UBC graduate and retired B.C. provincial court justice Alfred Scow is among 10 distinguished individuals to be awarded honorary degrees by UBC during this year's Spring Congregation.
Scow was the first aboriginal person to earn a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), practice law and receive a judicial appointment in British Columbia. He is credited with performing a major role in educating non-aboriginal people about the legal, cultural, social and historical issues facing First Nations.
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.
Sally Aw Sian has steered Sing Tao Holdings to a prominent position among international media companies, publishing Chinese and English language newspapers in Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States since 1972. Aw is also recognized for her long-standing interest and participation in community service, health support and education. She has been a major supporter of the establishment of the Sing Tao School of Journalism at UBC.
Mario Bernardi, thought of by many as "a musician's musician" and "an opera singer's conductor," has made enormous contributions to the musical life of Canada. Bernardi, conductor of the CBC Vancouver Orchestra since 1983, has long been known to champion the works of Canadian composers either by premiering piano works or conducting orchestral works, beginning in 1958 when as a soloist with the CBC Symphony Orchestra he premiered Barbara Pentland's Piano Concerto.
Cheung-Kok Choi has built a successful career as an industrialist, businessman and philanthropist in China, Hong Kong and Canada. Choi's long-standing commitment to education has had a significant impact on students around the world. A long-time friend and supporter of UBC, he has established numerous fellowships, bursaries and prizes in several faculties, including the C.K. Choi Fellowship in Business Administration and the C.K. Choi Scholarship in Engineering. The new C. K. Choi Building for the Institute of Asian Research is an important research facility at UBC made possible through his vision, dedication and generous support.
Haig Farris is a leader in raising awareness of science and technology, promoting the knowledge-based industry in B.C. and bringing university research to the marketplace. Farris was instrumental in the creation of Vancouver's Science World as a key member of the founding Board of Directors. A UBC graduate, Farris has maintained strong ties to campus, serving as an adjunct professor. Active in the community, Mr. Farris is a director of the Vancouver Opera, chair of the Science Council of B.C., an advisory board member of the UBC Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Research Centre and a member of the Premier's Advisory Committee on Science and Technology. He is also president of the UBC Alumni Association.
Clarence (Manny) Jules, born and raised on the Kamloops Indian Reserve, has served as the spokesperson for his community for more than 20 years. Jules has demonstrated a visionary and practical approach to many pressing First Nations issues, including the restoration of economic independence to First Nations communities and protection of the environment. Working to solve problems at a local level for the Kamloops Indian Band has led him to develop initiatives that have become national in scope. He was instrumental is the establishment of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, a national First Nations environmental organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of First Nations lands and territories. He played a leading role in establishing the Indian Taxation Advisory Board, which provides viable on-reserve tax regimes, largely controlled by First Nations. He is a founding member of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (SNTC), a representative body comprising the chiefs of several southern Shuswap communities.
Raymond Lemieux is a pioneer in the field of chemistry carbohydrates. His work has been a key factor in converting this area of research from an academic specialization to one of great practical significance in the important fields of blood typing and medical chemistry. He is also credited with laying the foundation for Western Canada's growing biotechnology industry. His extraordinary accomplishments in organic chemistry, biology, medicine, theoretical and physical chemistry have put him in the forefront of international research for almost five decades. His original research has led to major developments in immunology, immunochemistry, and biology. Lemieux's research and academic careers have taken him to Ohio State University, the University of Saskatchewan, the National Research Council, the University of Ottawa and the University of Alberta.
David Lemon's passion for the arts is infectious, and he is heralded as Vancouver's most eloquent and energetic champion of the arts. An accomplished businessman, he is owner of The Magic Flute, which specializes in classical and jazz recordings. Lemon encourages businesses to recognize the value that artists bring to our community and to support the arts simply because of the beauty and enjoyment they bring to our lives. He works tirelessly in all aspects of the arts -- music, visual arts and writing. Lemon has successfully staged numerous cultural events throughout Vancouver and has served on several boards, including The Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Art Gallery and Vancouver Bach Choir.
Masateru Ohnami, president of Ritsumeikan University in Japan, has been instrumental in establishing an exchange program between the University of British Columbia and Ritsumeikan University. As a result of this initiative, UBC is able to promote Canada-Japan research, teaching and cultural exchanges. Each year for the last six years, approximately 100 Japanese students have lived with 100 UBC students at Ritsumeikan-UBC House on campus. As a result of Ohnami's international vision, Ritsumeikan University has now become a model for other international outreach programs in Japan. Ohnami is a distinguished scholar and researcher, with six books and 200 papers published in various journals in his field of micro and macro plasticity, and fracture mechanics.
Roy L. Taylor has provided exceptional vision and leadership to the botanical gardens community in North America for more than 30 years. He is regarded as a pioneer in horticulture therapy and is internationally renowned for his work directing botanical gardens. He is best known for his field work on the flora of the Queen Charlotte Islands
Taylor came to UBC in 1968 as director of the Botanical Garden. In his more than 17 years with the university he developed this facility into a wonderful resource for students, researchers and the community. Taylor is currently director of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in California.