A UNBC professor who is one of Canada’s foremost northern scholars will receive an honorary degree this spring from Brandon University. Bill Morrison was UNBC’s Founding Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and has been with UNBC since 1992. He is currently a professor in the History program.

“It is a real honour to be recognized by the University where I spent so much of my career,” says Dr. Morrison, who taught History at Brandon University for 20 years starting in 1969. In addition to UNBC, Dr. Morrison has also taught at Lakehead University, the University of Victoria, and Duke University in North Carolina where he was a Distinguished Visiting Professor. He has been teaching at the university level for 38 years.

As one of the first academics at UNBC, he drafted the original academic calendar descriptions for many of the programs in the arts and sciences.

“I can only imagine what UNBC was like in those early years, but our success today is largely due to many of the original founders such as Bill Morrison,” says UNBC President Don Cozzetto. “On behalf of everyone at UNBC, congratulations to Bill on receiving this honorary degree. It is a true recognition of his achievements.”

Dr. Morrison has authored twelve books about the North, ten of which were co-authored with former UNBC Vice-President, Ken Coates. These books have described the building of the Alaska Highway, the sinking of the Princess Sophia north of Juneau, stories of murder in the Yukon, and the history of northern political and social development. Together, they also published a book about the northern parts of Canada’s provinces.

Dr. Morrison will receive his honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) at the Brandon University convocation ceremony on May 26, 2007.

Contact:
Dr. Bill Morrison, History Professor, UNBC – 250.960.5824
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
 

Click on the thumbnail below to access a high-resolution photo of Bill Morrison.