Awards Committee
Chair: Jim Zidek
Members:
Diana Lary
Patricia Shaw
Administrative Cluster
Benefits Committee
Chairs: Paul Marantz and Joost Blom
The Committee monitors the benefits that retired faculty receive from the University. It draws upon the concerns and priorities of our members to identify possible improvements to benefit programs and makes recommendations for the college to pursue.
Retirement Cluster
Communications Committee
Chair: Anne Junker (Past Principal)
This committee is responsible for oversight of formal communication with and among the College membership and beyond.
Members:
Carolyn Gilbert, Past Newsletter Editor
Valerie White, Newsletter Editor
Sandra Wilkins, Council member
Sarah Close Humayun, Events and Engagement Coordinator
Saundra van Ark, Administrative Manager
Lynn Warburton, Communications Manager
Administrative Cluster
Climate and Nature Emergency Cohort
Chair: Olav Slaymaker
Members:
Jo-ann Archibald, Emeritus Professor of Educational Studies
John Millar, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Population and Public Health
William Rees, Professor Emeritus of the School of Community and Regional Planning
Olav Slaymaker, Professor Emeritus of Geography
Douw Steyn, Professor Emeritus of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science
Frank Tester, Professor Emeritus of Social Work and Family Studies
Robert Woollard, Emeritus Professor of Family Practice
Graeme Wynn, Professor Emeritus of Historical Geography
Programs Cluster
Development Committee
Chair: Robert Armstrong
Members:
Paul Harrison (Vice Chair)
Anthony Boardman (Chair of the Finance Committee)
Paul Rogers (Member)
Sandra Bressler (Vice Principal 2024-25)
Lynn Warburton (Staff Member)
John Fleming (representative of UBC Development and Alumni Engagement)
Administrative Cluster
Finance Committee
Chair: Anthony Boardman
The Finance Committee monitors the finances of the UBC Emeritus College.
Members:
Richard Spencer (Vice Chair)
Pam Ratner (Member)
Campbell Sharman (Member)
Don Wehrung (Member)
Sandra Bressler (Vice Principal 2024-25)
Paul Rogers (Past Chair 2023-24)
Saundra van Ark (Administrative Manager)
Administrative Cluster
General Meeting
Chair: Sandra Bressler
Members:
Bill McCutcheon
Programs Cluster
Membership Committee
Chair: David Hill
The Membership Committee identifies concerns, coordinates activities, and maintains liaisons between the UBC Emeritus College and new and continuing members. In addition, the Committee investigates methods to improve relations between the College and the wider UBC community.
Members:
Paul Harrison
Linda Leonard
Chris Lovato
Retirement Matters Cluster
Nominating Committee
Chair: Paul Harrison
The Nominating Committee consists of the immediate Past Principal (Chair) and at least two other members approved by the Council who propose a slate of Officers and Members-at-Large to be voted on at the Annual General Meeting.
Members:
Anne Junker
David Edgington
Paul Steinbok
Sandra Wilkins
Administrative Cluster
Philosophers' Café
Chair: Nichola Hall
Topics previously discussed at the Philosophers' Café
| 2014 October | Workers’ v. Public Rights |
| 2014 November | Euthanasia, assisted suicide |
| 2015 January | Are science and religion compatible? |
| 2015 February | Federal Carbon (dioxide) Tax … yes or no? |
| 2015 March | Hate speech v. Free speech |
| 2015 April | TransLink surcharge for infrastructure financing |
| 2015 May | Federal anti-terrorism law |
| 2015 October | Federal Election aftermath |
| 2015 November | Do we need the CBC? |
| 2016 February | Paris meeting on Climate Change |
| 2016 March | Political refugees in Canada |
| 2016 April | Public art … enhancement or eyesore |
| 2016 May | Legalising Marijuana |
| 2016 October | U.S. Presidential election |
| 2016 November | Political Correctness |
| 2016 December | Socio-economic equality |
| 2017 February | Globalisation |
| 2017 April | The “Post-truth Era” |
| 2017 October | How close are we to Nuclear War? |
| 2017 November | Canada Health Care … public v. private |
| 2018 January | Where is Feminism now? |
| 2018 March | The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence |
| 2018 April | Bridging the Generation Gap |
| 2018 October | Kindness |
| 2018 November | Happy Holidays? |
| 2019 January | Is Beauty only in the Eye of the Beholder? |
| 2019 February | What is the objective of a university education? |
| 2019 March | Should the Punishment fit the Crime? |
| 2019 April | The Inequality Gap |
| 2019 September | What qualifications should people have for running for office? |
| 2019 October | Cultural Appropriation |
| 2019 November | The Canadian Trans Mountain Pipeline – To be or not to be? |
| 2020 January | The Role of Private Health Care vs Private Schools |
| 2020 February | What do Canadians expect from Democracy? |
| 2020 March | How can we relate to younger generations? (Do you Understand Millennials?) |
| Covid Gap | |
| 2023 November | Housing in Vancouver |
| 2023 December | The Future of Cars |
| 2024 March | Undue Influence, even corruption? |
| 2024 May | Is the United Nations Organisation still relevant? |
Programs Cluster
Scholarly Engagement Committee
Chair: Jo-ann Archibald
The Scholarly Engagement Committee supports scholarly interests of the members, and looks for ways to engage them within the College. The committee has a "think tank" format whereby we develop new proposals to present to the College. At present, the committee is initiating actions within the College in support of our Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Members:
Francis Andrew
Daniel Goldowitz
Judith Hall
Lorraine Weir
Ex-officio:
Ken Craig
John Gilbert
Vijay Verma
Retirement Matters Cluster
Scholarly Expenses Subsidies Committee
Chair: David Edgington, Geography
Members:
Murray Isman, Land and Food Systems
Jo-Anne Naslund, Library
Ben Shneiderman, Computer Science
Retirement Matters Cluster
Transitions to Retirement Committee
Chair: Linda Leonard
The Transitions to Retirement Committee focuses on activities over the entire retirement spectrum including pre-retirement seminars, informal discussion groups, collation of information resources and activities directed at the early, mid and late stages of retirement. There would also be an opportunity for research projects focused on the retirement process itself.
Members:
Paul Marantz
Louise Nasmith
Paul Steinbok
Retirement Matters Cluster
Thematic Lectures Emeritus College - Green College
Convenor: Donald Fisher
Programs Cluster
Updated: June 20, 2025