A handful of notable Surrey community advocates are to receive honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Kwantlen Polytechnic University this week.
The distinctions are to recognize the contributions and achievements of "five community champions," a news release issued Monday (Feb. 24) declares.
Recipients will be former B.C. cabinet ministers and Surrey MLAs Harry Bains and Bruce Ralston; humanitarians Amos and Edith Kambere; and former Sources Community Resources Society executive director David Young.
“Our region has witnessed the passion and dedication these individuals have brought to their work, and our communities are better for it,” KPU president and vice-chancellor Dr. Alan Davis said in the release.
Young's career spans areas including income assistance, mental health, child welfare and family services. According to a bio shared by KPU, the "champion of the most vulnerable" was drawn to human services through residential care work while at university. Following a long career with the B.C. government, he became executive director of the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs in Ottawa. In 2008, he took over the helm of Sources, where he remained for 17 years.
Edith Kambere is described in the release as a staunch advocate for mental health, a crusader for women and a champion of refugees; dedicated to community service and improving the lives of newcomers. An exile from Uganda, she overcame barriers including poverty and isolation to ultimately found the Umoja Operation Compassion Society with her husband – and fellow degree recipient – Amos.
Amos Kambere was forced to leave Uganda – where he was the youngest member of the Ugandan parliament – in 1985. After arriving in Canada seven years later, he co-founded Umoja, which focuses on supporting newcomer immigrants and refugees living in Surrey. He served on KPU's board of governors from 2018-2024.
Ralston is a five-term MLA for Surrey-Whalley and two-term Surrey councillor. His history includes a lengthy law career for which he was recognized in 2021 with a King's Counsel appointment, the release notes. He has also served as a director of VanCity Credit Union, as volunteer president of the B.C. NDP, and on the boards of Surrey Memorial Hospital and Surrey Public Library.
Bains was steered to politics after experiencing discrimination and racism while working at a sawmill in Vancouver. First elected NDP MLA for Surrey-Newton in 2005, he was re-elected four times. Appointed minister of labour in 2017, he retired from politics in 2024 to spend more time with family.
Convocation ceremonies take place Feb. 24-28. The Kamberes and Ralston are to receive their honorary degrees on Tuesday (Feb. 25); Bains and Young on Friday (Feb. 28).
For complete bios on the recipients, visit kpu.ca
