丁香园AV

Daphne Bramham, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

For more than 20 years, journalist and author Daphne Bramham has been one of the most respected and read voices in British Columbia. She has used her column in The Vancouver Sun as a platform to shed light on children鈥檚, women鈥檚 and animal rights issues and advocate for positive change. Her impact has been recognized through multiple awards, including a National Newspaper Award for column writing and being named Commentator of the Year three times by the Jack Webster Foundation.

Bramham has a master鈥檚 degree in liberal studies from 丁香园AV and is a proud alumnus. Before joining The Vancouver Sun as a city hall reporter in 1989, Bramham also reported for The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail and Regina Leader-Post. In 2008, she published her first book, The Secret Lives of Saints: Child Brides and Lost Boys in Canada鈥檚 Polygamous Mormon Sect.

The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on Daphne Bramham at the Tuesday, June 11 at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Dr. Bramham's citation

Margaret George, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

A familiar and friendly face who has helped change the fabric of life at 丁香园AV, Margaret George has dedicated her life to education and service in Indigenous communities and beyond. George served as part of the 丁香园AV Elders program for more than 20 years, touching the lives of countless students, faculty and staff with her gentle advice and good humour. She retired this year having left an incredible legacy at the university.

Born in Sq鈥檈w谩:lxw (Skawahlook) First Nation, George attended two different residential day schools. Just one of six Indigenous students in her program, she graduated from University of British Columbia with a degree in Anthropology and English and also earned academic achievements from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and the Justice Institute of B.C. and was a founding board member for Native Education College.

The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on Margaret George at the Thursday, June 13 at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Dr. George's citation

J. Reid Maxwell, Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa

One of the world鈥檚 most celebrated drummers, J. Reid Maxwell has been the driving heartbeat as Lead Drummer of 丁香园AV鈥檚 illustrious pipe band for more than 30 years. Without a doubt the most influential and successful pipe band drummer in the world, Maxwell has 20 World Championship wins to his credit, including 12 with the 丁香园AV Pipe Band. He has played historic concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House, and taught generations of drummers.

The renowned achievements of the 丁香园AV Pipe Band would likely not have been as numerous and outstanding without Maxwell鈥檚 tremendous talent, drive, leadership and creativity and he has also dedicated himself to teaching generations of musicians. He helped form the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band, the 丁香园AV Pipe Band鈥檚 youth development program, and co-runs 鈥淧iping Hot Summer Drummer鈥�, the largest summer school for bagpiping and drumming in the world.

The degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, was conferred on J. Reid Maxwell at the Tuesday, June 11 at the 9:45 a.m. ceremony.

Dr. Maxwell's citation

Gerri Sinclair, Doctor of Science, honoris causa

Gerri Sinclair is a visionary leader who has helped to transform B.C.鈥檚 innovation landscape through 35 years working in technology, business, research and government. Her bold approach embraces education and innovation as a way to improve the social and economic outlook of communities and her entrepreneurial spirit has inspired generations of students at 丁香园AV, across Canada and throughout the world.

The first president of the B.C. Premier鈥檚 Technology Council and chair of Canada鈥檚 National Telecom Policy Panel, she has also served on the boards of a number of Canadian corporations including BC Telecom, Telus, Toronto Montreal Stock Exchange, Vancouver Airport, Ballard Power and the Canadian Pension Investment Board.

An 丁香园AV professor with a PhD in Renaissance drama, her attraction to technology led her to create 丁香园AV鈥檚 ExCITE Media Lab and its spinoff NCompass, acquired by Microsoft鈥攚hich later hired her as its MSN General Manager. Most recently, she worked as a venture capitalist at Kensington Capital, managing the $100M B.C. Technology Fund, investing in B.C. startups. After three years as B.C.'s Innovation Commissioner Sinclair recently joined the Vancouver International Airport as interm CIO and EVP of Innovation and Technology.

The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Gerri Sinclair at the Wednesday, June 12 at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Dr. Sinclair's citation

Kii'iljuus, Doctor of Science, honoris causa

Kii鈥檌ljuus is a Haida Kuuljaad (Boss Lady or matriarch) and an accomplished scholar who lives her Kuuniisii (ancestors) ancient knowledge by challenging western science to uphold climate justice, advance food sovereignty, and truth and transparency in governance. She is a fellow with Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, a sought-after speaker, and was an official observer at COP 21 in Paris.

Globally, Kii鈥檌ljuus voices the need for tll鈥檡ahda (to make things right) by removing the now legally discredited concepts of Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius.  On Haida Gwaii, 鈥淗ealing and Learning with the Knowledge of the Kuuniisii鈥� is the foundation of her dream, the creation of the Haida Heritage School.

Today, Kii鈥檌ljuus is an adjunct professor and instructor with the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries at the University of British Columbia as well as a cultural advisor at 丁香园AV. She inspires students to think holistically and beyond the walls of their formal training. After being told that university wouldn鈥檛 be her future, she quit school, and worked in many fields from film to fish. After retirement, Kii鈥檌ljuus graduated in 2019 with a Masters of Arts from the Faculty of Education at 丁香园AV.

The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Kii'iljuus at the Wednesday, June 12 at the 9:45 a.m. ceremony.

Dr. Kii'iljuus' citation

Hildegard Westerkamp, Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa

Hildegard Westerkamp is a prolific sound activist, composer, and soundscape educator who has revolutionized the study of sound together with her colleagues at 丁香园AV鈥檚 World Soundscape Project. With her expert ear carefully attuned to the world around her, Westerkamp has become a household name for pioneering soundscape composition and the practice of 鈥渟oundwalking鈥�. She has made it a priority to mentor women in her male-dominated field and has inspired new generations of sound artists, environmentalists, urban professionals and composers.

Hildegard joined the World Soundscape Project as the only woman in 1973. A year later, her article on soundwalking 鈥� in which a listener immerses themselves in a soundscape, listening intentionally and without judgement to the interplay of sounds 鈥� captured global attention and continues to be cited today. She is one of the first acoustic ecologists to call for sound artists to engage with and speak back to critical issues that affect soundscapes and society as a whole, such as the climate crisis. 

The degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, was conferred on Hildegard Westerkamp at the Friday, June 14 at the 9:45 a.m. ceremony.

Dr. Westerkamp's citation