Dr. Abebe Teklu passed away January 9, 2013.

Abebe Teklu joined the School of Social Work and Human Services in 2011. He was the first African-Canadian blind person known to have completed a PhD at any of British Columbia’s universities. He was originally from Ethiopia and spoke seven languages fluently.

Dr. Teklu had a strong research background in the area of leadership and diversity. He used his privilege as an academic and his racialized, immigrant, and disability status to inform his research, teaching, and cross-cultural work with minority issues and communities.

While obtaining a Master of Social Work degree (studies in policy and practice), Dr. Teklu used prosopography to explore the process of achieving unity and reconciliation in newly-forming ethnic communities. His doctoral research in education concerned family dynamics among disabled ‘high achievers’ who were struggling to achieve employment (full citizenship).

Dr. Teklu took a leadership role in establishing supportive cultural communities for immigrants and others in Canada, and also in achieving social justice and equal opportunities for people with disabilities

Funeral Arrangements:
Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home
34537 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 1M1
 Sun, Jan 13, 2013
Service 12:30 pm
Viewing 11:30 – 12:30 am

Interment to follow at Hazelwood Cemetery,
34070 Hazelwood Avenue, Abbotsford, BC

Reception following internment at Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home