For the Single Moms Still Trying: Gina Johnson’s Journey Towards Purpose and Possibility
BEEDIE LUMINARIES — Gina Johnson knows how hard it can be for single mothers to hold on to an educational dream. She also knows that with persistence, community, and the right support, that dream can still become reality.
From a very young age, Gina seemed drawn to caring for others. One of the stories her family tells goes back to when she was 3 years old: when she had candy, she gave it away to other children, and then cried because she had none left for herself. It is a small memory, but one that reveals something lasting about her character — a willingness to give, even before she fully understood what it meant.
That same spirit showed up again in Grade 7, when Gina received a service award. Long before social work became her profession, service was already becoming part of her identity. Looking back, those early moments feel less like isolated memories and more like the beginning of a lifelong calling.
Today, Gina is a registered social worker in northern British Columbia with a Bachelor of Social Work from UFV and a Master of Education from TRU. Her journey through higher education was deeply personal. As a single mother, she spent six and a half years completing her studies, taking one step at a time while balancing parenting, coursework, and personal wellness. What began with uncertainty eventually became a powerful foundation for both her academic work and her future career.
That experience went on to shape her Master of Education thesis, which explored the internal and external factors that support single mothers in completing higher education in Canada. Through both research and lived experience, Gina came to understand how many women face financial pressure, time constraints, social isolation, and institutional gatekeeping while pursuing their goals. At the same time, she saw how community, flexible pathways, and meaningful support can make all the difference. Her work speaks not only to single mothers currently in school, but also to the institutions and decision-makers who have the power to make education more accessible.
In 2023, Gina’s perseverance was recognized through the SPARK Scholarship, followed by the Graduate Award. The SPARK program supports single parents in British Columbia who are pursuing post-secondary education while facing financial adversity, and it connects recipients to a broader network of support and mentorship. For Gina, those recognitions reflected more than academic achievement — they honoured the resilience, leadership, and determination that had carried her through years of parenting and study.
Her educational journey was also featured in UFV’s article, Social work student finds life purpose at UFV, which highlighted how she was achieving her goals while raising her son as a sole parent and maintaining her personal wellness. The article also captured the growing clarity of her purpose: to support people through trauma and create spaces where healing is possible. That theme of healing has been present in more than one part of her life and work.
Before stepping fully into social work, Gina also created space for healing through storytelling. She hosted the podcast Life’s Valleys and Mountaintops, where she shared stories of people recovering from illness, accident, and trauma. That work reflected the same values that continue to guide her today — compassion, hope, and the belief that recovery becomes more possible when people feel seen and supported.
In her private practice, Gina now supports single mothers raising children with disabilities, many of whom are carrying multiple responsibilities at once. She understands how caregiving, financial pressure, advocacy, and exhaustion can overlap in ways that are difficult for others to see. Looking ahead, she dreams of opening a centre where single parents can heal after illness, accident, or trauma. She imagines a space built around rest, recovery, and connection — a place where parents can receive support without shame and begin to rebuild with care around them. It is a vision rooted in everything she has lived, studied, and worked toward: the belief that when people are supported well, they are better able to heal, learn, and move forward.
Like the most compelling Beedie Luminaries stories, Gina’s journey is not defined by one achievement alone, but by the values that connect every chapter. From the little girl who gave away her candy, to the Grade 7 student recognized for service, to the social worker, researcher, and advocate she is today, Gina continues to build a life rooted in care, resilience, and community.
Thank you, Gina. Meet our Alumni here.
