Honorary degree recipients

The Honourable Janet Austin is a distinguished Canadian leader respected for her commitment to public service, reconciliation and community advocacy.

Austin has extensive leadership experience, having served fifteen years as CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver. Under her guidance, the YWCA expanded its programming to reach tens of thousands across more than 40 locations, while advancing gender equality, violence prevention, poverty reduction and affordable housing. She also served many organizations in commitment to improving the lives of others including: TransLink, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Council for Early Child Development, the Women’s Health Research Institute, MOSAIC, the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation and many others.

Appointed as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia in 2018, she served until January 2025. Her tenure focused on inclusion, reconciliation and democratic engagement. She established the BC Reconciliation Award and the BC Journalism Fellowship, while championing women in STEM, youth leadership and environmental stewardship.

Actively engaged with the University of Victoria, she supported programs that promote youth democratic and civic engagement, including the Students’ Dialogue on Democratic Engagement, Women Leading Change, the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program and CIFAL.

Her legacy is one of transformative leadership marked by compassion, community, and a lifelong commitment to justice and inclusion.

Christopher Barnes is an Emeritus professor in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, renowned for his influential contributions to the fields of marine sciences, geology and paleontology.

A leader in both scientific thought and institution building, he was instrumental in developing the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences (SEOS) at the University of Victoria, serving as its director from 1992 to 2002. Under his guidance, it evolved from a single office into one of the university’s leading research units with a world-class reputation.

Barnes also led the creation of NEPTUNE Canada, helping secure $140 million to build the world’s first regional cabled ocean observatory network, offshore BC. The project now operates under Ocean Networks Canada, which is a UVic-owned initiative advancing ocean science on a global scale with 160 staff.

Over his distinguished career, Barnes has published extensively and received numerous accolades including the Logan Medal and appointment to the Order of Canada. He has held key leadership positions such as a Director-General of the Geological Survey of Canada, President of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada and Group Chair at NSERC.

His legacy is one of bold innovation and transformative change with lasting contributions to both UVic and the broader scientific community.

Murray Rankin is a distinguished legal scholar, environmental advocate and public servant whose contributions have shaped Canadian law and politics. He studied at Queen’s University, Université de Montréal, the University of Toronto and Harvard University. From 1977 to 1990, he was a professor at the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Law, where he strengthened the Environmental Law Centre and helped establish the joint-degree program in Indigenous Law.

An accomplished lawyer, Rankin served as a special adviser to provincial and federal governments and pled landmark environmental law cases. He was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 1999 and founded several non-governmental organizations, including West Coast Environmental Law, the Land Conservancy of BC and the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

Rankin’s political career spanned more than a decade, serving as the Member of Parliament for Victoria (2012–2019) and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Oak Bay-Gordon Head (2020–2024). He championed stronger environmental protections, improved healthcare, fairer taxation and higher pensions. He played a pivotal role in privacy and freedom of information legislation, medical assistance in dying legislation, treaty negotiations with First Nations, and expanding BC’s park system. He was appointed by the Prime Minister as the first chair of Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Review Agency.

His lifelong commitment to justice, governance and community service has left an enduring legacy for future generations.

Simon Keith is a social entrepreneur and humanitarian who has made a global impact by raising awareness and advocating for the organ transplant community.

Born in England, he moved with his family to Victoria as a toddler. After receiving a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Victoria, he made history as the first professional athlete to compete after undergoing a heart transplant.

At just 21, Keith received his first heart transplant, defying the odds to continue his athletic career. He played professionally for the Victoria Vistas, Winnipeg Fury, Montreal Supra and Cleveland Crunch soccer teams from 1989 to 1991.

Keith’s personal journey has made him a global leader in organ donation advocacy, where he has raised millions of dollars and increased awareness about registered donors, research, and government support for transplantation. The Simon Keith Foundation provides financial assistance to help youth who have undergone organ transplants return to sport.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Simon was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2022. His story is one of resilience, inspiration and unwavering dedication to saving lives and transforming the world for organ transplant patients.

Roy Henry Vickers is a celebrated Indigenous artist, author, printmaker and storyteller of Tsimshian, Haida, Heiltsuk, Wuikinuxv and English descent. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, the Order of BC and a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2019, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his design work on a Grateful Dead CD box set.

He studied at the University of Victoria before joining the Saanich Fire Department, he then left to study and graduate from the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art.

His internationally acclaimed artwork reflects the landscapes, wildlife and people of British Columbia. Characterized by clean lines and vivid colors, his distinctive artistic style blends his Indigenous heritage with a contemporary design, creating timeless and evocative pieces.

Vickers’ influence is felt throughout the province—from founding his Eagle Aerie Gallery in Tofino to designing the Salmon Totem Pole for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He also played a pivotal role in shaping the artistic direction of Vancouver International Airport’s new terminal, where his work remains prominently displayed.

With a career spanning more than 50 years, Vickers continues to leave a lasting legacy through his art and storytelling—sharing powerful messages of Indigenous self-determination, resilience and healing.

Heather Cook is a distinguished healthcare leader who has dedicated her career to advancing seniors’ care through clinical practice, leadership, and research in British Columbia. Her work has shaped policy, informed quality in healthcare practices, and contributed to the research agenda in seniors’ care. She is recognized nationally as an expert in her field.

Cook has held senior roles in three health authorities, the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate, and the BC Ministry of Health, where she currently serves as Director of Long-Term Care and Assisted Living, Health Services Integration.

A true visionary in seniors’ care, she was among the first in Canada to champion the integration of an embedded researcher informing evidence-based decisions. Her expertise in long-term care informed policy during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a province-wide response to address vulnerabilities of seniors. Throughout her career she has actively engaged in research and has more than a dozen citations. She now co-leads an innovative research initiative with the University of Victoria and Michael Smith Health Research BC to address systemic barriers to adopting research in seniors' healthcare.

Recognized for her leadership and advocacy, Cook’s unwavering commitment to evidence-based practice and seniors’ well-being has left a lasting impact on BC’s healthcare system.