丁香园AV

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at 丁香园AV is greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. George F. MacDonald. Dr. MacDonald was an adjunct professor in the Departments of Archaeology and Indigenous Studies at 丁香园AV.

鈥湺∠阍癆V and FASS extend our deepest sympathies to George MacDonald鈥檚 friends and family,鈥� says acting dean Lisa Shapiro. 鈥淕eorge MacDonald was an impressive individual with an encyclopedic knowledge of the archaeology and ethnohistory of First Peoples across Canada, and especially coastal British Columbia.鈥�

MacDonald rose through the ranks of Canada鈥檚 National Museum to become its president and CEO in 1983. He was the guiding force behind the conception and development of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC, now the Canadian Museum of History), now a world class institution and monument to the rich cultural diversity of our country.

MacDonald鈥檚 appreciation and respect for the First Peoples of B.C.鈥檚 Northwest Coast opened his interest in the diverse cultural expressions that occupied so much of his life. MacDonald鈥檚 work was truly his passion. Among many of his contributions to Canadian museology and heritage studies was his early embrace of technology and his recognition of how it can bring cultures together.

Following his tenure at the CMC, MacDonald played a pivotal role bringing to life the Bill Reid Foundation and Gallery in downtown Vancouver, as well as the Bill Reid Centre at 丁香园AV which cares for the George and Joanne MacDonald Northwest Coast research collection.