Six who are making a difference
Six lifetime achievers are becoming honorary UVic graduates at this week's convocation ceremonies. They are:

Dr. WADE DAVIS
Ethnobotanist
One of the most influential ethnobotanists in the world, Wade Davis is well-known to all those concerned with the environment and loss of cultural diversity. He coined the term "ethnosphere" — the sum total of human thought, language and stories — as a conceptual counterpart to the biosphere. As a writer, photographer and lecturer he's a tireless spokesperson for the rights of indigenous peoples and the value of preserving traditional culture. Currently explorer-in-residence for the National Geographic Society, he inspires and educates the general public about ethnic diversity through books, lectures and documentaries. Davis was raised in Victoria. (Doctor of Science)

ANTONIO LEAÑO ALVAREZ DEL CASTILLO
Education advocate
Lawyer, teacher, rancher and activist, Antonio Leaño Alvarez del Castillo has dedicated his life to education and social advancement in Mexico. In the midst of social and political upheaval in the 1930s he and a group of student activists were instrumental in founding the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG). Leaño has been intimately associated with the UAG ever since, and is widely credited with shaping it into one of the most respected universities in Mexico. He also helped create a community college-style system in Mexico and a Latin American association dedicated to educational reform. (Doctor of Laws)

GARDE GARDOM
Public servant
Garde Gardom's term as Lieutenant Governor of B.C. (1995-2001) capped a long and distinguished career in public service. He served as an MLA from 1966-1987, holding two cabinet portfolios and becoming the longest-serving Government House Leader. He's probably best remembered for his strong advocacy for public accountability, spearheading initiatives such as the establishment of an Ombudsman and Auditor General. Gardom also served as Agent General for B.C. in the UK and Europe from 1987-1993. Now retired, he retains his appointment as Honorary Colonel of the British Columbia Regiment, a primary reserve unit of the Canadian Forces. (Doctor of Laws)

DR. NORMA MICKELSON
Educator and administrator
A major player in UVic's evolution over the last three decades, Norma Mickelson is a pioneer in many ways. She was the first female dean of education in Canada, first advisor to the vice president academic on women's academic issues, first advisor to the president on employment equity, first recipient of the Sarah Shorten Award for the advancement of women in Canadian universities, and first female chancellor of UVic. She's also an expert on literacy, with 140 publications to her credit, including books, articles, poems and educational videos. (Doctor of Laws)

MARK STAROWICZ
Broadcast journalist
Described by one newspaper as "the most respected Canadian broadcaster of the last quarter century," Mark Starowicz has led many of the most defining reforms in Canadian radio and television. As head of CBC documentary programming, he's responsible for many of the network's most successful programs, such as As It Happens, Sunday Morning and The Journal. He ushered satellite journalism into Canada through the use of flexible teams on various newsfronts using mobile, fast technology. Most recently, he completed the largest documentary production in Canadian history, Canada: A People's History. (Doctor of Laws)

HOWARD WHITE
An accomplished writer in the areas of poetry, fiction, non-fiction and children's literature, Howard White has also been a driving force within B.C.'s publishing industry for the past 30 years. He has devoted his life to the unique culture of B.C., with special attention to the literature and history of the West Coast. His publishing house, Harbour Publishing, and his magazine, Raincoast Chronicles, are widely credited with changing the way British Columbians see themselves, their history and their culture. His latest achievement is the widely acclaimed British Columbia Encyclopedia, published in 2001. (Doctor of Laws)