Recognizing the important work that social workers do in Manitoba

On Monday, March 7, I spoke in the Legislature to recognize the important work that social workers do and to pay tribute to two social workers, Wayne Helgason and Sid Frankel who have made major contributions.

Gerrard: National social work week is an opportunity to pay tribute to the amazing work that social workers have done, including during COVID.

Let me mention two social workers.

Wayne Helgason, from Sandy Bay First Nation, worked for 10 years as a social worker in the North End of Winnipeg looking after children and child welfare. He then ran the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre for a number of years and then was executive director of the Social Planning Council and had a critical role in the development of the Aboriginal Centre.

After retirement, he became band manager at the Tsawout First Nation in British Columbia. His diverse career is an example of the diverse and varied roles of social workers and the tremendous contribution that they make.

Another Manitoban, a social worker, is Sid Frankel. He's been heavily involved with the Social Planning Council for many years, has been a major advocate for improvements to address poverty for many years.

If only the governments of Manitoba over the last 20 years would have listened, we would now have much less poverty in our province.

There are so many more social workers in Manitoba who deserve recognition. I could go on and on and on for a long time, but my time is limited.

Let me conclude with a big thank-you to all Manitoba's social workers. It's important that we have a whole month to say thank you. A day would not have been enough.

Merci. Miigwech. Dyakuyu. Thank you.

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