By R. Paul Dhillon
BURNABY – An Indo-Canadian pioneer, a former President of India, a B.C. First Nations chief and a Vancouver philanthropist are among nine distinguished people Simon Fraser University is recognizing with honorary degrees during its spring (June 12-15) and fall (Oct. 4-5) convocation ceremonies.
Jack Uppal along with another South Asian Saida Rasul will receive their recognition during the spring convocation while the former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will receive his in the fall.
The six spring convocation recipients include:
• Jack Uppal, who is described as B.C. South Asian community leader and businessman who arrived from India as a baby in 1926 following his father’s arrival in 1906. SFU further states that Uppal, who operates saw mills, has given back, hiring new immigrants and sponsoring others needing jobs before being allowed in Canada.
• Saida Rasul is described as a dentist and former member of SFU’s board of governors who is renowned for her community work with the United Way, Outward Bound, Leadership Vancouver, Channel M and many other educational and health institutions.
Others getting spring honours include Vancouver lawyer Louise Mandell, professor Harry Arthurs, philanthropist Yosef Wosk and pediatrician Glenda Gray.
The three fall convocation recipients are:
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former president of India, aerospace engineer, professor, writer, world statesman and internationally renowned scientist and technologist who is passionate about the power of science to solve problems in ways that transcend ideology and religion.
American philosopher Martha Nussbaum and Kim Baird, the youngest and first female elected chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation, will join Kalam at the fall convocation.
