Congratulations to UBC Arts scholars Arthur J. Ray and Peter Suedfeld who were named Officers of the Order of Canada in recognition of their remarkable achievements and contributions to the country.
The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours. Presented by the Governor General, the Order “honours people whose service shapes Canadian society and whose innovations ignite our imaginations; and whose compassion unites our communities.”
Arthur J. Ray, Professor Emeritus, Department of History
Arthur Ray is a prominent writer and researcher of Canadian Indigenous economic history and cultural ecology. His expertise in Aboriginal land claims has helped inform landmark decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada. Ray also launched the first long-term comparative historical study of claims processes in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Ray has been honoured for his contributions as a historical geographer and expert witness in Aboriginal land claims.
Peter Suedfeld, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology
Peter Suedfeld is one of the pioneering researchers in the field of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) and in his field research he has studied the reactions and adaptation of crews in the Antarctic, the Canadian High Arctic, and in space vehicles, as well as survivors of the Holocaust and other traumatic events. His research findings were among the first to emphasize the positive aspects and consequences of these experiences.
Suedfeld has been honoured for his groundbreaking research on psychological impacts of extreme environments and stressors on human behaviour.
