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Ten outstanding citizens will be given honorary degrees by Dalhousie University at Spring Convocation ceremonies. All will receive Honorary Doctorates of Laws, except Wilbert Langley. He will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering. |
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One of George Archibald's earliest memories is crawling after a female duck and her brood near his New Glasgow, N.S. home. He has followed birds ever since.
After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Dalhousie in 1968, he studied, at Cornell, the comparative ethology and evolutionary relationships of cranes. While at the Cornell, he helped establish the International Crane Foundation (ICF), which Archibald has long served as Director. With headquarters in Wisconsin, the ICF is the world centre for the study and preservation of these beautiful birds.
By the time Archibald received his PhD in 1976, he had made great scientific contributions. In 1973, he visited Australia to capture six Eastern Sarus Cranes, a rare species that was nearly extinct in its former Asian habitats. Archibald brought these birds to the ICF for captive breeding under a Foundation program to establish an endangered "species bank." Today, the ICF species bank hosts 15 different kinds of cranes. Archibald has organized nine Working Groups on Cranes around the world, bringing together more than 900 researchers from 64 countries.
For these activities, he has earned many awards and honours. Perhaps most appropriately, the U.S. National Audubon Society presented him with its Distinguished Conservationist Award in 1993.
Today, George Archibald is known globally as the world's leading scientific authority on cranes and as an outstanding conservationist, dedicated to the survival of rare cranes and their wetland habitats.
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Born in New Brunswick, Edward Byrne studied science and earned a law degree from Dalhousie in 1937. At Dalhousie, he began a life of service by acting as president of the Law Students Society and as chair of the Law Hour Committee. He went on to a distinguished legal career that spanned 34 years.
As a lawyer in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Byrne worked for many community organizations. He also served two terms as mayor of Bathurst. In the 1960s, he accepted the enormous task of reforming New Brunswick's social services programs. In 1967, his recommendations, The Byrne Report, became the basis for an equal opportunity program that led to sweeping changes in education, health, social services and taxation in New Brunswick. His goal, and his legacy, was to facilitate equal opportunity for citizens throughout the province. In particular, he aimed to redress the disadvantages suffered by the Acadian community. Even today, his work continues to be studied by reformers and social planners all over North America.
His success in life has been matched only by his benevolence. Over the years, Dalhousie's Law School and the President's House have benefited from Byrne's generosity and that of his late wife, Ruth.
Byrne has always believed that those who benefit from a good education have a responsibility to give something back to their communities. He embodies the true spirit of the Weldon tradition of public service that is the hallmark of Dalhousie Law School.
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Mary Eberts has spent her career promoting equality in Canadian law. Her achievements in Canadian legal practice have become legendary.
Born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Eberts is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and Harvard law schools. In 1974, she began her legal teaching career as one of a handful of female law professors at the University of Toronto. Since then, she has distinguished herself as a constitutional scholar, a superb teacher and a skilful legal practitioner.
Her commitment to women's equality gained focus with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She championed women's rights during the constitutional renewal process that led to the Charter. Since adoption of the Charter twenty years ago, Eberts has become one of the country's leading advocates. The Supreme Court of Canada cases in which she has appeared read like an index of the key cases in which the Court has defined the meaning and scope of the equality provisions in the Charter of Rights and in human rights legislation.
Eberts is also hailed as a brilliant legal scholar. Many legal briefs she has written have been published as illustrations of the best possible legal arguments. She has written six books, including Equality Rights Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms—universally regarded as one of the finest compilations of constitutional theory ever published.
She has received many awards, including three honorary doctorates from other Canadian universities.
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Born in England, Kenneth Hill practised as a physiotherapist and educator in the United Kingdom before moving to Canada in 1967. That year, he became only the second professor at the fledgling School of Physiotherapy at Dalhousie. His 22-year career here inspired a generation of students. He retired from the university in 1989—the same year he won the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's highest honour.
"Retirement" was short. In 1990, Hill volunteered, through the Adventist Development Relief Association (ADRA), for what may be his life's greatest work.
In western Kenya, many children and adults have been disabled from inadequately treated, or untreated, polio. There was no money for vaccine so the disease spread almost unchecked. Treatment was almost nonexistent; even crutches were rare. Most children spent life crawling on the ground and local villagers shunned the disabled youngsters.
With help from local doctors and the nearby hospital, Hill devised a plan for treatment and aftercare. For three years, he raised funds tirelessly and found equipment for the proposed project. By 1994, with additional funding from the ADRA, he started the Kendu Bay Community-Based Rehabilitation Project.
Since then, this successful self-contained, self-sustaining rehabilitation program has delivered nearly 20,000 home care visits to over 5,300 patients with disabilities. Many young people have stopped crawling and started standing—even running!—with crutches. Their self-esteem has been raised. No longer are they stigmatized.
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Sir Harry Kroto's success can be traced back to his father's balloon factory. There, he learned problem solving, perseverance and precise measurement— all crucial for a scientist. In school, chemistry was one of his favourite subjects. Thus, an abiding love affair began.
Sir Harry earned his PhD at the University of Sheffield. After accepting a position at the University of Sussex, he carried out research in the electronic spectroscopy of gas phase free radicals and rotational microwave spectroscopy. In due course, he specialized in microwave spectroscopy, a science that can help analyze compounds in space. While examining carbon-rich giant stars, Sir Harry found carbon-molecules in space called cyanopolyynes. With Texans Richard Smalley and Robert Curl, he studied these long carbon chains in great depth.
The team found that exactly 60 carbon atoms arranged themselves in a beautiful, symmetrical cluster. C60 was called "buckminsterfullerene" for the American architect of domed structures, Buckminster Fuller.
Since their 1985 discovery, the class of compounds called "fullerenes" has become a major focus of scientific research. For this breakthrough, Sir Harry's team won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Later that year, the Queen knighted him.
Sir Harry is also an award-winning graphic artist. And in 1995, he helped found the Vega Science Trust, which produces science films for television and the Internet.
Sir Harry believes deeply that science must be more accessible. In the past, Dalhousie has benefited directly from his sharing of knowledge with colleagues and students.
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One of the greatest pianists in the world, Anton Kuerti's performances have been called "magical" and "unforgettable."
Born in Austria, Kuerti moved to the United States as a child. By age 11, he was performing with legendary conductor Arthur Fiedler. He was still a student when he soared to prominence by winning the famous Leventritt Award. Since he chose to come to Canada in 1966, he has enriched the country greatly.
One of today's most recorded classical artists, Kuerti has recorded—to great acclaim—all the Beethoven Concertos and Sonatas, the Schubert Sonatas and works by many other composers. He has toured 39 countries, and played with major symphonies and conductors. In Canada, he has played with every professional orchestra.
A socially engaged citizen, Anton Kuerti has often contributed his time and talents to advance issues he supports passionately. He also helps the communities he visits. In addition to his performances in Halifax with Symphony Nova Scotia, he has conducted master classes at Dalhousie's Music Department and donated his fees to local organizations promoting classical music.
A University of Toronto professor for many years, Kuerti now devotes most of his time to performing and composing. He has received numerous honors, including the Toronto Arts Award and an appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
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Since graduating in engineering from Dalhousie and the former Nova Scotia Technical College, Wilbert Langley has built a distinguished 35-year career.
As President and CEO of Concrete and Materials Technology, Inc., he literally changed the map of the Maritimes. For many of us the Confederation Bridge, linking PEI to the mainland, is a modern engineering marvel. Its graceful span creates new opportunities for travel, recreation and business. Mr. Langley was the principal consultant on the PEI Confederation Bridge project. It was his expertise that fashioned the precise specifications for the materials used and for the execution of the work.
In engineering, Langley is best known for his expertise in state-of-the-art construction materials. He contributed significantly to the construction of several key buildings in Halifax, including the World Trade and Convention Centre. He was also a key consultant for the Hibernia Development Project, a mammoth construction effort that has received international attention.
Based in Nova Scotia, he has been sought out as an expert consultant on construction projects worldwide—from the Living Seas Pavillion at the Epcot Centre in Florida to the construction of a Hawaiian temple.
Over the years, Langley has published more than 80 technical papers on research related to concrete structures and building materials. His list of awards is equally impressive.
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An older sister among 20 children, Joyce Ross left school at 14 to support her family. A full-time domestic worker, she studied part-time at night to complete high school. Later at the Nova Scotia Teacher's College, she graduated in 1977 with a certificate in Early Childhood Education. This life-long commitment to education has persisted, leading to additional certificates in community development, home nursing, Black history and business management.
Ross has used her education in the service of her community. In 1976, Ross pioneered outreach efforts as a health care educator working in the East Preston, North Preston, Cherry Brook and Dartmouth communities. Her health care leadership was essential for the later establishment of the Women's Wellness Clinic. Perhaps the most well-known community service spearheaded by Ross is the East Preston Day Care Centre. In 1971, Ross began the day care centre that has since served the needs of thousands of children. In addition, she has received national recognition from the Girl Guides of Canada for her outstanding leadership role in launching East Preston's Girl Guide and Boy Scout troops.
A lay minister, Ross has served her church for over 40 years. Her social contributions are deeply rooted not only in her strong character, but also in the faith that sustains her.
Ross is deeply admired by the community she has served so well. Last year, that circle of admirers widened when she was inducted into the Order of Canada.
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Ken Rowe's drive has carried him to the very peak of entrepreneurial success.
Rowe is Chairman and CEO of IMP Group International, one of the largest privately-owned businesses in Nova Scotia. The strength of its three core operating divisions—aerospace, aviation and commercial—has made IMP Group one of Canada's most successful companies. Today IMP employs over 3,500 people across Canada, the United States and Russia.
Over the years, Rowe has shrewdly diversified his interests. IMP now operates a very substantial industrial marine supply business, the largest Canadian-owned medical supply company, an aerospace machining centre, a foundry, an IT business solutions company and a number of hotels.
He is more than an astute businessman, however. As a former Board of Governors' member at Dalhousie and Chair of our School of Business Advisory Committee, he has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to post-secondary education. A decade ago, the future of our Business School was under review. Once again, Rowe held firm, insisting that the Business School was truly important to Dalhousie and Nova Scotia. Today, as we plan to build a new home for our Faculty of Management, Dalhousie owes Ken Rowe a great debt for his faith in our institution.
Rowe's volunteer commitments extend beyond educational circles. He has served as chairman, director or president of numerous organizations and charitable groups. Rowe and his wife Dorothy have generously supported many worthy causes.
His lifelong record of achievement has earned him many distinctions and awards.
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John Ruedy has made an extraordinary contribution to health care and medical education.
Before he came to Dalhousie as Dean of Medicine in 1992, he had created his reputation at McGill. There, he developed Canada's first Clinical Pharmacology program. At the University of British Columbia, he helped create a centre of excellence for AIDS treatment and research.
A leading clinical pharmacologist, Ruedy has published over 150 articles and pioneered in the development of ethical, well-regulated clinical trials. He successfully urged both British Columbia and Nova Scotia to establish provincial research foundations.
As Dean of Medicine, Ruedy oversaw the final transformation of undergraduate medical education to a small-group, problem-based curriculum. He also facilitated the establishment of the Faculty's outstanding Clinical Assessment Skills Laboratory. As a strong proponent of medical research, he worked tirelessly to secure funding. He created the Faculty's clinical scholars program to support young clinicians who wanted to develop research careers. Ruedy also introduced reforms in the Faculty's governance, particularly in the areas of space management and budgetary procedures.
John Ruedy encouraged entrepreneurship, an active clinical trials program and telehealth initiatives in the Faculty of Medicine. He actively promoted outreach initiatives in the Caribbean, Russia and Malaysia. Such initiatives led the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges to establish the John Ruedy Annual Award for Innovations in Medical Education, of which he was the first recipient.
After his 1999 retirement from this university, he assumed new duties as a Vice-President at the QEII and Capital Health hospitals.
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