UBC Reports | Vol. 48 | No. 2 | Jan. 24, 2002

Sex educator, volunteer to be among honorees

Honorary degree recipients recognized for public service

An alumnus and former lieutenant-governor of B.C., a sexual health educator, a chief of Vancouver Island's Hesquiaht Band, and one of UBC's most tireless volunteers are among the 13 individuals who will receive honorary degrees from UBC this year.

Prominent in the professions and the community, honorary degree recipients are recognized for distinguished achievements and for their contributions to the life of the university and the betterment of society.

Garde Gardom became B.C.'s attorney general in 1975 after serving as a member of the legislative assembly from 1966-83. An advocate for public accountability, Gardom participated in measures such as televising debates and establishing the offices of the ombudsman and auditor-general.

After serving as agent-general for B.C. in the United Kingdom and Europe, Gardom was B.C.'s lieutenant-governor from 1995-2001.

Meg Hickling has advanced sex education as a health-care initiative in B.C. for more than 25 years. A registered nurse, Hickling has worked with families and children as a practitioner and mentored a generation of health-care professionals to provide sex education.

A leader in policy-making on issues such as violence against women and pornography, Hickling has received numerous awards including the Order of Canada in 2001.

An elected chief of the Hesquiaht band for 30 years, Simon Lucas has been a national and international spokesperson on environmental issues that affect fisheries and aboriginal people. An executive member of the B.C. Aboriginal Fisheries Commission since 1983, Lucas has worked to raise awareness of the need for clean water and healthy ecosystems.

Involved in social issues such as health improvements, drug and alcohol abuse and family violence, Lucas has also co-chaired the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council for six years.

Douglas "Buzz" Moore has been involved with UBC's Athletics and Recreation Dept. for more than 50 years. While operating his own bakery in Kerrisdale, Moore also served as business manager for the department and since his retirement has volunteered in a variety of roles including rallying alumni support for university fund-raising events.

Other honorary degree recipients include Dr. Donald Calne, former director of the Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre at UBC; alumnus and diplomat Maurice Copithorne; communications industry leader Philip Lind; internationally recognized oceanographer Timothy Parsons; pediatrician and inherited disease specialist Dr. Charles Scriver; educational multimedia expert Gerri Sinclair; Oolichan Press publisher Ronald Smith; geneticist and Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman; and alumna and participant in the 1922 Great Trek, Harriet Winspear.

The degrees will be awarded during UBC's Spring Congregation in May and Fall Congregation in November.