Meet the 5 community leaders KPU recognized with honorary degrees

Kwantlen Polytechnic University recently recognized the achievements of five locals who have dedicated their careers to public service and improving the lives of others by awarding them with honorary degrees. 

Former B.C. labour minister Harry Bains was honoured for his commitment to British Columbians and efforts towards advocating for workers’ rights and social equity. 

Amos Kambere, a former Ugandan parliamentarian, was honoured as a community builder who has worked to uplift others in both his home country and Canada. 

Former B.C. minister Bruce Ralston was celebrated for his commitment to improving the lives of working citizens through his public service. 

David Young, a dedicated community advocate, was acknowledged for his tireless work assisting individuals and families in need. 

Finally, Edith Kambere, an advocate for immigrants and refugees in Surrey, was recognized for her dedication to improving the lives of marginalized people in Canada. 

The recipients were awarded honorary doctor of laws degrees at KPU’s convocation ceremonies held on Feb. 25 and 28. 

The Runner interviewed each recipient about their careers and receiving the honorary degrees. The following interviews have been transcribed and edited for clarity.  

HARRY BAINS

What does receiving this honorary degree from KPU mean to you?It means the world to me, especially for a college dropout who always regretted not being able to finish my degree. I left India in the final year of my bachelor of science program and never had the opportunity to complete my studies here in Canada because the first and foremost priority was to find a job, settle, and support my family back home that I left behind. That meant I found work in the foundries and the sawmills and struggled through as all immigrants do. Despite all the successes in my lifetime, I always regretted not having a degree. So having a doctorate of law degree presented to me by KPU is a huge thing. I think it probably comes close to getting a graduation degree, so it means a lot to me.

How were you approached for this recognition, and what was your reaction?

It was a total surprise because I’ve never heard anyone even talk to me about this or knew of anyone mentioning it to me prior to this phone call from the president of the university. He left a message on my phone and asked me to call him back. That’s when he gave me the news that the senate the previous night unanimously approved giving me the honorary degree. It was quite a surprise, but very, very good news for me.

Looking back at your career, what has been the most meaningful part of your journey?

I think the meaningful part was being a human rights and workers’ rights advocate during my working life in Canada and then being appointed as minister of labour to make those changes. That was a huge accomplishment and a huge opportunity for me to do what I had been advocating for. I was able to bring those changes through legislation, regulations, and policies, even addressing issues that weren’t on our minds when I started my political career in 2005, such as gig workers: Uber and Lyft drivers, food delivery workers, and others. We were able to provide them the basic minimum standards as other workers, though we’re not there yet. But we started that. 

Having fought for paid sick days, available only in this province, was huge. Also, having health-care workers brought back in house so they could enjoy good benefits, wages, and respect was huge. Moving from one of the lowest minimum wages in the country to the highest of all provinces during my time was another milestone. 

Overall, improving workers’ health and safety through workers’ compensation reform remains with me. Workers’ lives are much better today than when we took over as a government. Workers and employers together run our economy — not one or the other. Workers need a respected workplace, and their work needs to be valued, which our government ensured. 

We also worked hard to make sure that work is safe at the end of their shift. That was a huge priority, and we moved a long way in that area. In a nutshell, I was able to implement human rights and workers’ rights, which I had been advocating for. Having the chance to implement them has been a huge and humbling experience for me.

Can you share more about the work you have done and its impact on the community?

During my time in politics since 2005 — 12 of those years were in opposition — we were able to push the government of the day to make some real, positive changes that people could benefit from. Manufacturer homeowner protection was one of them. 

I was at a gurdwara one day when a couple of women came up to thank me for the benefits they were enjoying. I asked where they worked in the health-care system, and before I knew it, another 10 women came up, who said they were at the gurdwara to thank God for bringing them back into the health authority, so they could enjoy benefits and wages like other workers. 

They had suffered a lot because their jobs were privatized, and now they were back in house. They were so happy, crying, and hugging me. That gave me the sense that real people were benefiting from real government policies. 

Another example comes to mind is when I was driving home one day after work, and my neighbour, a young man, called me “uncle.” He said, “I want to thank you.” I asked, “For what?” He said, “Your announcement on child care is going to save me and my wife and me $900 a month, and that’s a huge benefit.” His wife was a teacher who couldn’t go back to work because they couldn’t afford child care. After the child care became more affordable, she was able to go back to teaching. 

Those are real policies impacting real people. I leave politics fully satisfied that we played a small role in making workers’ lives safer and better and gave them the opportunity to exercise their rights under the constitution, to join a union without any roadblocks put up by governments, as was the case before. There’s a huge sense of accomplishment in my mind as I leave for a younger, more energetic, and new idea person to replace me as MLA.

Is there anything you would like to add — any message for the community or future generations?

I just want to say, on this particular honorary degree, because I do value education, that the benefit of education to societies around the world is immeasurable. It helps create equality — both social and economic — and prepares our generations to deal with some of the most challenging issues that our society may face, such as climate change. I think through education, we can have a society with fewer inequalities. Receiving a degree such as this, such a prestigious degree, gives me such a humbling and emotional feeling.

AMOS KAMBERE

What does receiving this honorary degree from KPU mean to you?

It means a lot to me, of course, and to my wife Edith. Receiving it during Black History Month is extremely important. Also, receiving this honorary degree means that the university, which is a community-based university, has recognized the work that we do. The accountability that comes with the work and the transparency of what we do have been noticed by the university. We are profoundly excited, and it means a lot to us.

How were you approached for this recognition, and what was your reaction?

I didn’t get approached by anyone, I just received a message. The president tried to contact me by phone, but I was out of the country. I was in Uganda, and the phone wouldn’t go through. After trying three times, he sent an email asking me to call, and I replied saying, “Mr. President, I’m in Africa and I’m not able to call you on a direct line because when you’re in Africa, you’re just using WhatsApp, and that’s it.” 

Then he sent me an email saying that the senate had unanimously recognized us. It was surprising to us in Africa, but at the same time, exciting. We were never directly approached by someone, we just found out that we were unanimously voted in by the senate.

Looking back at your career, what has been the most meaningful part of your journey?

The most important thing has been to see families transformed and settled in their new environment, in their new country. It’s been fulfilling to see newcomers who came here without language skills able to interact with their children and seeing marginalized people, especially from Africa and the Middle East, who came here without hope or a future, and they find it. Some of them come here hoping to struggle and trying to survive, but at the end of the day, through our programs, they thrive. Seeing families thriving, getting on with their lives, buying property, getting jobs, and educating their children has been extremely fulfilling for us.

Can you share more about the work you have done and its impact on the community?

We’ve done a lot of work. We’ve supported almost 4,000 families over the years. Most of these families came here with nothing. When they hear our story about coming here with $5 in our pockets and four children, they can relate. These are large families from Africa and the Middle East, some of them with more than four children. Hearing our story, we try to encourage them and impact their lives. We’ve seen many of them transformed, especially through the literacy programs we offer at Umoja, the parenting programs, and, of course, the youth programs we’ve developed. These programs have been impactful for newcomers when they come and find a new life in this community.

Is there anything you would like to add — any message for the community or future generations?

I think future generations need to be more focused on their future, not their past. To newcomers and international students, they need to focus on the future — not where they are coming from, but where they are heading. They should work hard to create environments that don’t divide people but are inclusive and supportive of one another. They should be optimistic about the future because it is the young people we are looking at to shape our future. When they thrive, then we know that everybody will survive.

BRUCE RALSTON

What does receiving this honorary degree from KPU mean to you?

I was completely surprised when the president phoned me and asked if I would accept the honour. It was a well-kept secret. I didn’t lobby for it or anything like that. So I was a little overwhelmed. It’s obviously a great honour and a very thoughtful gesture by the board and KPU, an institution that I’ve known for many years and have seen grow dramatically. It was surreal. It was a really nice feeling to be recognized in that way.

How were you approached for this recognition, and what was your reaction?The president called me, it was not something I was expecting. The administration, whatever deliberations they engaged in, certainly didn’t let on that this was happening. So I was pleasantly surprised, but still very touched to receive this particular honour.

Looking back at your career, what has been the most meaningful part of your journey?

I’ve lived in Surrey for quite a long time. All of my children — our three children — were born at Surrey Memorial Hospital. They went to local schools. I was on the city council many years ago for a couple of terms, so I’ve always done my very best to represent the people of Surrey, particularly the people of North Surrey. 

Sometimes, in the past, although I think that’s changing, Surrey has suffered from unkind words from those outside Surrey. I’ve always felt that Surrey is a marvelous place — dynamic, energetic, future-oriented. In some ways, it’s the future of not only British Columbia but of Canada. It’s a really important place in B.C. and an important place in Canada. 

So I’ve always done my very best to represent the people of Surrey and their interests and do whatever I can to make life better for the people who live in Surrey. There are big issues and small issues. As an MLA, I help people with their individual challenges. They come to my office for help, but I also think about the bigger issues in Surrey, whether it’s health care, housing, transportation, or public safety. All of those things have been issues I’ve been proud and happy to work on over the years.

Can you share more about the work you have done and its impact on the community?
It’s difficult to assess what your impact is. One of the nice things about the awarding of the degree is that it’s enabled me to look back and think, “What was my impact?” Of course, through social media, you get a sense of what people are thinking. Hundreds of people have signed on to say congratulations, thank you very much, and well deserved. 

I look at the names of the people, and they are people I’ve helped or dealt with in many different aspects of what I’ve done over the years. Whether it’s education or the wide range of issues I’ve worked on over the years, I’ve always had a broad range of interests, and political office gives you that opportunity to be interested in and help people in any field if you choose to. I’ve always tried to take a wide view of things, whether it’s the particular interests of individuals or the community, the city, the province, or ultimately the country.

Is there anything you would like to add — any message for the community or future generations?

I think it is important at this time to think about Canada’s place in the world. One of the jobs I had as a minister was the cabinet liaison to the consular corps. Individual countries are represented here in B.C. by consular officials. They’re part of the diplomatic service of many countries. Vancouver and B.C., where many of the offices are, is considered among the diplomatic corps around the world to be a very desirable place to be. We tend to forget that here a little bit. We get involved in our own issues and concerns. 

I think it’s important to think about, not only at this time when the American president is basically attacking Canada, that we are an independent, sovereign society, which is the best country in the world to live in, and we should be proud of it and take every step we can to defend it. For students looking for their place in the world, I think KPU provides the ingredients to be successful, and I hope it provides the motivation to make Canada a better place during this time of some turmoil and stress.

DAVID YOUNG

What does receiving this honorary degree from KPU mean to you?

I’m personally touched and grateful to be acknowledged for my work. But more importantly, for me, it’s a recognition of the work that we do in human services — the work my colleagues do — that I often feel isn’t as highlighted or recognized as other professions. For me, it’s important that the sector is recognized for the contribution we make to the community, whether we’re social workers or in another form of human services. I also hope it inspires young people like yourselves to pursue this as a career path because it’s a vocation that has much opportunity, much learning, and much joy included in it. That’s what it means to me in a nutshell.

How were you approached for this recognition, and what was your reaction?

I was actually sitting on a plane, ready to fly to Morocco, when I saw KPU President Alan Davis called on my phone. I thought, “Well, I’ll take that call. I wonder what Alan wants.” Alan and I had served on the Public Sector Employers’ Council together a number of years ago. Then he let me know what it was about, and I was a bit shocked. I floated on air the whole way to Casablanca. It was a surprise for me. The relationship with KPU and the agency I worked for — Sources — along with the connection to the community, is really important to me. So the fact that it was coming from KPU, and that Alan was involved as well, were additional factors that led to my sense of elation.

Looking back at your career, what has been the most meaningful part of your journey?

One of the things I’ve been involved in, on and off, over the course of my career, has been creating opportunities for children and adults with support needs to live and learn within the context of community. That included the redevelopment and design of residential programs for children, engagement in the downsizing and closure of the Woodlands Institution, and the development of something called supported child development, which provided a framework of support that allowed children with support needs to attend their local pre-schools and daycares and learn and play alongside the broader population of young people. These are things that give me a lot of heartfelt satisfaction.

Can you share more about the work you have done and its impact on the community?

I think the most challenging part of the work I’ve done was in child protection, particularly early in my career, where I worked a lot with Indigenous communities. These were — and still continue to be — very challenging times for Indigenous people. I wish I had known then what I know today about the impacts of not only residential schools but racism in general on the Indigenous population and the trauma it inflicted upon generations. Would I have been able to act differently in my role? Maybe not, but I think I would have had a better understanding and more empathy about what the Indigenous community and families were experiencing. 

Over the last decade, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in and walk the path of truth and reconciliation. It’s been important to engage both within the agency I led, as well as with the broader community, through blanket exercises and circles of reconciliation and learning. I’m hopeful that the work I’ve done in this area has helped lead to reconciliation, bridged understandings, and support relationships among all people in the province. This has probably been the more recent 10 years of my life.

Is there anything you would like to add — any message for the community or future generations?

It really resonated with me that it was KPU giving me this distinction because it’s so grassroots and so connected to the community. For me, while I was part of the event, I was overwhelmed by the joy and support that the staff and faculty were showing the graduating class. I hadn’t anticipated that. There’s a really nice sense of community within the university, but also a strong tie to the broader community. I hope KPU never loses that, it’s really important. 

As for young people like yourselves, I would hope the model that KPU provides — focusing on learning and education but also being connected authentically to the community in which you live and work — resonates with you. We need young people to be engaged in their community, whether through acts of service and volunteer work or political engagement. We cannot take for granted the hard-fought rights we enjoy today. 

I see pressures on many fronts — civil rights, women’s rights, and racism rearing its ugly head from time to time. We need to be vigilant, firm, and steadfast in our opposition to anything that erodes the rights of not only ourselves but of our neighbours, friends, children, and parents.

EDITH KAMBERE

The following statements were sent in an email to The Runner. 

What does receiving this honorary degree from KPU mean to you?

Receiving this honorary degree has made me reflect on the impact my countless volunteer efforts have had on many local and international communities that have benefited from my volunteer experience. I am humbled that my work can be recognized by a university such as KPU.

How were you approached for this recognition, and what was your reaction?

I was out of the country for my usual international volunteer work when I received an email from the KPU president regarding this recognition. It was a huge surprise for me, as I had no idea that my volunteer work would be of any significance to any institution whatsoever.

Looking back at your career, what has been the most meaningful part of your journey?

The most meaningful part of my career as a social worker (now retired) is helping vulnerable immigrant and refugee families fleeing from war-torn countries.

Can you share more about the work you have done and its impact on the community?

My professional work before retirement had been in the area of mental health issues among immigrant and refugee women, an area that was close home to my heart. I had my own share, over 30 years, in my initial years of being isolated in a society that was strange to me as a new immigrant woman, hence realizing that other women who came after me might be experiencing the same obstacle of cultural social and isolation as I was. 

Is there anything you would like to add — any message for the community or future generations?

It is my desire to continue with this crusade of helping those immigrant and refugee families who would need my help and support. 

To learn more about the honorary degree recipients, visit www.kpu.ca/news.