CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

50 Years in Pictures

We celebrate the faculty, students, staff, and community partners who have been part of the School of Criminology over the past five decades.

Past, present, future—our most valuable asset is our people.

Honouring our beginnings

The celebration was hosted by Martin Bouchard, director of the School of Criminology, who opened the event by welcoming guests and acknowledging the contributions of key figures in the School’s history, including founding members, university leadership, donors, and notable alumni.

Professor Ted Palys, who has taught at the School since 1981, offered an engaging overview of the School’s early years.

"We're still trying to help the criminal justice system be more efficient, more effective and for me personally, it's been a great place. Fabulous set of colleagues, very motivated people... So the last message for me is happy birthday, Crim!"— Ted Palys

Another highlight of the evening was the address by the School’s founding director, professor emeritus Ezzat Fattah, who at 97 years old, spoke with his characteristic sharpness and insight. He reflected on the bold vision and foundational work that led to the creation of the School, and shared some of his predictions on the future of the field.

“At my advanced age, attending the school's 50th anniversary seemed to be an impossible dream. But here I am, offering my sincere thanks to the organizers of this celebration for giving me this wonderful opportunity to see, interact and reconnect with former colleagues, many of whom I have not seen in years and years.”— Ezzat Fattah

A roundtable of legacy and leadership

Moderated by Bouchard, the program also featured a special roundtable with emeritus and retired faculty members, such as Margaret Jackson, Raymond Corrado, Neil Boyd, Barry Cartwright, and Brian Burtch. The panel shared memorable moments, candid stories, and reflections on some of the challenges and triumphs that were part of their decades of service at SFU Criminology.

The Judge Gary Cohen and Bruce Fraser Award 

During the event, we were proud to announce the Judge Gary Cohen and Bruce Fraser Award for Advancement of 2LGBTQ+ Issues in Criminology Research, made possible through the visionary generosity of Judge Gary Cohen, a proud Criminology alumnus. This new scholarship reflects Judge Cohen’s commitment to fostering equity and inclusion by supporting Criminology graduate students whose research deepens understanding of 2LGBTQ+ experiences and issues within the field. Through this meaningful gift, Judge Cohen and Bruce Fraser are helping to shape a more just and inclusive future in criminological research.

Inspiring the future: Keynote by alumni Howard Sapers

Notable alumnus Howard Sapers closed the event with a heartfelt and inspiring keynote that struck a balance between gratitude, reflection, and a passionate call to building a more equitable and thoughtful justice system.