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SFU honours four outstanding alumni
The SFU Alumni Association has selected a pioneering paleontologist, a compassionate community activist, an extraordinary Aboriginal physician and a globally engaged former Mountie as winners of its 2011 Outstanding Alumni Awards.
The recipients will be honoured during SFU’s Outstanding Alumni Awards dinner Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver. The winners were chosen from seven categories—academic achievement, arts and culture, athletics, professional achievement, public service, service to the community and service to the university—following nominations by alumni, faculty, staff, students and community members.
This year’s outstanding alumni are:
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
ROLF MATHEWES, BSc ’69 (Biological Sciences)
Biology Professor, SFU Faculty of Science
Rolf Mathewes is one of Canada’s top paleo-ecologists. His research reconstructs the history of climate events through time, answering fundamental questions in geology, biogeography and evolutionary biology. His work has become critical as we strive to understand how eco-systems respond to changes in the environment, particularly human-induced changes. A pioneer in forensic botany, he uses science to help solve crimes. He has distinguished himself as an outstanding professor, teacher, mentor and scientific researcher.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
NADINE CARON, BSc ’93 (Kinesiology)
Surgeon, University Hospital of Northern BC
The first Aboriginal woman to graduate from UBC’s medical school, Nadine Caron is an extraordinary surgeon, researcher, mentor, educator, patients’ advocate and community leader. She is passionate about health policy and has served on many committees to help shape Canada’s health agenda. Caron is internationally renowned for her advocacy work to address the special health needs and disparities of rural, remote, northern and Aboriginal communities. Through role modeling and public speaking, she encourages Aboriginal youth to share her love of learning and further their education.
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
JAMES CHI MING PAU, EARTS ’84
Downtown Eastside Community Volunteer
Since arriving in Canada in 1975, James Pau has dedicated himself to improving the quality of life for residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Trained in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine, his humanitarian involvements include immigrant concerns, literacy, poverty, housing, street safety, dysfunctional families, seniors issues, drug and alcohol addiction, and health and wellness. His unending contributions and compassion show how one caring person can make a huge impact in our communities.
PUBLIC SERVICE
GRAHAM MUIR, MA ’82 (Criminology)
Assistant Commissioner, RCMP (retired)
A 36-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Graham Muir has contributed to the safety of Canadians at home and abroad through national security, commercial crime investigations, learning and development, and strategic policy. His extensive police experience includes postings in Canada and internationally: the former Yugoslavia, Haiti, and most recently as the Canadian Police Commander in Afghanistan where his expertise helped to strengthen and build the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces.
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