Social worker Kate Wright takes pride in helping others in different ways

Kate Wright is not one to sit on the sidelines, especially when it comes to helping others.

She loves getting involved and is motivated to make her South Shore community a better place.

What that looks like depends on the day. A social worker with Adolescent Outreach Services with the Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions Program, Kate also volunteers as a firefighter with her hometown Petite Riviere Fire Department and is a co-organizer of the Petite Queer Pride event.

While that may seem like a lot for one person, Kate credits Nova Scotia Health with supporting her and providing a work-life balance that allows her to volunteer as much as she does.  

“With the job I have, I genuinely enjoy my job, and I love coming to work every day. How many people get to say that?” Kate says.

“I’m not kidding, I am living my best life right now. I have a lot of fun things that I love to do and I’m really looking forward to continuing them in some capacity for the rest of my life, if I can.”

Kate worked in the non-profit sector before becoming a social worker in 2020, a job she feels she was born to do.

“I’ve been shaped by experiences in my life to want to give back and help people,” says Kate, who was recently recognized by the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers with the Freda Vickery Award, which recognizes excellence and dedication in the field of social work.  

Kate says her previous real-world experience has helped her in her new career.

“It’s a very important job, you’re really interacting with people at some vulnerable moments in their lives, and having previous experience through other work, it both made me know I wanted to be a social worker and it made me a better social worker.”

Kate was inspired to join her volunteer fire department after the devastating impact wildfires had on the province in 2022.

Even without any prior experience or knowledge of what being a firefighter entails, Kate says social work has helped her handle high-pressure situations and remain calm in stressful situations.

Her primary responsibility is responding to medical calls, having recently been certified under the EHS Medical First Responder program.  

“I am very good at a medical scene because I am good at keeping calm, I am good at talking to kids, working with people. Helping people feel safe and calm is an important aspect of being a social worker,” she says.  

“The volunteer fire service is a chance to do some interesting things that are helpful to others, and you get some incredible training. It’s been a really great opportunity to be part of a team.”

Soon after becoming a social worker, Kate – who is part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community - was approached to help Petite Queer Pride get off the ground.

Now in its fifth year, Petite Queer Pride offers community and cultural events year-round, with Kate serving as a co-organizer, helping with social media and the arts program.

She wanted to give a safe space to people – particularly adolescents – who are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

“A big motivator for me in getting as involved as I have in this has been the fact that I work with queer rural kids, and I know a lot of gay and trans kids in schools in Queens County, in particular, and they have a really hard road in some cases with how they’re treated socially,” she says.

“But what being involved in Pride has given me is a chance to be a role model and set a standard in the community that we’re not going to harass people about difference.”

Whether it’s helping young people through her social work skills or stepping up in her volunteer roles, Kate is making her community a better place and is in a happy place because of it. 

Photo of Kate Wright.