For Immediate Release
June 9, 2011
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is pleased to announce the election of Mr. Morel Caissie BA, MSW, RSW as the association’s new president.
“It is extremely important that social workers in Canada have a strong and viable national organization to advance the pursuit of social justice and to promote the well-being of all Canadians” noted Caissie as the new CASW President. “Our profession must be at the forefront of initiatives that will eliminate poverty and protect the most vulnerable both on the national and international scenes.”
Caissie is a proud member of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers (NBASW) and has taken on various leadership roles in his provincial social work association since 1991 including terms as Vice-President (1995-97) and President (1997-99).
Since 2007 Caissie has lent his passion for social justice, leadership skills, and dedication to the strengthening of the social work profession to CASW as the NBASW representative to the national board. In 2008 Caissie was elected to the CASW Executive as the Secretary/Treasurer where his leadership skills have been instrumental in developing a sustainable plan to meet the fiscal challenges presented to CASW in recent years.
For 38 years Caissie has been a constant advocate for the most vulnerable in our society beginning his professional career as a front line social worker (child protection) before taking his retirement from the position of Regional Director for Department of Social Development in New Brunswick (2002-10).
Besides his long and distinguished professional career in the field of social work, Caissie has a strong record of commitment to community beginning with the establishment of the first sheltered workshop (1974) for people with mental and physical disabilities through to being elected the Deputy-Mayor for the Town of Grand-Sault/Grand-Falls (1995-2001).
Caissie has been honoured for his commitment to strengthening the social work profession and to the pursuit of social justice with the NBASW Raoul Leger Award (1992) and twice receiving the CASW Distinguished Service Award (1993 & 2011).
Other elected members of CASW’s 2011 Executive include Jan Christianson-Wood (Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers), who was elected Vice-President, and Ray Pekrul (Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers), elected Secretary/Treasurer. CASW is also pleased to confirm Darlene MacDonald (Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers) will remain on the Executive in the position of Past-President.
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For more information:
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
casw@casw-acts.ca