A University of Northern British Columbia founder and a world renowned innovator of forensic anthropology have been chosen to receive honorary degrees at UNBC's convocation on May 26.
Roy J. Stewart, a Prince George lawyer for more than 45 years, served as the final president of the Interior University Society from 1989 to 1992, a role that led to the provincial legislature passing Bill 40, the UNBC Act, which officially created UNBC in June, 1990.
"It's thrilling and somewhat overwhelming.
"This is the highest accolade that a university can give and one that is obviously not handed out frequently. But it is also an acknowledgment that my work and the work of those who participated in the Interior University Society was recognized. The society was determined to persuade the political powers of the day that the visions and aspirations of the people must be dealt with," Stewart said.
"The creation of UNBC was the result of the outstanding efforts of people who live and work in north central B.C. and I was privileged to be involved."
Stewart served as chair of the UNBC Foundation from 1992 to 1995 and developed a fundraising campaign, North to the Future.
Stewart also served as a trustee with School District 57 from 1981 to 1988 and was board chair in 1984.
He received Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of British Columbia and continues to practice municipal, construction and forestry law while handling contract disputes and general counsel work as well.
Stewart also served as chair of the Prince George Bar Association committee, which led to the construction of the new court house, J.O. Wilson Square in Prince George, and was chair of the Northern Health Care Committee. Stewart was appointed the honorary title of Queen's Counsel in 2000.
Fredy Peccerelli is the executive director and founding member of the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG) and served as an adjunct professor in UNBC's anthropology and geography departments in 2012-13.
He led the development of a multidisciplinary human identification system that has been applied to victim investigation, forensic anthropology and forensic genetics to identify victims of mass crimes and the truth behind their disappearances.
The system has supported more than 1,800 cases in identifying victims of Guatemala's internal conflict.
FAFG developed an agreement with UNBC after Peccerelli hosted the first UNBC geography field school to Guatemala in 2004.
FAFG staff members travel to UNBC along with undergraduate and graduate students who continue to participate as interns in the field school every two years.
Peccerelli has also conducted exhumations of mass graves in post-war Bosnia Herzegovinia.
In 2012, David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, awarded Peccerelli with a Special Honours Award for his continued service and promotion of relations between Canada and Guatemala.
"FAFG and I consider this prestigious award as great recognition and admiration for the unique signed agreement of cooperation between FAFG and UNBC along with the many exchanges and collaborations it has facilitated," Peccerelli said.
"I would personally consider a commemorative moment in my career to impart any words of my experience to the UNBC 2017 graduating class."
Stewart will receive his honorary degree at the College of Science and Management ceremony on May 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Peccerelli will receive his honorary degree at the College of Science and Management ceremony on May 26 at 2:30 p.m.
