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A survey of the names of graduates from the Faculty of Social Welfare/ over the last 60 years includes so many who have had a huge impact on people’s lives and on society. In fact, you don’t have to go past the first name, Patricia Edith Allen, MSW’69, to find a changemaker who became synonymous with advocacy for seniors' rights and services in Alberta. 

Patricia Allen was one of the founders of the (now part of Unison) and a lifelong advocate and champion of senior’s rights.

Allen was the first student to graduate from the new Faculty of Social Welfare, which reflected founding Dean Tim Tyler’s focus on public-policy change and advocacy. So, it’s not surprising that, when Allen graduated, she was already primed and prepared to make a difference. 

As her husband, Grant Allen, recalled during an interview in 2017, “After getting her master’s degree, Patricia held a workshop on retirement planning where she noted a lot of policy decisions were being made for seniors without their input.

"She believed that seniors should have more influence on what was happening to them instead of accepting decisions from people who didn't ask them what they wanted.”

That experience led Patricia to form the Senior Citizens Central Council, an advocacy group that met in the basement of the Central United Church in downtown �����о���. 

When Mount Royal College (now University) left its downtown campus in 1972, the persuasive Allen convinced the government of then-Premier Peter Lougheed to rent them the building at 1133 7 Ave. S.W. for $1 a year. 

Reflecting her social work training, Allen was passionate about ensuring that seniors were active participants in any research or policy decisions that involved them. She was also focused on ensuring that seniors had the best quality of life possible and drove service initiatives including a wellness centre, tax filing, grocery delivery, and the Kerby Rotary Shelter that helped seniors affected by family violence.

Continuing her legacy

Patricia passed away suddenly in April 15, 2017 and Grant decided to do something in Patricia’s name, so he created the Patricia Allen scholarship in the Faculty of Social Work. 

Fittingly, the scholarship is earmarked for a student with a passion for helping seniors. “I didn't want Patricia's name to be forgotten,” he said simply and with obvious emotion. 

Fittingly, generations of students will keep Patricia Allen’s name and mission alive studying the same issues that Allen attacked with such fiery passion her whole life. 

“I would like the students who receive this scholarship to know that Patricia was a very compassionate person who really never thought of herself,” said Grant Allen, who was also incredibly active in supporting Kerby having donated more than 15,000 hours to the centre over his lifetime, including assisting in the design and renovation of the facility; he passed away in 2023.

“I think seniors generally are kind of a forgotten group of people. Maybe this will help to bring it to the fore.”