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Awards
Two FASS researchers appointed to the Order of BC
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) is proud to share that two of its researchers were amongst the 12 individuals appointed to the Order of British Columbia by the provincial government. This honour is the province's highest form of recognition and it recognizes citizens of B.C. who have excelled in a field that benefits the people of British Columbia and beyond.
About the Recipients
Gail Anderson
Criminology
Gail S. Anderson, a trailblazing scientist at Simon Fraser University, established forensic entomology as a vital tool in Canadian criminal investigations, building the field from near obscurity into a recognized scientific discipline in courts nationwide. Since beginning her casework in 1988 and becoming Canada’s first academic forensic entomologist in 1992, she has led more than 250 investigations and testified in 42 trials, including before the Supreme Court of Canada.
She co-founded SFU’s Centre for Forensic Research and has trained thousands of professionals across policing, law, and medicine. Her work includes developing the world’s first comprehensive database of insect succession to estimate time of death across Canada’s ecozones and pioneering applications in wildlife crime and investigations.
An influential educator and international leader, Dr. Anderson’s research, standards development, and public outreach have shaped forensic science in Canada and continue to guide practice around the world.
Marianne Ignace
Linguistics and Indigenous Studies
Marianne Ignace (Gulḵiihlgad) is a Distinguished Professor at Simon Fraser University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada whose career has been dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous languages, advancing reconciliation, and strengthening cultural heritage. For more than three decades, she has built lasting partnerships with Indigenous communities, including a landmark SFU–Secwépemc Nation program that delivered extensive education opportunities and graduated hundreds of First Nations students.
A leading advocate for Indigenous data sovereignty, she helped reshape research ethics by promoting community ownership of oral histories and knowledge. Her work includes developing culturally grounded learning resources in multiple Indigenous languages and leading a major multi-partner initiative to document and revitalize languages across B.C., the Yukon, and Alaska.
Through scholarship, policy influence, and community collaboration, she has made enduring contributions to education, language revitalization, and land stewardship that continue to benefit Indigenous peoples and society as a whole.