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Bruce Hardy
Location: Surrey,
B.C., Canada
Biography
I began working with kids in 1969 when I was hired to work at a
children’s summer camp. I loved the work and I loved the energy of the
people that I worked with. I did residential care for about 10 years and
then felt the need both to run things and to upgrade my education. The
running things part led to a long run leading social service agencies
across Canada. I did this for many years, finally stopping in 2005 when
I began to teach full time. I had taught part-time for many years but in
2005 I was offered a full time position at Douglas College in New
Westminster BC.
My other goal of upgrading my education led to a MEd in counseling, an
MA in Liberal studies and finally to a PhD from the University of
Victoria in Child and Youth care. Today I teach in our fulltime degree
program as well as consulting and lecturing across Canada and the United
States.
How I came to be in this field
A friend in university asked me if I needed a summer job. I
said yes and never really left.
A favorite saying
Rowdy Roddy Piper used to say that “just when you think
that you know the answer, I change the question” It’s a quote that I
remember whenever I become too full of myself.
A favorite Child and Youth Care experience
Every day that I get to teach, every new class, every new
student; all of this is my favorite Child and Youth Care experience. I feel so lucky to
be able to teach and to learn from a new generation of Child and Youth Care workers.
What I know to be true
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If you do not form a relationship with a child, you cannot help him or her to do anything. Relationship first, all else second.
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Kids are good, all kids, no exceptions.
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You will make mistakes and that is how you will learn. No mistakes, less learning.
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Montreal Canadians are Canada’s team. If you have to ask why, you either are not Canadian or not a hockey fan. Or you live in Vancouver and just do not know any better.
A writing of my own
Child and youth care as a profession
https://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0305-edCYC.html
Influences on my work
My wife Dianne, my boys, all students and so many teachers,
mentors and friends. And like many of them, the full 1970’s experience.
Anything else
The BC government ended mandatory retirement and so I am good
to go for a long time.
