Moving and exemplary. These are the words that spring to mind when listening to the life stories of Solange and Gérald McNeely, a couple who have dedicated over forty years of their lives to social work in Toronto.
Moving because the tenderness they have for one another, and for others, is so obvious. Exemplary because in an overwhelmingly Anglophone province, they have managed to maintain their identity as Francophones and have dedicated a large part of their savings to continuing their legacy. In 2006, they created the Bourse Solange-et-Gérald-McNeely de service social, a scholarship that aims to help the next generation of Francophone social workers. And this scholarship will also benefit from their planned gift, which will secure its future and further help students.
“We both received scholarships that allowed us to be debt-free when we completed our social work degrees,” said Gérald McNeely, who grew up in Ottawa. “Our generation, whose members were born right before the baby boom, was lucky enough to be sought-after by employers. We were privileged, so today, it’s our responsibility to give back.”
“Seeing people succeed and spread their wings is so very gratifying; it’s much more satisfying than seeing your portfolio grow!” — Gérald McNeely
Solange McNeely, a proud Franco-Ontarian, agrees. “Sharing is very important, but we are also committed to training Francophone professionals who understand the benefits of speaking their mother tongue.” She noted that communicating in a second language during counselling can create distance between the person and the trauma experienced, hence the need for Francophone social workers in the field.
The McNeelys completed their undergraduate training in social work at schools affiliated with the University of Ottawa, and three of their four sons chose uOttawa so that they could study in French.
To date, 22 students have benefitted from the McNeely scholarship. “Seeing people succeed and spread their wings is so very gratifying,” said Gérald McNeely, “it’s much more satisfying than seeing your portfolio grow!”