The UBC School of Social Work is greatly saddened to announce the passing of Dennis Trevor Guest (PhD) on January 10, 2022.
Dennis was born in Davidson Saskatchewan on September 8, 1923. He attended UBC, graduating with a BA and then a Masters in Social Work. He obtained his PhD at London University, UK. He was a Professor at the UBC School of Social Work for many years until his retirement in 1988.
His textbook The Emergence of Social Security in Canada is a standard text in social work and related courses in post secondary institutions across Canada since its publication in 1980.
The BC, Musqueam and UBC flags (at the North Plaza of the Life Building) will be lowered Thursday, March 10, 2022 in remembrance.
Memories of Dennis Guest
From Richard Sullivan:
He retired in 1988, three years before I arrived but he remained active and attended the job talks of new faculty and was very supportive and encouraging. He was an active emeritus and kindly served as guest lecturer in the course on the history of social work and social welfare in Canada. His book on the Emergence of Social Security in Canada became a standard text nationally through three editions and remains one of the building blocks of knowledge in that area. His scholarship was impeccable and had an almost journalistic tone in the best possible sense. He provided an incisive history of the field unvarnished and unembellished. In conversation, he had known many of the prime movers of 20th century social security and social work education and he was as generous in speaking of Harry Cassidy, progressive social security advocate and social work educator, as he was with reference to the personal kindness of the controversial Charlotte Whitton. Among the faculty, he was spoken of as a mediating influence, resolute, compassionate and kind. He was a healthy person with keen interests outside of academia, including gardening and the enjoyment of the outdoors. The latter may well have been part of what carried him to a long and productive life ending just short of a century.
From Mary Russell:
I only knew him as a fine and gentle man who was always respectful, polite and a welcoming faculty member. He was great contributor to the understanding of social policy in Canada, perhaps the only one to address that topic for his time.
From Frank Tester:
Dennis was a remarkable, kind and thoughtful colleague. I had the pleasure of working with him on the last version of his classic book, The Emergence of Social Security in Canada. He was, at the time, losing his sight; something that, for someone who loved both reading and gardening, was a source of endless frustration. I visited with him often. He had about him a demeanor I greatly respected. He was critical, but thoughtful in his assessment of where social work was going.
Dennis had a commitment to community work. He recognized the need for social workers to contribute to the development and articulation of social policies and programs. This commitment was steeped in his post-Second World War appreciation of the work of Leonard Marsh, and social work’s contribution to a more equitable and socially-conscious Canadian culture. Dennis’ wisdom was borne of a thorough understanding of the Great Depression and a commitment to changing structures, programs and initiatives that affected the well-being of Canadians. He belonged to a generation of scholars, no longer with us, who helped put in place programs, policies and initiatives that have become the often taken-for-granted foundations of who Canadians are today. I’m privileged to have known and worked with him.
From Graham Riches:
I was immensely saddened to learn of his passing away though I had know known he had not been in good health for a number of years. A huge loss to social work, social policy and to social justice.
