Local social worker honoured
Longtime northern social worker Deborah Pedersen has won the prestigious Bridget Moran Advancement of Social Work in Northern Communities Award.
In celebration of Social Work Week from March 13-17, the Bridget Moran Bursary Dinner was held Friday, where Pedersen was honoured among her colleagues, social work students and community members.
“To be considered for this award has made me reflect on my career which has spanned more than 40 years,” said Pedersen. “It’s particularly meaningful to me because I knew Bridget, who was a friend of my family. At the time, Bridget was involved in her more public efforts. I didn’t really understand their importance in the way I appreciate them now.”
Moran was a social worker who was a strong advocate for social and political causes and was especially passionate about children, social justice, poverty and indigenous issues.
Fired from her job in the 1960s for speaking out against the provincial government’s lack of appropriate social services for children and families, Moran won her fight and was reinstated. Moran passed away in 1999. “I’m amazed how far we have come as social workers in the north,” said Pedersen.
Born and raised in Prince George, Pedersen completed both a bachelors and masters degree in social work.
Her career includes working with the provincial children and families ministry, running a group home for teenagers, serving as a counsellor and program coordinator for a women’s sexual assault centre and team lead for the North Cariboo Aboriginal Family Program Society.
She currently works as a northern Health social worker in Quesnel, focusing on older adults.
“We still have lots to do in furthering the profession here in the north and elsewhere,” said Pedersen.
“I look forward to the day, 30 years or so from now when one of you comes to the long term care facility to tell me about the recognition flooding in for social workers in social work week, how much social workers are valued in our community for their activism and leadership in social justice.”
The Bridget Moran Award was established in March 2000 by the Northern Branch of the B.C. Association of Social Workers to pay tribute to Moran’s exemplary struggle for social justice.