Honouring Our Own: ACSW 2019 Awards

ACSW is pleased to celebrate the contributions of some of Alberta’s exemplary social workers.

John Hutton Memorial Award

This award recognizes a registered social worker in good standing who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of social work and the community through social action and policy.

Richard Shelson, MSW, RCSW

Richard has been a social worker for 40 years, supporting individuals and families through counselling and mental health therapy, and advancing clinical social work practice in the mental health field. Richard was involved in advocacy for the social work profession to be included in the Health Professions Act and has served as a long-time ACSW volunteer, including serving on Council in multiple roles, on the Clinical Committee since its inception, and by continuing to provide leadership on the Private Practice Committee. Richard was also the first Canadian member on the Association of Social Work Boards’ Practice Analysis Taskforce, and a member and chair of their exam committee. His support for the profession is unparalleled, and he continues to be an advocate, teacher and mentor within Alberta’s social work community.

Excellence in Social Work Practice

This award recognizes social workers who have exhibited exemplary skills and commitment over time.

Marianne Wright, BSW, RSW

Marianne has been a social worker for over 40 years, as a clinical social worker in private practice, a social work educator and a field placement instructor. Marianne retired in 2019 after teaching at MacEwan University since 1980. Throughout her career as an educator, Marianne contributed to the development of courses that focus on clinical skills and social work methods. Marianne is dedicated to giving back to the profession, including supporting the ACSW with participation on the Private Practice, Complaints and Discipline, and Clinical Committees, as well as being an investigator and co-chairing the ACSW Conference Committee. Marianne has demonstrated excellence in social work through her support of students, practitioners and community agencies, fostering dedication to the ongoing growth and development of the profession.

Clinical Social Work Practice

This award is presented to a registered social worker who has exhibited exemplary leadership, skills and commitment to the advancement of clinical social work, as well as continuing excellence in clinical competence, ethical practice, and respect for diversity.

Val Gervais, MSW, RCSW

Val is a twospirited Métis addiction and mental health therapist residing in Edmonton. For 35 years, Val has been working within addiction and mental health, justice and collaborative concurrent disorder shared care, acute care, community and primary health care, and community activism and non-profit sectors. She is passionate about: providing knowledge translation to health care providers so they can develop sensitive cultural care for Indigenous clients, families and communities; and modelling Indigenous cultural approaches to teaching methods and clinical practice. Val is the creator of the “Storyteller’s Blanket”, used to assist with knowledge translation, and is a passionate educator, most recently with the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work. She created the first LGBTQ2S+ BSW course for the Faculty of Social Work in Edmonton in 2019, and has been an instructor and practicum supervisor for MSW students who are interested in addiction and mental health clinical care.

Tera Dahl Lang Memorial Award for Wise Indigenous Social Work Practice

This award is presented to a registered social worker who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to the advancement of Indigenous ways of knowing and continuing excellence in Indigenous social work practice.

Sharon Steinhauer, MSW, RSW

Sharon has been a social worker for over 30 years, dedicated to the development and advancement of Indigenous social work practice in Alberta. Sharon’s goal is to live life with relational accountability and work for social and economic justice by honouring diverse ways of knowing and being, with an emphasis on restoring Indigenous families, organizations and communities by addressing the impact of colonization. Sharon has been a teacher and leader at University nuxełhot’įne thaaɁehots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills from 1998 until her retirement as the social work program lead in 2019. Sharon’s published work includes topics such as understanding childhood trauma in Indigenous communities, economic security of Indigenous women, and health of Indigenous children, families and communities. Sharon was the co-developer of the ACSW Indigenous social work practice framework and is a leader, collaborator, and wise teacher who has served her community and profession with dignity and honour.

CASW Distinguished Service Award

The Canadian Association of Social Workers Distinguished Service Award is given on the occasion of National Social Work Month to a recipient chosen from CASW Partner Organizations.

Lynn Labrecque King, MSW, RSW

Lynn is a compassionate social worker and leader with 35 years of service to the social work profession. She is known nationally within the social work profession and was instrumental in bringing ACSW back to the Canadian Association of Social Workers to ensure Alberta has a national voice. She has served as the President of the Canadian Council of Social Work Regulators and contributed leadership in addressing the interjurisdictional mobility of social workers within Canada. Throughout her social work career, Lynn has demonstrated tenacity, creativity and collaborative leadership in her various roles at Alberta Children’s Services and while serving as Executive Director and Registrar of the Alberta College of Social Workers. Through the foundational values of caring, communication and collaboration, she has instilled pride and service to the profession while collaboratively aiming to achieve excellence. She is an exemplary leader, upholding integrity and treating others with kindness, dignity and respect.