Community building is at the heart of everything Amea Wilbur does. Whether collaborating with faculty on new initiatives, guiding students through their latest project, or partnering with a local non-profit, Amea is driven by a steadfast belief in social justice and making the world around her better. 

“My grandfather was a member of parliament, and he was quite involved in getting reparations for Japanese Canadians after the Second World War,” says the 2025 winner of UFV’s Faculty Service Excellence award. “He played a big part, as did my entire family, in how I see the world and my role in trying to change things where I see injustice.” 

The Faculty Service Excellence award goes annually to a faculty member in recognition of excellence in service. Amea has a long list of accomplishments that make her an ideal fit for the award, and topping the list is her deep commitment to Indigenization.  

During 2021/22 she co-led a committee to Indigenize the curriculum within the Faculty of Education, Community, and Human Development (FECHD), collaborating closely with faculty and knowledge keepers to ensure Indigenous knowledge was incorporated into Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education degree program courses.  

“We have a number of Indigenous students in our programs, and we have many from across Canada who are working on Indigenization initiatives,” Amea says. “It deepens their experience when they can see themselves in our curriculum and delve into Indigenization in a meaningful way, and if we want everyone to be part of Canada, then we have to do the work to build relationships and make that happen.”  

Amea has also been an active participant on the FECHD Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee, which inspires the work she does with newcomers to Canada. Last year, she co-edited the anthology Geographies of the Heart, working with migrants to tell their stories of love, loss, displacement, exile, belonging, and disruption. As an affiliate member of the UBC Centre for Migration, she previously developed and supported a podcast on stories of migration to Canada. 

“I’m very proud of that initiative because I’ve been able to see how much impact it’s had on the writers who I worked with,” she says with a smile. “They feel like their voice has been heard and recognized, and when we did readings of the book, we had a lot of other newcomers joining us and talking about hearing stories similar to their own.” 

Amea has a proven ability to connect diverse groups to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experiences. She sees the work she does as solidarity work and capacity building, and she appreciates all the opportunities to collaborate with her colleagues at UFV. 

As a teacher, she embraces innovation in the classroom and works hard to create a welcoming and engaging learning space for her students. She views her classes as communities, and her approach does not go unnoticed. 

“Dr. Wilbur’s trauma-informed approach to teaching demonstrates resilience and a commitment to student well-being,” says Seonaigh MacPherson, a former adult education colleague of Amea’s. “By incorporating principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, decolonization, and belonging into her teaching and professional development, she has paved the way for a more inclusive academic environment.” 

Amea feels honoured to be recognized by UFV for the many endeavours she’s involved in. 

“But I also work with a lot of other people and do a lot of what I do with so many others,” she adds. “I’m honoured, but a lot of what I’ve done couldn’t have happened without the help of so many who share my belief in and values of community building.”