Five alumni represent UVic’s tradition of excellence

On Oct. 16, to celebrate the university’s global, national and local community impact, UVic paid tribute to five remarkable alumni whose inspiring stories of personal and professional accomplishment exemplify the university’s tradition of excellence. A Celebration of 50 Years of Excellence, held at the Crystal Garden in Victoria, also commemorated UVic’s path-breaking 30-year partnership with East China Normal University (ECNU).

“The celebration of this historic partnership and these exceptional alumni who make a difference to the world around us is another opportunity to collectively mark our 50th anniversary,” said Carmen Charette, vice-president of external relations. “It is also a chance to not only reflect on UVic’s past but to look ahead to its future influence on the betterment of society for generations to come.”

For more than 30 years, UVic’s partnership with East China Normal University, one of China’s most prestigious universities, has enabled hundreds of students and faculty to move between the two institutions to develop deeper cultural understanding, enrich diversity and nourish skills crucial for engaged global citizens.

The five award recipients—whose achievements represent the university’s diverse academic and social strengths—are:

Stephanie Dixon, BA (psychology) 2009

UVic strives to instill inspiration and perseverance. These qualities lie at the heart of the accomplishments of Paralympic swimmer and medal winner Stephanie Dixon. Her inspiring attitude has taken her to the height of her sport and motivates a new generation.

Grand Chief Edward John (Akile Ch'oh), BA (sociology) 1974

UVic is dedicated to social justice and equal rights for all persons. Grand Chief Edward John (Akile Ch'oh), a Hereditary Chief of Tl'azt'en Nation, exemplifies these values and is a leading voice—locally, provincially and internationally—of Indigenous governance, business and community development.

Paul Nicklen, BSc (biology) 1990

UVic values interdisciplinarity as a means of enriching our understanding of the world. Paul Nicklen, one of the world’s foremost nature photographers, uses the arts to translate science. His passion for documenting the effects of climate change aligns with UVic’s research focus in this area.

Alisa Smith, BA (history in art) 1994; MA (history) 1997

Sustainability is a commitment to future generations and is central to UVic’s mission. Alisa Smith personifies this commitment and has also captured the imagination of consumers in an innovative and very immediate way with the book The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating.

Tamara Vrooman. BA (history) 1991; MA (history) 1994


Educating socially responsible leaders is a UVic tradition. The health and wealth of society are inseparable, and the thoughtful leadership in these areas of Tamara Vrooman as president and CEO of Vancity—the first Canadian financial institution to join the Global Alliance for Banking on Values—is noteworthy.

Videos on each award recipient: http://bit.ly/TiE2TR