The UBC community mourns the passing of Dr. J. Peter Meekison, O.C., LL.D., an eminent Canadian, prominent academic and public servant, and key figure in the history of UBC’s Okanagan campus.
Dr. Meekison was appointed by the Province of BC to serve as the public administrator during Okanagan University College’s transformation into UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College. This work culminated in a July 2005 ceremony where UBC President Martha Piper ‘received the keys’ from Dr. Meekison to OUC’s North Kelowna campus, formally marking the transition.
Dr. Meekison’s long and diverse career included notable contributions in law, as a university professor, government and post-secondary administrator, and public service leader.
Martha Piper (L) receives the keys to UBC Okanagan from Peter Meekison (R)
Widely recognized for his expertise on Canadian federalism and constitutional policy, Dr. Meekison was lead author of a proposal for the constitutional amending formula that was incorporated into The Constitution Act, 1982. In 1993, he was appointed to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which conducted a comprehensive investigation into the relationship between Indigenous Peoples, the Canadian government and Canadian society and produced a historic report and recommendations.
A two-time UBC alumnus, he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from UBC’s Vancouver campus before completing his Ph.D. in Political Science at Duke University.
His accolades include his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada and several honorary degrees. In 2009, UBC Okanagan recognized Dr. Meekison’s distinguished career, service and legacy with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. In the same year, and made possible by a donation by Peter’s friends and family, the ground floor of UBC Okanagan’s University Centre Building was established as the J. Peter Meekison Student Centre in honour of Dr. Meekison’s unwavering dedication, passion, and love of students.
Flags at UBC Okanagan will be lowered on February 7, 2025 in memory of J. Peter Meekison. On behalf of everyone at the university, I extend my sincere condolences to Dr. Meekison’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Lesley Cormack
Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
UBC Okanagan
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