2005 Honorary Degree Recipients Named
April 21, 2005 for immediate release
Two career educators who have made significant contributions
to the advancement of knowledge will be recognized with honorary degrees from
UNBC in 2005.
Mary Alice Danaher has been the driving force behind the
Weekend University, a unique partnership involving UNBC, the Cariboo Tribal
Council, and the University College of the Cariboo (now, Thompson Rivers
University). The program makes courses available in Williams Lake
on alternate weekends to First Nations people from throughout the region, and a
number have graduated with bachelor’s degrees and certificates. Most of her
35-year teaching career has been spent in the Cariboo, working with the Canim
Lake Band and the Cariboo Tribal Council. She is a graduate of The University
of Montreal, the University of Toronto, and Gonzaga
University and is recipient of the
Order of Canada.
K. George Pedersen has the distinction of being the
President or Vice-President of five BC universities, including a short term as
Interim President of UNBC before the arrival of Charles Jago. He was also
President of the University
of Western Ontario for
nine years and served as UNBC’s second Chancellor for six years. Born in
northern Alberta,
he received his teaching diploma in 1952 and has since provided unparalleled
leadership and advocacy for public education. He received ten scholarships en
route to completing a PhD at the University
of Chicago where he gained
a profound understanding of the relationship between higher education and the
aims of society. Presently, he is an advisor to the Salzburg Seminar, which
provides assistance to eastern European and Russian universities. He has been
admitted to the Order of Ontario and the Order
of British Columbia, and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Both Dr. Danaher and Dr. Pedersen will be presented with
honorary degrees at the May 27 Convocation ceremony. The official credential is
a Doctor of Laws honoris causa.
An honorary degree is the highest award presented by the
University and recognizes outstanding public service of national significance.
Past recipients have included Haida artist Bill Reid, former Governor-General
Ramon Hnatyshyn, current Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo, and Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome pioneer Kwadwo Asante. This past August, UNBC also presented ten
honorary degrees to its founders as part of the University’s celebrations in
recognition of its first decade of full operations.
Contact:
Robert van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations,
UNBC – 250.960.5622