Joyce Bewley Memorial Social Work Scholarship
Joyce Bewley (1933-2023)
Joyce was born in Sault Ste. Marie, ON to Alice, a Red Cross Nurse, and Harold Green, a Forest Ranger. She was raised in the wilds of Algoma District with four siblings and always loved nature and family. After high school, she worked briefly in Toronto, where she met her future husband. They raised their three daughters in Edmonton, where Joyce loved summers with them at Lake Wabamun and winters skiing at Jasper. She was active in community, especially with Kinettes, becoming President of a thriving club of 100 members. A signal experience for her was attending a 1968 meeting of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, which stirred her feminist ideals.
After the family moved to Vancouver Island in 1973, Joyce met new challenges of single parenting and finding a new path in life for herself. As a mature student, she was accepted into the initial class of the new School of Social Work at UVic. In that rich, encouraging environment, she flourished and realized latent talents that would remarkably change her life and benefit the lives of clients and colleagues for years after.
She graduated in 1978 and transformed a practicum placement into the first Social Worker staff position at The Law Centre. She went on to earn a MSW at UBC in 1985 – the first in her family to achieve a graduate degree. Her thesis concerned improving the legal system’s response to family violence, for her a lifelong cause. She then worked at Saanich Community Mental Health, first as a clinician, then as Adult Programs Coordinator and Acting Director, until her retirement.
In her Social Work practice, Joyce especially valued community development and was active in the start-up of Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre, Divorce Lifeline (now Family Services of Greater Victoria), Victoria Family Violence Project, and Victoria Coalition for Survivors of Torture.
Through all phases and facets of her life, Joyce made lasting friends, who were drawn to her quiet and gentle empathy, generosity, modesty, intelligence, curiosity, commitment to equity, and joyful love of life. When, in her final days, Joyce was told of her family’s intention to establish this award, she responded typically with surprise and humility at being acknowledged in this way.
Joyce’s family have created a scholarship in the School of Social Work as a way of honoring her and we invite contributions. For help or if you have questions regarding your donation, please contact the Development Office at giving@uvic.ca or by phone at 250-472-4924. Our office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday.