This spring, the University of British Columbia plans to bestow B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg with honorary degrees.
UBC president Santa J. Ono said they have “served as leading voices in the midst of two of the most significant crises we collectively have ever faced: the global pandemic and climate change.”
“They are truly an inspiration to us all at UBC,” said Ono in a March 31 statement.
The women are among 18 individuals chosen to receive the highest honour conferred by the university – in recognition of their contributions to society.
READ MORE: Dr. Bonnie Henry’s book offers insight into early days of the COVID-19 pandemic
Henry, a former physician epidemiologist for the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science from UBC Vancouver, while Thunberg will be bestowed with a Doctor of Laws from UBC Okanagan.
Henry has led the provincial government in its science-based response strategy to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, she’s garnered accolades from across Canada and the globe.
Thunberg, 18, first gained international recognition for challenging world leaders to take immediate action against climate change. Since then she’s sparked activism in many countries.
The full list of honorary degree recipients can be viewed on the university website.
RELATED: Adults must protect kids from climate change, Greta Thunberg says during Vancouver rally
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