Discover Why Our Social Workers Love Their Work

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

"I've been with the City for 23 years. I work in the area of family violence prevention using a community-development approach. That means I work with agencies and organizations in the City of Edmonton who work in the area of family violence prevention. I network with many organizations, agencies and large collaborative organizations, such as Community Initiatives Against Family Violence. In addition, I sit on the Leadership Team and various project teams dedicated to family violence prevention, health and workplace issues, community and victim advocacy, family safety, and financial concerns. I also coordinate our Family Violence Prevention Month launch every year."
—Heather Morrison, Social Worker, Community Services

"Having worked with the City since November of 2009, I am a Counsellor with Assessment and Short-Term Counselling. My core role is staffing our assessment/in-take line, providing counselling, facilitating groups and serving on disaster social services teams. Our assessment line is where citizens can access counselling, groups or referrals to more appropriate services when necessary. I work as a counsellor out of several different city offices. We strive to be available for citizens in their neighborhoods. I have been fortunate to be involved in facilitating groups for both men and women. Our women's groups work with those who have experienced family violence. The men's groups support men in their relationships with family and intimate partners, their health, stress levels, and to reach guys who just generally need more support."
—Kaylin Betteridge, Social Worker, Community Services

"I am a Community Building Social Worker, and have been working with the City for four years. I am responsible for improving the quality of life for Edmontonians through various methods. I follow the lead of the communities I serve, and provide support so that citizens, groups and organizations can build capacity and succeed without me. My role changes often, but I can be found providing organizational development services, facilitation and strategic planning services, assessment and problem-solving support, capacity-building services, networking and connecting people, offering information and referral services, advising on policy development, and other services. I help to address affordable housing and homelessness, community food insecurity, non-profit agency development, poverty, discrimination and multicultural challenges, inclusive social services, social justice, climate change, and others as they arise."
—Hani Quan, Social Worker, Community Services

"I am a Community Building Social Worker who works with community groups or groups of individuals to support and help plan and develop community actions. I support communities in identifying and understanding community issues and strengths. Community building is about building relationships, and capacity at the grassroots level. It is about supporting leadership and self-determination in communities, as they are the experts for tapping into neighborhood synergies and capitalizing on them."
—Robby Shearer, Community Building Social Worker, Community Services

SOME OF THE BEST REASONS TO JOIN US

"If you are passionate about social work and enjoy variety in your job, then you should become a part of the team with the City of Edmonton. I joined because I knew people who worked here, and they loved it. I stay because we are able to do preventative social work, and because of the wide variety of opportunities to work with the citizens of Edmonton."
—Heather Morrison, Social Worker, Community Services

"The environment is safe and positive. There are opportunities for growth and development. Those opportunities open the doors to work in other areas or different capacities, which help keeps things fresh and new. The compensation is good. And finally, you will never be bored here."
—Kaylin Betteridge, Social Worker, Community Services

"I initially chose the City of Edmonton because of two reasons: the uniqueness and progressive nature of the community-building position; and secondly the compensation package, including the salary and benefits, which are very competitive in Edmonton for social workers. The stability was also a factor. I stay because the Community Building Social Worker role is dynamic, challenging, exciting, provides me lots of room to learn and develop myself professionally and personally, and has also provided me many avenues through which I can achieve my life's work."
—Hani Quan, Social Worker, Community Services

"The City of Edmonton is a progressive, innovative organization where an individual can find opportunity, potential for personal growth and new and exciting work in their field of practice. I saw working for the City of Edmonton as an opportunity to excel in the field I am passionate about. It is a progressive and forward-thinking concept, to place tremendous value on community development and I am proud to be a part of the exciting and dynamic work Neighbourhood and Community Development is involved with."
—Robby Shearer, Community Building Social Worker, Community Services

QUALITIES THAT DEFINE THE CITY AS AN EMPLOYER

"There are several qualities that I would say best define the City of Edmonton as an employer. The City is fair, progressive, values safety, promotes equality in the workplace, and offers a wide variety of opportunities. The City allows its staff to be creative and innovative in its response to social issues, and supports services addressing social issues, such as family violence. It acknowledges the importance of Social Workers and their role in a municipality."
—Heather Morrison, Social Worker, Community Services

"As an employer, the City is progressive, supportive, and challenging. My department is highly citizen-focused. The City of Edmonton is one of the few that provides direct counselling services to its citizens, which illustrates the care for each citizen's well-being. Teamwork is what keeps our department moving. When I or one of my co-workers is away from work, the team picks up that individual's tasks. My team has done well through changes lately, and the work is always managed. I also feel supported in my work and know that if I need advice, help, or case consultation, my co-workers are available and more than happy sit down with me and chat."
—Kaylin Betteridge, Social Worker, Community Services

"The City of Edmonton is respectful, responsive, and trustworthy. And my department can be characterized with these words: 'service,' 'integrity,' partnership,' and 'tradition.' There are many progressive and intelligent people that I have worked with, and there is a willingness to take risks and be innovative. The atmosphere is generally one of support, appreciation, recognition and collaboration. There is always room for improvement, but overall, this is a great environment."
—Hani Quan, Social Worker, Community Services

"The City of Edmonton is progressive, innovative, and accountable. And I would say that the Neighborhood and Community Development (NCD) group is creative, exciting and responsible. The culture of the City of Edmonton very much supports teamwork and respect. I feel supported by my colleagues and my director in being the best I can be. It is a corporate culture of cooperation and collaboration where colleagues support and enhance the work of others. The energy in the City of Edmonton fosters commitment and determination in serving the public and their efforts to create great places to live."
—Robby Shearer, Community Building Social Worker, Community Services

WHY EDMONTON IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

"There are so many reasons why I enjoy working here. For one thing, it's a safer environment than some, and you have the freedom to be self-directed at work. Plus, you can target the work that best suits your strengths and where you can know you can make the greatest difference. There is lots of room to learn and grow, and the pay and benefits are good."
—Heather Morrison, Social Worker, Community Services

"The City is a great place to work because it provides good work/life balance, as well as a challenging yet manageable work load. And the City of Edmonton values and acknowledges its staff's skills and abilities. there is definitely the acknowledgement that employees are experts in their fields and should be treated as such. It is a good feeling to know that my director trusts my abilities and allows me to pursue things I am passionate about. It's challenging professionally, which is what I was looking for. Challenges allow me to grow in my profession and expand my experience. The culture encourages diversity and respect. I have good working relationships with my colleagues and feel supported by them both personally and professionally. I appreciate the fact that many women are in leadership positions."
—Kaylin Betteridge, Social Worker, Community Services

"There is a great work environment, opportunities for growth and learning, and a strong connection to a greater purpose for those who seek it out. This position has provided me access to the critical elements that I need to flourish: autonomy, mastery, and purpose."
—Hani Quan, Social Worker, Community Services

"I have stayed because of the potential I have within the organization. Along with the opportunity for advancement, continued learning and training, I have personal fulfillment in the work I am doing."
—Robby Shearer, Community Building Social Worker

THE MOST REWARDING PART OF A CAREER HERE

"What I find most rewarding is being able to work with colleagues who are like-minded and creative Social Workers. I also treasure all of the various projects that I have been lucky enough to be involved in—like CIAFV, Financial Plus, and working with the citizens of Edmonton who have been affected by family violence."
—Heather Morrison, Social Worker, Community Services

"The variety of work is quite rewarding as are the people I work with. The citizens who use our counselling services benefit from the quality and the genuine care that goes into my work. I feel like I am making a difference in people's lives and supporting them during difficult times. Professional highlights include being given the privilege of providing services to both men and women, working collaboratively with other agencies and with my co-workers to support the Edmontonians we serve, and being involved in some of the City's strategic long-term planning. Feedback from Edmontonians that our services have made their lives easier or helped them through a difficult time is the greatest highlight for me. Knowing that in some small part I have assisted another person in a way that was meaningful for them is a great personal reward."
—Kaylin Betteridge, Social Worker, Community Services

"My career here has afforded me a high quality of life in terms of compensation, and allowing me the opportunities to develop myself and strive towards the achievement of my life goals."
—Hani Quan, Social Worker, Community Services

"What I find most rewarding while working for the City of Edmonton, is being a part of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, and seeing the magic happen when true collaboration occurs and a new idea takes flight. When the work is grounded in what the community sees as most relevant and important to them, it fills me with a sense of accomplishment and pride. It contributes to the knowledge that my department and my organization work in the best interests of serving the community and helping neighbourhoods become great places to live. Seeing a project or initiative through from beginning to end in partnership with community is a definite highlight of my work. Building lasting and meaningful relationships with community and colleagues outside the corporation is what sustains and adds to the value of the work I do."
—Robby Shearer, Community Building Social Worker, Community Services