In honour of National Social Work Month, the three pillars of the profession join in celebration of 100 years of organized and professional social work in Canada, marked by the establishment of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) in 1926.
More than a milestone, this centennial offers both a moment for reflection and a call to collective action. It invites affirmation of the profession’s enduring commitment to human dignity, human rights, and social justice – commitments that are upheld not only in practice but also through ethical standards, public accountability and educational foundations that sustain and strengthen the profession.
Throughout the history of our profession, and especially in times of great uncertainty, social workers have stood alongside individuals, families and communities through moments of transformation and significant upheaval. Since 2020, the converging crises of a global pandemic, political and economic instability, climate-related emergencies and persistent realities of racism, colonialism and exclusion have deepened social and economic divides. These realities have tested the resilience of our profession and underscored the importance of strong advocacy, quality education, ethical regulation and collaborative leadership.
Across every challenge, social workers continue to rise; to champion equity, protect human rights and hold steadfast to ethical practice and collective responsibility in the face of silencing, marginalizing and othering.
We build relationships.
We listen to hard truths.
We reach out across barriers to create bridges of belonging.
The theme for this centennial year - “Reflecting on our Past, Reimagining our Future” - calls on the profession and the nation to work together toward collective purpose. Guided by open communication, mutual respect and a shared commitment to human rights and social justice, we advance common priorities, strengthen professional integrity and prepare future generations of social workers to meet emerging challenges with courage and care.
These values are more than words; they are the compass that shape our work, anchor our profession and continue to guide us toward a more just and inclusive future.
During National Social Work Month, we express deep appreciation and partnership with social workers across Canada who live these values everyday, often under extraordinary strain yet always with courage, compassion and unwavering conviction.
As we look toward the next 100 years, we stand with you - united across the pillars of the profession - resolved to meet fear and division with empathy and to use our shared voices and collective power to build a more hopeful future for all Canadians. We steadfastly insist that compassion, justice and human dignity must prevail.
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Barb Whitenect, President Canadian Association of Social Workers |
Marie-Pier Rivest, President Canadian Association for Social Work Education |
Barb Temmerman, President Canadian Council of Social Work Regulators |
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