishments and achievemnets of the association over the years and serve as a link to the past contributions that our Association and its members have made to our province, communities, and to the profession of social work.

Bessie Harris, RSW and Harold Beals, RSW - Project Coordinators.