Dr. Peter Anderson - Order of British Columbia Recipient

Thirteen British Columbians who have contributed to the province in extraordinary ways will be appointed to the Order of British Columbia, Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon, Chancellor of the Order, announced today.

“The Order of British Columbia is the province’s most prestigious accolade and is an official part of the Canadian Honours System,” said Guichon. “It is an opportunity to publicly recognize those who have dedicated themselves to bettering the lives of their fellow citizens. These recipients exemplify the positive difference one person can make in a community and are an inspiration to all British Columbians.”

“The Order of British Columbia recognizes remarkable accomplishments by extraordinary British Columbians,” said Premier Christy Clark. “This year’s recipients have each made a difference in their communities and to the province. On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to thank them for their dedication - and all they do to make B.C. better.”

Professor Peter Anderson is an emergency communications expert whose work has improved emergency planning and response worldwide. He advises emergency responders on protecting populations from fires, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and other disasters.

As Associate Professor and Director of the Telematics Research Lab at Simon Fraser University, B.C.’s Provincial Emergency Program relies upon him for unique solutions. During the Okanagan fires of 2003, he supervised the protection of mountaintop telecommunications repeaters.

He developed a tsunami-warning toolkit for coastal communities and is researching a public all-hazards warning system. He developed ‘AMECom’, a self-contained, mobile, telecommunications research laboratory for communications support during an emergency. It was deployed on many occasions, including during the Fraser Valley’s Avian Influenza outbreak and at Whistler during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Professor Anderson played a pivotal role in developing a system to bring medical information to the South Pacific, a communications system in war-torn Sudan, computer Internet systems for U.N. disaster relief operations and an emergency warning system for Sri Lanka. He designed and implemented an internet-based system to facilitate civil emergency planning among the 22 countries of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. He’s currently working on a new rapid-deployable communications system for use across Northern Canada.

He works with community organizations in B.C. on disaster risk reduction activities including improving the effectiveness of West Coast tsunami warning in the aftermath of the October 2012 Haida Gwaii Earthquake.

Professor Anderson’s contribution to the application of telematics in spaceflight has resulted in communication solutions and innovative technology for planetary and lunar explorations. His expertise is sought around the world, yet he generously helps search and rescue and other community organizations throughout B.C.