Award Recipients

Sima Godfrey, Associate Professor Emerita of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (2021)

Associate Professor Emerita, Sima Godfrey is recognized for her continued contributions in the field of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies. Godfrey continues to author scholarly works including most recently, Crimean War and Cultural Memory: The War France Won and Forgot, which highlights the forgotten traces that the Crimean War left on the French cultural landscape.

“[Professor Godfrey’s recently published book] The Crimean War and Cultural Memory: The War France Won and Forgot (2023:  University of Toronto Press), is truly a work of academic excellence.  It is based on detailed original research that must have taken years to complete.  The Crimean War is multi-disciplinary in focus, since it combines military, literary, and art history.  To which can be added medical and political history… The political dimension is comparative, given the Franco-British alliance, including the elaborately staged state visit of Queen Victoria to Paris that took place during the Crimean War.”

“… I was fascinated and moved by Sima’s analysis of how the Crimean War has left different heritages in the Anglophone and Francophone worlds.  It is known (in English) for “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Tennyson’s famous poem; the Victoria Cross; and Florence Nightingale…. But in France things are much different for, despite the plethora of ephemeral cultural productions, almost nothing remains today in the French imagination.  It is therefore to Sima’s immense credit that she was able to find and analyze so much that today remains (almost) hidden, especially when in plain sight such as the Boulevard de Sebastopol in Paris.”

“The Crimean War and Cultural Memory is like a Sherlock Holmes mystery for it is built around an enigma – the concomitance of memory and forgetting.  The conclusion brings forth five hypotheses that explain why France celebrated and then promptly forgot the only war that it won in the nineteenth century.  One of these hypotheses only came to Sima during the covid pandemic, based on the terrible French casualties, most of which were due to disease.”

“This is an important book, beautifully illustrated, based on meticulous research.  It reads well, is never boring or tedious… a work that will find its place on the bookshelves of cultural historians for a long time to come.”

Watch the recording of the Awards Ceremony on May 15, 2024.

Please visit the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies for more information on Dr. Godfrey's work.

Roger Wilson - Professor Emeritus of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies (2014)

"Prof. Wilson is a prolific author, and has made numerous significant scholarly contributions, particularly to aspects of Roman rural life, the late Roman and early Byzantine transformation of settlements, and the archaeology of the Roman provinces. He is, in fact, the world’s leading expert on Roman Sicily, and it is here that he has made a remarkable impact."

"As an indefatigable scholar, Prof. Wilson has made an outstanding contribution to the ancient history of Sicily in just the last few years alone, as an emeritus — this is in addition, of course, to his earlier work. His innovative investigation of a hitherto unknown Roman luxury villa, owned by a high-ranking horse breeder, at Gerace in Sicily has given us more knowledge about late Roman social, economic, and cultural connections on the island than we have ever had. It is astounding that since 2014, he has published 60 papers, reviews and books, in leading journals and with distinguished publishing companies, with several more accepted and in press!"

"He has continued to take on new projects and to accept invitations to speak or contribute to volumes. More importantly he has continued to train students in the archaeological field by taking them to work on his sites and he has continued to make new and fresh research contributions to our knowledge of the lived experience of the inhabitants of Roman Sicily."

Please find a video of the Awards Ceremony on May 17, 2023.

Please visit the Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies website for more information on Dr. Wilson's work.

Diana Lary - Professor Emerita of History (2007)

"As a committed scholar who has continued to publish and present her work and as an advisor and mentor to those studying or wishing to understand China from a deeply humane and compassionate perspective, always built on a foundation of solid research, Dr. Diana Lary is a worthy candidate for the Emeritus College Award."

"Diana’s newest book [China’s Grandmothers] will effectively create a research field that did not exist until now.”

"Dr. Lary has been a model public intellectual, a compassionate and judicious historian who takes seriously her responsibility to inform the public."

"Professor Lary has remained an active and highly engaged scholar and commentator after her retirement in 2007, continuing to publish and speak extensively in various national and international forums on Chinese current and historical events. Her work focuses on war, trauma, suffering, military history, migration, and Canada-China and Canada-Hong Kong relations, combining a compassionate sympathy and critical eye to bring new perspectives to difficult topics."

Please find a video of the Awards Ceremony on May 4, 2022.

Please visit the Department of History website for more information on Dr. Lary's work.

Robert Armstrong - Professor Emeritus of Paediatrics (2011)

Professor Emeritus Robert Armstrong was selected for his lasting contributions not only to UBC, but also to Aga Khan University. Of particular note was your dedication to improving health care and research, and higher education broadly in East Africa.

"Perhaps his most notable achievements were in the area of postgraduate medical education, for   which he was recently recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada with the M. Andrew Padmos International Collaboration Award. Many of these new postgraduate programs were in areas of specialization that were rare or non-existent in the region - including family medicine."

"[Dr. Armstrong]'s outstanding achievements in Kenya far surpassed his prior accomplishments or what could be achieved in Canada where academia and clinical health care are not well integrated. The August 10th, 2020 AKJ News published an article: "AKU honours Dean Robert Armstrong". In this article AKU Provost Carl Amrhein is quoted as saying: "Bob has brought on board a number of new programmes... These are investments that will define the Medical College for many years to come, and they are an example of Bob's commitment to interdisciplinarity, to integrated health care."

"After serving 10 years as Dean Bob retired and returned to Vancouver, where he began the job of writing the second volume of history of the department of paediatrics together with an oral history. This is an enormous job, and he is engaged many members of the department of pediatrics to work together on the project. It will be a model for other departments to record their history."

Watch the Awards Ceremony on May 15, 2024.

Robert Krell - Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry (1996)

"Dr. Krell has focused his work on teaching about the consequences of bullying, racism, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust; as well as the incredible power that comes from speaking up and not remaining a bystander. Robert has spoken with audiences around the world as well as within his own local Vancouver community, both in person, and in more recent years, via Zoom. His achievements are deeply significant and will leave legacies long into the future."

“Dr. Krell was one of the pioneers of taping audio visual testimony from survivors of the Holocaust which he began in Vancouver in 1978. Their stories will not be lost because of this work and are now permanently archived at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC).”

"Dr. Krell is not only a community leader, but he is an extraordinary visionary – and works each and every day to ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten."

Robert Krell was selected for his lasting contributions to Holocaust Remembrance and Education. Of particular note was his founding of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, which remains a permanent community resource providing valuable education programs for student, teachers and anyone wanting to learn more about the Holocaust.

Please find a recording of the online Awards Ceremony on May 17, 2023.

Please find a recording of the online Awards Ceremony on May 17, 2023.

Patricia Shaw - Professor Emeritus of Anthropology (2020)

"UBC is extremely fortunate to have, in Patricia Shaw, someone not only with the relevant necessary advanced academic preparation, but also the necessary personal charm, conviction, determination and administrative ability to preserve the Indigenous language of the people whose land the university occupies."

“As I worked closely with Dr. Shaw over these many years, I saw first-hand a person with incredible creative and intellectual talent, unwavering ethics and compassion, and the dedication and commitment to share what she had with others. Moreover, Dr. Shaw’s life-work is undergirded by her natural ability and inclination toward mentorship.”

"With the special status of the University relative to the Musqueam Indian Band, UBC is fortunate to have had, and continue to have, Pat’s contribution to the Band via her language work. It is rare to have a non-community member contribute as greatly, as consistently, and as successfully as she has in documenting, teaching, revitalizing and promoting a language as she has with hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓."

Patricia Shaw was selected for her lasting contributions to the documenting, teaching, revitalizing and promoting of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. She continues to work on perfecting and expanding our current pedagogical materials in anticipation of full publication, to supervise doctoral students and mentor community language scholars and teachers, advocate for ongoing community involvement in public academic discourses, and help to structure new initiatives to further hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-focused study.

Please find a recording of the online Awards Ceremony on May 17, 2023.

Frank Tester - Professor Emeritus of Social Work (2016)

“Frank is hardworking and dedicated. He helps create an atmosphere that is warm, and accepting of others. He is a pleasure to work with. 
His commitments are evident:  a career that engaged him as a medic and volunteer on a construction brigade, working in Nicaragua during the Contra War of the late 1980s. He is known for his support of Inuit in Canada, as well as communities in Tanzania, Mozambique and Vanuatu in the South Pacific, dealing with human rights, social and environmental issues. He has a deep respect for the strength and resiliency of communities and individuals.”

“Frank Tester has volunteered an enormous amount of time energy and expertise in assisting the Inuit of Baffin Island, and especially the community of Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet). Part of his work has been to encourage Inuit to speak out. Their ancestors found a way to survive in one of the harshest 
environments on earth, lived within this consensus, and rarely dealt with dissention. Aspects of this culture endure. And so, when outsiders come, speak, and ask for opinions, their Inuit listeners, not wanting to generate conflict, are usually silent. The outsiders leave on the next plane, and report that the Inuit seem satisfied. Frank, however, has managed to insert Mittimatalik voices into these hearings.”

Dr. Tester was not only selected for his research into the structural origins of social issues and the policies and practices that address them, but also for his tireless advocacy and work on collaborative and community development approaches to problems such as young Inuit suicide, housing and living conditions, food security and the impacts—social, cultural and environmental—of resource development projects, both in Canada and internationally.

Please find a video of the Awards Ceremony on May 4, 2022.

Graham Kelsey - Professor Emeritus of Educational Studies (1998)

“Through his leadership and participation on the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, Dr. Kelsey paved the way for a model arts and culture function with the Cariboo Regional District.”

“(..) Due to Graham's drive and organizational capabilities, the Central Cariboo achieved a truly ground-breaking milestone, implementing a taxpayer supported arts and culture function under the fiscal umbrella of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD).”

Dr. Graham Kelsey is truly an exemplary citizen who deserves recognition for his selfless volunteer contributions, and I wholeheartedly support his nomination for this award.

“Dr. Kelsey (..) is gracious, generous, and I do believe that his personal motto is “How can I help?”.”

Dr. Kelsey was selected for his lasting contributions not only to the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society (CCAS), but also to the small communities surrounding Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalsition's Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.

Please find a video of the Awards Ceremony on May 19, 2021 and the Seminar on Emeriti Serving the Community on June 9, 2021.

Peter Wing - UBC Clinical Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedics (2012)

“It is clear that Dr. Wing is a caring humanitarian who has dedicated time, knowledge, and personal resources to the betterment of international spinal cord injury education and care in general plus a special focus on Nepal.”

“Dr. Wing has great respect for people and is very humble in his approach to helping others, both directly and through his teaching, lectures and participation in workshops and training sessions. He has set a wonderful example of service to others.”

“A visionary knows how to sow seeds and see the tree grow. This is truly illustrated by the work of Drs. Peter Wing and Claire Weeks for the not-for-profit Nepalese Spinal Cord Injury Collaboration.”

“His leadership in international volunteer community services to support the ongoing education and training of Nepalese physicians in the management of Spinal Cord Injuries is exemplary.”

Dr. Wing was selected for his lasting contributions not only to the Department of Orthopaedics, but also to organizations such as the Rick Hansen Institute, the International Spinal Cord Society, and especially to the Spinal Injuries Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC) in Nepal.

Photos of the Awards Ceremony 2020

Marguerite Chiarenza - UBC Emerita Professor Emerita of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (2000)

"Your leadership in international volunteer community services to enhance the education of African girls is exemplary."

"Dr. Chiarenza has worked tirelessly for the enhancement of African girls' edcuation."

"All her academic achievements pale in comparison to what eventually became the focus of her life, the activity in favour of some of the most deprived members of our Society: young African girls denied access to education and destined to early marriage and pregnancies and often to death through AIDS.”

Stanley Hamilton - Professor Emeritus of Commerce and Business Administration (2004)

"In addition to his dedication to volunteer community service, Dr. Hamilton’s legacy of mentorship will help ensure that the next generation continue with the important work needed in our community.”

“Dr. Hamilton’s effective, quiet leadership style and his profound commitment to bettering the lives of families living with autism and other neuro-developmental disorders has been especially inspiring.”

“Stan could have settled into an easy retirement, but instead he used his significant business acumen to transform the local Arts Council Chair, stabilizing the organization and acquiring and unprecedented amount of funding for BC-based artists.”

“Dr. Stanley Hamilton is a respected professor emeritus at Sauder School of Business whose contributions go well beyond the academic world and leave an indelible mark on the arts, urban planning, industry governance and property tax reform.”