Special Guest Speaker

The Honourable Steven Point

Former B.C. lieutenant-governor, the Honourable Steven Lewis Point, has advocated for Indigenous people throughout his career. As a member of the Skowkale First Nation, at the young age of 23, Point was elected chief of the Skowkale First Nation and held the leadership role for 15 years.

In 1985, he earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia and served as Director of the First Nations’ Legal Studies program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law from 1991-94.

In 2007, Point became the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, becoming the first Indigenous person appointed to represent the Queen in B.C., a position he held until 2012.

Point has also worked as a lawyer, served as a provincial court judge and was Chief Commissioner of the B.C. Treaty Commission. He chaired the advisory committee that worked to implement the recommendations from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.

In 2013, Point received an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from UBC for his exceptional commitment in the field of law, legal and Indigenous education, and his leadership in the Indigenous community.

On July 1, 2020, Point became the chancellor of UBC, a position he currently holds. Dr. Point is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the Order of B.C, the Joseph H. Cohen Award from the Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation, a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Order of Chilliwack, and honourary Doctorate of Laws degrees from the University of the Fraser Valley and Capilano University.