The University of Northern British Columbia and the Northern Branch of the B.C. Association of Social Workers are teaming up to celebrate the legacy of Prince George social activist and social worker Bridget Moran and Social Work Week.
The Bridget Moran Bursary Dinner on Friday, March 17 will raise funds to establish an endowed UNBC Bridget Moran bursary in social work.
The bursary will honour Moran’s life’s work and her profession by supporting promising students who might not otherwise be able to pursue a career in social work.
It’s the first financial award in Moran’s honour established for a student studying social work.
“Bridget Moran was an activist and an author who helped to improve the lives of many people in northern B.C.,” said UNBC Social Work Professor Dr. Glen Schmidt. “The Bridget Moran Bursary will continue that legacy by helping to support students striving to obtain a professional social work degree.”
The St. Patrick’s Day event at UNBC’s McCaffray Hall atrium will feature a three-course Irish meal (recognizing Moran’s Irish heritage), entertainment and the presentation of the 2017 Bridget Moran award.
BACKGROUND
Moran, who died in 1999, was a strong advocate for social and political causes, particularly noting neglect that she confronted through her work as a social worker.
Her career included working for the province of B.C., the Prince George Regional Hospital (now University Hospital of Northern B.C.), the University of Victoria and the Prince George School District.
She sat on the Legal Services Society of BC and the Board of Governors of the College of New Caledonia.
Moran received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UNBC in 1995 and an honorary degree from UVic in 1996. She was also bestowed as an honorary member of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women.
In 2004, a sculpture of Moran, created by Nathan Scott, was unveiled in downtown Prince George to recognize her work.
B.C.’s Social Work Week is from March 13 – 17.
Tickets, available until March 10, are $75 for an individual or $580 for a table of eight.
To purchase a ticket, donate a ticket to a UNBC Social Work student or donate to the bursary, go online: http://www.unbc.ca/events/42340/bridget-moran-bursary-dinner
