Honorary degree recipients Archive
Andy Sidhu named new Chancellor of UFV
Andy Sidhu will be the University of the Fraser Valley’s third Chancellor. A long-time proponent of community engagement and integration, Sidhu will take over from Dr. Gwen Point, who served as UFV’s second Chancellor from 2015 to the present, following two terms by Brian Minter. “I’m extremely honoured and proud to join the University of…Andy Sidhu receives honorary degree from UFV for community building
The son of a hardworking Malaysian bus driver, Andy Sidhu knows the value of timely connections. Now, after 43 years as a champion of inclusivity in the Fraser Valley, he’s receiving an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University if the Fraser Valley. “Any immigrant moving to any country has teething problems when you…Kirsten Brazier earns honorary degree for inspiring females in aviation,
Kirsten Brazier loves working in aviation. And her enthusiasm for sharing this career path, and other STEM-based fields, with females of all ages, has earned her an honorary doctorate from the University of the Fraser Valley. Brazier will receive her honorary Doctor of Technology degree at UFV’s morning convocation ceremony on Tues, June 6 at…Kirsten Brazier, Nadine Caron, Andy Sidhu, and Tamara Taggart to
Four exemplary citizens will receive honorary doctorates at the University of the Fraser Valley Convocation ceremonies, to be held June 6 and 7 at the Abbotsford Centre. They include Kirsten Brazier, an aviation professional and mentor of young women in science and technology; Dr. Nadine Caron, Canada’s first female indigenous surgeon and an advocate for…Artist Linda Frimer returns to UFV for President’s Leadership Lecture
West coast artist and 2017 UFV honorary degree recipient Linda Frimer returns to UFV on Monday, March 13 for the President’s Leadership Lecture Series. Her presentation will take place at 4:30 pm in the Abbotsford campus lecture theatre (B101). This lecture is co-sponsored by the UFV Alumni Association and UFV. The public is welcome to this free…Gwen and Steven Point receive Order of Chilliwack
UFV Chancellor Gwen Point and her husband Steven, both of whom have many connections to UFV, were honoured with the Order of Chilliwack on Thursday, Oct 6. They are the fifth and sixth recipients of the award. From a City of Chilliwack news release: The Order of Chilliwack was presented to the Honourable Steven Point…From India to Whitehorse, George Peary is changing lives and
Still striving to inspire future generations, former Abbotsford mayor George Peary will reflect on a lifetime of changing lives and building communities across the world when he takes the stage as the latest UFV President’s Leadership Lecture Series speaker Wed, Oct 12 at the Abbotsford campus. A former Abbotsford mayor, city councillor, and school principal,…Honorary degree recipient Luigi Aquilini built an empire by example
Rags-to-riches stories often offer a glimpse into the highest level of human achievement. But Luigi Aquilini’s tale might top them all. Emigrating from his small Italian hometown, Luigi arrived in Canada penniless. Speaking little to no English and armed with nothing but a fifth-grade education, a strong back, and a determination to succeed, he set…George Peary receives honorary degree in recognition of decades of
Decades of public service behind him, George Peary has a quip for every occasion, a story for every situation, and now an honorary degree from UFV recognizing a lifetime of community commitment. “I’m an ordinary fellow who’s been given an extraordinary opportunity to serve,” he says. “You make a living by what you get, but…Halldor Bjarnason: advocate for people with disabilities to receive UFV
Halldor Bjarnason knows all about overcoming barriers. The cerebral palsy he was born with affects his movement and his speech. It crushed his dream of becoming a firefighter, a profession for which he still cares deeply. Halldor was a bright child, and his mother fought to get him into regular school in an era when…Linda Frimer’s heartfelt art inspires UFV honorary degree
For Linda Frimer, art is a form of reconciliation, and creativity a means of expressing the love within us all. The Vancouver artist has been sharing her art to heal, help worthy causes, and reconcile nature and culture for more than 35 years. In recognition of her artistic, humanitarian, and philanthropic contributions and accomplishments, Frimer…Luigi Aquilini, Halldor Bjarnason, Linda Frimer, and George Peary to
Four Canadians who exemplify leadership and excellence will receive honorary doctorates from the University of the Fraser Valley this spring. Business titan Luigi Aquilini, lawyer and Paralympian Halldor Bjarnason, artist and activist Linda Frimer, and educator and community leader George Peary will each be honoured at one of UFV’s four convocation ceremonies on June 2…Margo Kane returns to UFV for performance May 1
Movement and expression have defined Margo Kane for more than 40 years during an accomplished professional performance career. You can’t categorize her, and you can’t keep her still. A seemingly endless well of perpetual energy helps this dynamo tell her own story, express herself as an artist, and facilitate the sharing of many stories reflective…Volcanologist Hickson to explore our destructive planet in President’s Leadership
Dr. Catherine Hickson’s geology career had an explosive start: she was an eyewitness to the May 18, 1980 explosion of Mount St. Helens in Washington State. This devastating, almost instantaneous destruction of a vast area focused her attention on understanding the destructive forces of volcanoes, and her future as a volcanologist was set. Since then…Turning grief into action: honorary doctorate recipient Ginny Dennehy returns
Ginny Dennehy chose to turn grief into action and to live with hope after losing both of her children at a young age. Dennehy, who received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Fraser Valley, returns to campus October 14 to speak as part of the President’s Leadership Lecture Series. Dennehy will speak at…Linguist Strang Burton to speak on revitalizing Halq’eméylem at UFV
At its Convocation ceremonies last June, the University of the Fraser Valley conferred an honorary degree on Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips, the last surviving fluent speaker of Upriver Halq’eméylem, the language of the Stó:lō people. Professional linguists have played a vital role in assisting community members and Elders such as Siyamiyateliyot in helping the Stó:lō to…Magnanimous Dr. Malwinder S. Dhami awarded honorary degree from the
With a dental degree from India in his back pocket, Dr. Malwinder S. Dhami earned $2.95 an hour when he first came to Canada. He held no grudge behind that 7-11 counter, not even when piercing Manitoba winter winds seeped through the doorway. “I didn’t come here because it would be easy, I did it…Kim Bolan earns honorary degree for dedication to journalism
Fearless, compassionate and wildly determined, Kim Bolan is commonly counted among Canada’s top journalists. Her body of work is unparalleled, from covering arguably the biggest crime story in Canadian history to reporting on a gangster’s plan to kill her at home. For this and much more, Bolan will be recognized for her outstanding achievements with…UFV to honour hometown athlete Sophie Schmidt with honorary degree
Canadian women’s national soccer team veteran Sophie Schmidt won’t hit the big 3-0 in age until late June, but she has packed a lot into her first three decades. Three World Cups. Three Olympics. Two Olympic bronze medals. Numerous international qualifying tournaments. And it all started with backyard scrimmages with her two brothers and then…Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips receives UFV honorary degree for efforts to
If not for a few key turns of events, Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips might not be the last surviving fluent speaker of Upriver Halq’eméylem, the language of the Stó:lō people. The first one was the tragic loss of her mother, who died giving birth to her in 1939. Her father already had several children to care…Why Success is Spelled with an “F” — Kirsten Brazier
Kirsten Brazier didn’t let the fact that few women become pilots stop her from building a successful career in the aviation industry, and she brings that “do anything” attitude to her current passion: encouraging girls and women to achieve in high-tech fields. Founder of both Achieve Anything Foundation and The Sky’s No Limit — Girls…Andy Sidhu named new Chancellor of UFV
Andy Sidhu will be the University of the Fraser Valley’s third Chancellor. A long-time proponent of community engagement and integration, Sidhu will take over from Dr. Gwen Point, who served as UFV’s second Chancellor from 2015 to the present, following two terms by Brian Minter. “I’m extremely honoured and proud to join the University of…Andy Sidhu receives honorary degree from UFV for community building
The son of a hardworking Malaysian bus driver, Andy Sidhu knows the value of timely connections. Now, after 43 years as a champion of inclusivity in the Fraser Valley, he’s receiving an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University if the Fraser Valley. “Any immigrant moving to any country has teething problems when you…Kirsten Brazier earns honorary degree for inspiring females in aviation,
Kirsten Brazier loves working in aviation. And her enthusiasm for sharing this career path, and other STEM-based fields, with females of all ages, has earned her an honorary doctorate from the University of the Fraser Valley. Brazier will receive her honorary Doctor of Technology degree at UFV’s morning convocation ceremony on Tues, June 6 at…Kirsten Brazier, Nadine Caron, Andy Sidhu, and Tamara Taggart to
Four exemplary citizens will receive honorary doctorates at the University of the Fraser Valley Convocation ceremonies, to be held June 6 and 7 at the Abbotsford Centre. They include Kirsten Brazier, an aviation professional and mentor of young women in science and technology; Dr. Nadine Caron, Canada’s first female indigenous surgeon and an advocate for…Artist Linda Frimer returns to UFV for President’s Leadership Lecture
West coast artist and 2017 UFV honorary degree recipient Linda Frimer returns to UFV on Monday, March 13 for the President’s Leadership Lecture Series. Her presentation will take place at 4:30 pm in the Abbotsford campus lecture theatre (B101). This lecture is co-sponsored by the UFV Alumni Association and UFV. The public is welcome to this free…Gwen and Steven Point receive Order of Chilliwack
UFV Chancellor Gwen Point and her husband Steven, both of whom have many connections to UFV, were honoured with the Order of Chilliwack on Thursday, Oct 6. They are the fifth and sixth recipients of the award. From a City of Chilliwack news release: The Order of Chilliwack was presented to the Honourable Steven Point…