Faculty of Social Work News Archive

June 16, 2025 — 
Sandy's commitment to community and politics was evident early on. In 1967, she was elected Lady Stick of Social Work, a leadership role that foreshadowed her later public service as a Winnipeg City Councillor from 1991 to 1995. During her time on council, she remained true to her social work roots, focusing on constituent needs and advocating for vulnerable populations. “I loved politics,” says Hyman, "a passion that has always been about making meaningful change.” Over the course of her nearly four-decade career in child welfare and education, Sandy encountered both the triumphs and the heartbreaks that come with serving on the front lines of human struggle. When asked why she has remained so passionate about her chosen profession, Sandy responded, “Sometimes I think it’s anti-social work. Often, a social worker is alone, uncertain what’s next or what to do; neither education, on-the-job training, nor life experience prepared me for the challenges I encountered.” One of Sandy’s most unforgettable experiences involved a teen who had been labeled extremely behaviorally disordered. He was housed alone in a group home with 24/7 supervision. “He so wanted to be with his mom,” Sandy recalls. “He was kept isolated in the group home because every system considered him a danger – to students, staff, and even himself.” Her voice trembles as she recounts writing the funding application for this youth’s education plan, an effort involving multiple systems and extraordinary financial resources to create a safe learning environment. “As I filled out his funding application, I shed tears. This boy’s story was almost unbelievable, so deeply painful,” Sandy explains. “Writing this application felt crucial… a final opportunity to offer this teen a thread of hope, a way to learn how to be with others, and with himself, safely.”

May 27, 2025 — 
Candace Neumann was awarded the New Investigator Award for best oral abstract presentation in Social Science at the Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR) Conference for her presentation title: Our Ancestors Live in our Blood: Understanding Kinship, Storytelling and Place in Supports for Pregnant Indigenous Women Living with HIV. She is a Red River Métis doula, artist, MSW-IK student, sundancer, cedar bath conductor, and community helper from Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her spirit name, Leads With Light, guides her in her community work, and is grounded in her relationships with her family and her community. She comes from a long line of fierce aunties and carries on the tradition with her 13 nephews and nieces, and 1 great niece. In this Q&A, Candace talks about her work as an experienced doula, and shares insight about the Master in Social Work based in Indigenous Knowledges program.

May 21, 2025 — 
For the past 33 years, the Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception has provided an opportunity for each faculty and school to nominate one outstanding graduating student, who in turn chooses two teachers—one from their K–12 years and one from their time at the University of Manitoba.

April 14, 2025 — 
The University of Manitoba’s interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights program’s annual Symposium took place on January 17, 2025 in the Moot Courtroom at Robson Hall. The Symposium gives students enrolled in the graduate degree’s practicum and thesis streams an opportunity to present their research and share field experiences. The students’ research advisors are scholars from the Faculties of Arts, Education, and Social Work, in addition to the Faculty of Law.

March 21, 2025 — 
Internationally recognized artist-in-residence at UM brings unique lens to exploring relationships with water as part of the Just Waters project

March 19, 2025 — 
Two University of Manitoba students are getting a little extra help in achieving their educational goals, all thanks to Jelly Roll. The popular country singer, best known for his songs “Son of a Sinner” and “Need A Favor,” performed a concert in Winnipeg Monday night. Deandra Courchene and Briana Knott were on the floor holding signs, asking him to help them pay their student loans. The pair is studying social work at the University of Manitoba. A video posted by Courchene online shows Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, pausing the show and having the house lights turned on to address her and Knott. “I’ll tell you what - you don’t got any student loans no more. I’m going to pay them off,” he said to cheers from the audience. “I’m kind of still in disbelief on what happened,” said Courchene. “I woke up this morning and thought it was just a dream.”

March 13, 2025 — 
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has award $125,000 in funding for a community-led project that aims to tackle the harmful effects of racism and colonialism in Manitoba’s systems that are leading to increased HIV risks. UM researcher Dr. Rusty Souleymanov, associate dean and associate professor, faculty of social work, and director, Village Lab, is leading a team of stakeholders, scholars, and community leaders from across Canada in research that will drive structural change by fostering policy reforms, anti-racist health systems, and community-led solutions. This project titled “Community-Led Structural Interventions to Improve HIV/STBBI Outcomes and Dismantle Structural Racism and Colonialism Affecting Indigenous, Black, and Racialized Communities in Manitoba” was ranked top 3rd in applications submitted to CIHR’s Moving Upstream: Structural Determinants of Health - Catalyst Grants.

December 9, 2024 — 
This fall, a cohort of social work students participated in an interprofessional learning experience with the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. This event emphasized the importance of social work practice in addressing the intersection of individuals and their environments in healthcare settings.  During the event, a screening of Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story, depicted the tragic death of Greg Price and highlighted systemic issues in healthcare, including the need for improved communication.  “‘Greg’s Wings’ provided a meaningful learning experience for students, particularly in the context of healthcare collaboration and the challenges faced within this system,” said Vicki Verge, Instructor and Faculty-Field Liaison, Faculty of Social Work.  

December 6, 2024 — 
A Manitoba First Nation is helping to bridge the gap in health-care services not only for its members, but for multiple surrounding Interlake communities. The Pinaymootang Health Centre helps care for thousands of Manitobans every year, but nearly half of its clientele comes from outside Pinaymootang First Nation. "We see 47 per cent of clients that come in from various areas," health director Gwen Traverse said. "Whether the surrounding First Nations or the non-Indigenous communities that utilize our services." Gwen Traverse is currently a student in the Distance Delivery Southern Cohort BSW program.

November 18, 2024 — 
The Faculty of Law congratulates the newest graduates of the University of Manitoba’s Master of Human Rights Program. Six students crossed the stage on October 23, 2024 to receive this unique interdisciplinary graduate degree supported by the four faculties of Arts, Education, Law and Social Work.