Simon Fraser University
Encyclopedia
Simon Fraser University (commonly referred to as SFU) is a Canadian public research university
in British Columbia
with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain
in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver
and Surrey
. The 1.7 km² (0.65637366960731 sq mi) main campus in Burnaby, located 20 km (12.4 mi) from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000 students and 950 faculty members. The university is adjacent to a new urban village, called UniverCity
, also on top of Burnaby Mountain. The university was named after Simon Fraser
, a North West Company
fur trader and explorer. Undergraduate and graduate programs operate on a year-round tri-semester schedule. It is the only Canadian university in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 2007, Simon Fraser University was the first and remains the only university to be awarded the Prix du XXe siècle from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
recognizing the "enduring excellence of nationally significant architecture".
SFU was ranked 1st among Canada’s Comprehensive Universities in 2009, 2010, and 2011 by Macleans Magazine.
In May of the same year, Dr. Gordon M. Shrum
was appointed as the university's first Chancellor. From a variety of sites which were offered, Shrum recommended to the provincial government that the summit of Burnaby Mountain, 365 meters above sea level, be chosen for the new university. Architects Arthur Erickson
and Geoffrey Massey won a competition to design the university, and construction began in the spring of 1964. The campus faces northwest over Burrard Inlet. Eighteen months later, on September 9, 1965, the university began its first semester with 2,500 students.
was used from the university's inception until 2006, at which point the Board of Governors voted to adapt the old coat of arms and thereby register a second coat of arms. The adaptation replaced two crosslets with books after some in the university asserted the crosses had misled prospective foreign students into believing SFU was a private, religious institution rather than a public, secular one. In 2007, the university decided to register both the old coat of arms and the revised coat of arms featuring the books. In 2007, a new marketing logo was unveiled, consisting of white letters on block red.
, whose term began on September 1, 2010. Petter succeeds Dr. Michael Stevenson
. who held a decade long post as President from 2000 to 2010.
In 2009, SFU became the first Canadian university to be accepted into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Starting in the 2011-2012 season, SFU will be competing in the NCAA’s Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). Once completed, the transition will move all 19 Simon Fraser Clan
teams into the NCAA.
SFU's research efforts have led it to obtain the highest publication impact among Canadian comprehensive universities, and the highest success rates per faculty member in competitions for Federal research council funding from NSERC and SSHRC. In 2007, the University began offering dual and double degrees
by partnering with international universities. The first partnership involved Zhejiang University
and a dual Computing-Science degree. One year later, the University partnered with Australia's Monash University
, to offer a double Bachelor of Arts degree.
magazine since 1991. Research Infosource, Canada’s leading provider of research intelligence evaluation, named SFU the top comprehensive university in Canada for “publication effectiveness” in 2006. Similar to most Canadian universities, SFU is a public university, with more than half of funding coming from taxpayers and the remaining from tuition fees.
, followed by South Korea
(6%) and Hong Kong
(6%). SFU's student union is known as the Simon Fraser Student Society
(SFSS), which includes undergraduates who study at SFU.
Teaching Assistants, Tutor Markers, Sessional Instructors, and Language Instructors at SFU are unionized. The union, The Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU), is independent. Faculty and lecturers are members of the Faculty Association. Staff are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees
(CUPE), the Administrative and Professional Staff Association (APSA), or Polyparty. A few positions at the university such as some in Human Resources and senior administrative positions fall outside of the five associations or unions above.
, a powerful cyclotron used in subatomic physics and chemistry research. SFU is also a partner institution in Great Northern Way Campus Ltd in Vancouver. In March 2006, SFU approved an affiliation agreement with a private college for international students to be housed adjacent to its Burnaby campus. This new college named Fraser International College is now open in the Multi Tenant Facility located in Discovery Parks Trust SFU site.
. SFU's main campus is located in Burnaby, atop Burnaby Mountain. Two satellite campuses are located in Vancouver's
Downtown at Harbour Centre
, and in Surrey
. The downtown campus has expanded to include several other buildings in recent years, including the Segal Graduate School of Business, now known officially as SFU Vancouver. In September 2010, SFU Contemporary Arts moved into the Woodward’s redevelopment, known as the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. SFU's three campuses are all accessible by public transit. The Vancouver campus is a block away from the Waterfront SkyTrain station
while the Surrey campus is adjacent to the Surrey Central SkyTrain station
. The Burnaby campus is linked to the Production Way-University
and Sperling-Burnaby Lake
SkyTrain stations by frequent shuttle bus service.
, at an elevation of 365 metres, overlooking the Burrard inlet to the north. All major departments in the university are housed at the Burnaby campus. The library on the main campus is called the W. A. C. Bennett Library, named after the Social Credit
Premier of B.C. who established it. The campus also has two gym-complexes, named the Lorne-Davies Complex and Chancellor's Gym. An international-sized swimming pool is located within the Lorne-Davies Complex. Since the relocation of the School of Contemporary Arts to the Woodward's location, the Burnaby campus production theatre has been vacant. Located within the heart of the campus is the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and three art galleries. The campus has been awarded numerous architectural awards over the years, including the Gold Medal for Lieutenant-Governor 2009 Awards in Architecture and the 2007 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Prix du XXe siècle.
The Burnaby campus is composed of a vast complex of interconnected buildings spanning across 1.7 km2 of land across Burnaby Mountain, from the eastern end of the campus to the western side, where the UniverCity
urban village is located. The campus consists of the following buildings:
in Victoria. The exhibits are created by students as part of the museum studies courses offered in the Department of Archaeology. Archaeological collections arising from excavations and other research by faculty, staff and students are also housed in the museum.
Also located at the SFU Library is the Electronic Document Centre, which provides internet access to digitized documents from a number of archival collections, such as Harrison Brown's Xi'an Incident
collection, and the history of British Columbia and Western Canada in general, including documents from the Doukhobor
migration from the Russian Empire
to Saskatchewan
and then to British Columbia assembled for donation to the university by John Keenlyside
, adjacent to Simon Fraser University. It has won several awards for sustainable planning and development. Envisioned in 1963 by Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey, the area adjacent to the University was not officially rezoned for development until 30 years later. Development of the community began in early 2000, when Simon Fraser University commenced construction on a new residential and commercial area occupying approximately 200 acre (0.809372 km²) adjacent to the campus. As of September 2011, approximately 3000 people live in UniverCity. The main commercial district on University High Street now houses restaurants, stores, and a 20,000 square foot Nester's Market. A new elementary school, University Highlands Elementary, opened on September 1, 2010. Several new residential developments are currently in progress, including the construction of a 12-storey highrise in the heart of UniverCity.
, B.C., a quickly growing suburb of Vancouver. The campus is part of Central City
, an architectural complex adjacent to the Surrey Central SkyTrain
station. It was established in 2002 to absorb the students and programs of the former Technical University of British Columbia
which was closed by the provincial government. It has since expanded to house the Surrey operations of other SFU programs. The Central City complex that houses the campus was designed by architect Bing Thom
and opened in 2006.
, the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, the Segal Graduate School of Business
and SFU Contemporary Arts at Woodward's. The original campus building at Harbour Centre, a rebuilt heritage department store, officially opened on May 5, 1989. Today, the entire campus serves more than 70,000 people annually. Approximately 10,000 are graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in courses and degree programs based downtown.
In September 2010, SFU Contemporary Arts relocated to the historic Woodward’s district in downtown Vancouver known as the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. The 130000 square feet (12,077 m²) SFU facility is part of the Woodward's
revitalization project. The new facility accommodates the increasing enrollment of students in the programme and new cultural facilities, including the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental theatre, screening rooms, sound studios, and art galleries.
radio is the school's radio station, broadcasting from 90.1 FM to Burnaby and surrounding communities, online at www.cjsf.ca or on cable at 93.9 FM. The Simon Fraser Student Society provides funding for over 100 campus clubs. Various campus events include the annual Terry Fox Run, Gung Haggis Fat Choy
, Clubs Week, and other multi-cultural events.
named McFogg the Dog. In sports and other competitions, there tends to be a strong rivalry between SFU and The University of British Columbia.
The Clan competes in Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS) and the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) and the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
(MCLA). In total, SFU has 15 varsity sport teams and 300 athletes. Football, men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball and women's wrestling compete for CIS championships only. Men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's cross-country and men's and women's track and field compete for NAIA championships only. Men's wrestling competes for championships of both organizations. The lacrosse team plays in the MCLA, and has reached the final four of the national tournament five times. The team is the only collegiate lacrosse team in Canada to compete for a national title. SFU has won the NAIA NACDA Director's Cup
five times, among others. On Friday, July 10, 2009, the NCAA announced that it has accepted SFU as a Division II member that will begin after a two year transition period. SFU will compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference
. It is the first Canadian university to be accepted as a member of the NCAA at any level.
Many former Clan athletes later represented Canada during the Olympic Games
, including gold medalists Carole Huynh and Daniel Igali
, and Olympic medalists Sue Holloway
and Hugh Fisher
. Other Clan alumni include: Jay Triano
, Jeff Thue, Bob Molle, Chris Rinke, Garry MacDonald, and Bruce Robertson.
There are also teams at Simon Fraser University that compete against other university teams at the varsity level. These sports include rowing, lacrosse (in the MCLA
), hockey and cheerleading.
Board of Governors
The Board is composed of the Chancellor, the President, two student members, two faculty members, one staff member, and eight individuals appointed by the British Columbia
government. Traditionally, the Board is chaired by one of the government appointees. The Board is responsible for the general management and governance of the university.
Board Members As of June 1, 2011
Senate
The Senate is composed of the Chancellor, the President, Vice-President, Academic, Vice-President, Research, Deans of Faculties, Dean of Graduate Studies, Dean of Continuing Studies, Associate Vice-President, Academic, University Librarian, Registrar (as Senate secretary), 14 student members, 28 faculty members, and 4 convocation members (who are not faculty members). The Senate is chaired by the President. The academic governance of the university is vested in the Senate.
Chancellor
The Chancellor is elected by and from Convocation for a three-year term, which can be renewed once. The main responsibilities of the Chancellor are to confer degrees and represent the university in formal functions.
President and Vice-Chancellor
The President and Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the Board of Governors based on a selection process jointly established by the Board of Governors and the Senate of the university. As Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Senate, the President is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the university.
One of the most highly regarded SFU alumni and one of Canada's most treasured sons is the late Terry Fox
. Diagnosed with bone cancer which resulted in the amputation of his leg, the 18-year-old kinesiology major set out to cross Canada
on a grueling run called the Marathon of Hope to raise funding and awareness about cancer. As a result of Terry Fox's legacy, running for charitable causes is now integrated within communities worldwide. He also inspired friend Rick Hansen
's Man in Motion world tour by wheelchair. In 2001, SFU awarded an honorary degree to Betty Fox
, mother of Terry Fox and Honorary Chair of the Terry Fox Foundation.
, the first honorary degree awarded by the university. On April 20, 2004, SFU conferred honorary degrees upon three Nobel Peace Prize
recipients: the 14th Dalai Lama, Bishop Desmond Tutu
, and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi
. At each convocation, SFU awards honorary degrees to various people from around the world for their activities and pursuits. Other honorary alumni include skier Nancy Greene Raine, Milton Wong, Doris Shadbolt
, dancer and choreographer Judith Marcuse, economist Jeffrey Sachs
, Peter Gzowski
, Douglas Coupland
, Romeo Dallaire
, Canadian businessman Stephen Jarislowsky, Iain Baxter, American agriculturalist Cary Fowler
, Martha Piper, Sarah McLachlan
, and Rick Hansen
.
Due to the contemporary Brutalist architecture
of the Burnaby Mountain campus, many buildings, including the WAC Bennet Library and Academic Quadrangle have been used for location shots in a variety of films and television programmes over the years.
, in which the entire campus complex was used. It was then followed by The Fly 2, which has scenes shot inside and outside the Burnaby campus. The campus also appeared in the 1989 movie American Boyfriends
, set in 1965, with the buildings dressed to look like they were still under construction. The campus served as a high-tech corporate setting in the film Antitrust
. Recently, in addition to other Vancouver
-area landmarks, many parts of the Burnaby campus were used for the filming of the movie The 6th Day
as well as Agent Cody Banks
. The 2007 film Personal Effects
was filmed in the newly-constructed Blusson Hall at the Burnaby Campus. In early 2008, the Burnaby campus was again used for filming, this time for The Day the Earth Stood Still
(2008 Remake). Filming of the 2012 movie Underworld 4 starring Kate Beckinsale began in early 2011 with parts of the AQ modified as part of the set. The SFU Surrey Campus has also been featured in blockbuster movies such as iRobot, Fantastic Four and Catwoman.
, Battlestar Galactica
and Andromeda
. The Academic Quadrangle has also served as a backdrop for shots of "headquarters" in the television series The X-Files
. Exterior shots of the Academic Quadrangle have also been used in the Vancouver-based TV series JPod
(based on the book). The SFU Surrey campus has been featured in several episodes of Caprica
with the entire mezzanine and registration area being transformed into the Caprica Inter-colonial Space Port. It has also been featured in the Smallville TV series. Recently, filming of the TV show Hellcats
commenced in the West Gym of the Chancellor's Gymnasium in November 2010.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain
Burnaby Mountain
Burnaby Mountain, elev. , is a low, forested mountain in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, overlooking the upper arms of Burrard Inlet. It is the location of Simon Fraser University, the Discovery Park research community, and the System Control Tower of BC Hydro and a new complex of...
in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
. The 1.7 km² (0.65637366960731 sq mi) main campus in Burnaby, located 20 km (12.4 mi) from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000 students and 950 faculty members. The university is adjacent to a new urban village, called UniverCity
UniverCity
UniverCity is an award-winninghttp://www.burnabynow.com/UniverCity+shares+award+with+City+Burnaby/5161485/story.html sustainable community located on top of Burnaby Mountain, adjacent to Simon Fraser University. It is modeled as a sustainable community. UniverCity has won several awards for...
, also on top of Burnaby Mountain. The university was named after Simon Fraser
Simon Fraser (explorer)
Simon Fraser was a fur trader and an explorer who charted much of what is now the Canadian province of British Columbia. Fraser was employed by the Montreal-based North West Company. By 1805, he had been put in charge of all the company's operations west of the Rocky Mountains...
, a North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
fur trader and explorer. Undergraduate and graduate programs operate on a year-round tri-semester schedule. It is the only Canadian university in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 2007, Simon Fraser University was the first and remains the only university to be awarded the Prix du XXe siècle from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada , founded in 1907, is a Canadian association representing over 3,600 architects, and faculty and graduates of Canadian Schools of Architecture.RAIC is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada...
recognizing the "enduring excellence of nationally significant architecture".
SFU was ranked 1st among Canada’s Comprehensive Universities in 2009, 2010, and 2011 by Macleans Magazine.
History
Founding
Simon Fraser University was founded upon the recommendation of a 1958 report entitled Higher Education in British Columbia and a Plan for the Future, by Dr. J.B. Macdonald, who recommended the creation of a new university in the Lower Mainland. The British Columbia Legislature gave formal assent on March 1, 1963 for the establishment of the university in Burnaby.In May of the same year, Dr. Gordon M. Shrum
Gordon Shrum
Gordon Merritt Shrum OC, OBE, MM was a Canadian scientist, teacher, administrator, and the first Chancellor of Simon Fraser University....
was appointed as the university's first Chancellor. From a variety of sites which were offered, Shrum recommended to the provincial government that the summit of Burnaby Mountain, 365 meters above sea level, be chosen for the new university. Architects Arthur Erickson
Arthur Erickson
Arthur Charles Erickson, was a Canadian architect and urban planner. He studied Asian languages at the University of British Columbia, and later earned a degree in architecture from McGill University.-Biography:...
and Geoffrey Massey won a competition to design the university, and construction began in the spring of 1964. The campus faces northwest over Burrard Inlet. Eighteen months later, on September 9, 1965, the university began its first semester with 2,500 students.
Early activism
The campus was noted in the 1960s and early 1970s as a hotbed of political activism, culminating in a crisis in the Department of Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology in a dispute involving ideological differences among faculty. The resolution to the crisis included the dismantling of the department into today's separate departments.Coat of Arms
The school's original coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was used from the university's inception until 2006, at which point the Board of Governors voted to adapt the old coat of arms and thereby register a second coat of arms. The adaptation replaced two crosslets with books after some in the university asserted the crosses had misled prospective foreign students into believing SFU was a private, religious institution rather than a public, secular one. In 2007, the university decided to register both the old coat of arms and the revised coat of arms featuring the books. In 2007, a new marketing logo was unveiled, consisting of white letters on block red.
The University today
SFU's president is Andrew PetterAndrew Petter
Andrew J. Petter is currently President of Simon Fraser University. He was formerly the dean of the University of Victoria's law school. He served briefly as Attorney General of British Columbia under the New Democratic Party government of Ujjal Dosanjh...
, whose term began on September 1, 2010. Petter succeeds Dr. Michael Stevenson
Michael Stevenson
Michael Stevenson is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University. He retired on August 31, 2010, and was subsequently succeeded by Andrew Petter on September 1, 2010...
. who held a decade long post as President from 2000 to 2010.
In 2009, SFU became the first Canadian university to be accepted into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Starting in the 2011-2012 season, SFU will be competing in the NCAA’s Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). Once completed, the transition will move all 19 Simon Fraser Clan
Simon Fraser Clan
Simon Fraser Clan are the athletic teams that represent Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.SFU's teams formerly played in the United States National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for all sports. In 1997, Simon Fraser sought to join the U.S. NCAA as a Division II...
teams into the NCAA.
SFU's research efforts have led it to obtain the highest publication impact among Canadian comprehensive universities, and the highest success rates per faculty member in competitions for Federal research council funding from NSERC and SSHRC. In 2007, the University began offering dual and double degrees
Double degree
A double-degree program, sometimes called a combined degree, conjoint degree, dual degree, or simultaneous degree program, involves a student's working for two different university degrees in parallel, either at the same institution or at different institutions , completing them in less time than...
by partnering with international universities. The first partnership involved Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
and a dual Computing-Science degree. One year later, the University partnered with Australia's Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, to offer a double Bachelor of Arts degree.
Academics
SFU has been rated as Canada's best comprehensive university (in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011) in the annual rankings of Canadian universities in Maclean'sMaclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
magazine since 1991. Research Infosource, Canada’s leading provider of research intelligence evaluation, named SFU the top comprehensive university in Canada for “publication effectiveness” in 2006. Similar to most Canadian universities, SFU is a public university, with more than half of funding coming from taxpayers and the remaining from tuition fees.
Undergraduate
In academic year 2010-11, SFU is home to 29,697 undergraduates, with 14,911 of them being full-time and 14,786 part-time. The university has grown in recent years recently achieving an alumni population of over 100,000. It has 946 faculty members and 3,403 staff. In fall semester 2011, 4,182 International students enrolled, making up 17% of the undergraduate student body, one of the highest among Canadian universities. The majority of these international students (60%) come from Mainland ChinaMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, followed by South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(6%) and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
(6%). SFU's student union is known as the Simon Fraser Student Society
Simon Fraser Student Society
The Simon Fraser Student Society is the students' union of Simon Fraser University in Metro Vancouver, Canada. It was founded after the opening of Simon Fraser University in 1967....
(SFSS), which includes undergraduates who study at SFU.
Graduate
The university enrolls over 5,000 graduate students in a wide range of full-time and part-time academic programs. International students comprise 20% of the graduate student population as a whole and 30-40% in science and technology areas. A Graduate Student Society supports and advocates for graduate students at the university.Staff unions
Canadian Union of Public Employees
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is a Canadian trade union serving the public sector - although it has in recent years organized workplaces in the non-profit and para-public sector as well...
(CUPE), the Administrative and Professional Staff Association (APSA), or Polyparty. A few positions at the university such as some in Human Resources and senior administrative positions fall outside of the five associations or unions above.
Research and affiliations
SFU also works with other universities and agencies to operate joint research facilities. These include Bamfield Marine Station, a major centre for teaching and research in marine biology; TRIUMFTRIUMF
TRIUMF is Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. Its headquarters are located on the south campus of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia. TRIUMF houses the world's largest cyclotron, source of 500 MeV protons, which was named an IEEE Milestone...
, a powerful cyclotron used in subatomic physics and chemistry research. SFU is also a partner institution in Great Northern Way Campus Ltd in Vancouver. In March 2006, SFU approved an affiliation agreement with a private college for international students to be housed adjacent to its Burnaby campus. This new college named Fraser International College is now open in the Multi Tenant Facility located in Discovery Parks Trust SFU site.
Faculties
There are eight faculties at Simon Fraser University:- Faculty of Applied Science
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- The Beedie School of Business
- Faculty of Communication, Art and TechnologyThe Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology at Simon Fraser UniversityThe Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology ' at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in Communication, Contemporary Arts, Interactive Arts & Technology, and Publishing. Programs in the Faculty are taught at all three...
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Environment
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
Campus distributions
Simon Fraser University has three campuses, each located in different parts of Greater VancouverGreater Vancouver
Greater Vancouver is the metropolitan area centred on the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, roughly coterminous with the Greater Vancouver Regional District, which is governed by a body known as Metro Vancouver...
. SFU's main campus is located in Burnaby, atop Burnaby Mountain. Two satellite campuses are located in Vancouver's
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
Downtown at Harbour Centre
Harbour Centre
Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline...
, and in Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
. The downtown campus has expanded to include several other buildings in recent years, including the Segal Graduate School of Business, now known officially as SFU Vancouver. In September 2010, SFU Contemporary Arts moved into the Woodward’s redevelopment, known as the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. SFU's three campuses are all accessible by public transit. The Vancouver campus is a block away from the Waterfront SkyTrain station
Waterfront Station (Vancouver)
Waterfront Station is a major intermodal public transportation facility and the main transit terminus in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Location:...
while the Surrey campus is adjacent to the Surrey Central SkyTrain station
Surrey Central Station
Surrey Central Station is a station in Surrey, British Columbia, on an elevated portion of the Expo Line, a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system.-Location:...
. The Burnaby campus is linked to the Production Way-University
Production Way-University Station
Production Way – University Station is a station on the Millennium Line, a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. It is located at the intersection of Lougheed Highway and Production Way in Burnaby, British Columbia....
and Sperling-Burnaby Lake
Sperling-Burnaby Lake Station
Sperling – Burnaby Lake Station is a station on the Millennium Line, a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station is located on the southeast corner of Sperling Avenue and Lougheed Highway, across from Burnaby Lake Regional Park....
SkyTrain stations by frequent shuttle bus service.
Burnaby Mountain Campus
The main campus is located atop Burnaby MountainBurnaby Mountain
Burnaby Mountain, elev. , is a low, forested mountain in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, overlooking the upper arms of Burrard Inlet. It is the location of Simon Fraser University, the Discovery Park research community, and the System Control Tower of BC Hydro and a new complex of...
, at an elevation of 365 metres, overlooking the Burrard inlet to the north. All major departments in the university are housed at the Burnaby campus. The library on the main campus is called the W. A. C. Bennett Library, named after the Social Credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
Premier of B.C. who established it. The campus also has two gym-complexes, named the Lorne-Davies Complex and Chancellor's Gym. An international-sized swimming pool is located within the Lorne-Davies Complex. Since the relocation of the School of Contemporary Arts to the Woodward's location, the Burnaby campus production theatre has been vacant. Located within the heart of the campus is the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and three art galleries. The campus has been awarded numerous architectural awards over the years, including the Gold Medal for Lieutenant-Governor 2009 Awards in Architecture and the 2007 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Prix du XXe siècle.
The Burnaby campus is composed of a vast complex of interconnected buildings spanning across 1.7 km2 of land across Burnaby Mountain, from the eastern end of the campus to the western side, where the UniverCity
UniverCity
UniverCity is an award-winninghttp://www.burnabynow.com/UniverCity+shares+award+with+City+Burnaby/5161485/story.html sustainable community located on top of Burnaby Mountain, adjacent to Simon Fraser University. It is modeled as a sustainable community. UniverCity has won several awards for...
urban village is located. The campus consists of the following buildings:
- West Mall Complex (WMC)
- Lorne Davies Gym Complex
- Chancellor's Gym Complex
- Convocation Mall
- W. A. C. Bennett Library
- Halpern Centre
- Maggie Benston Centre (MBC)
- SFU Theatre
- Gym, Pool, Fitness Centre
- Robert C. Brown Hall (RCB)
- Academic Quadrangle (AQ)
- Shrum Science Centre (SSC)
- SSC Biology (B)
- SSC Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (K)
- SSC Chemistry (C)
- SSC Physics (P)
- South Science Building (SSB)
- Applied Sciences Building (ASB)
- Education Building (EB)
- Technology and Science Complex (TASC) I
- Technology and Science Complex (TASC) II
- Blusson Hall (BLU)
- Saywell Hall (ASSC)
- Strand Hall
Libraries, museums and galleries
The SFU Burnaby Campus has a single library called the W. A. C. Bennett Library which holds over 2 million published books, and 6000 print subscriptions. Along with the UniverCity development agreement, residents of UniverCity are also allowed to borrow books from the library. An additional art gallery is located inside the library. SFU also has a Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, which holds many exhibits on lease from the Royal British Columbia MuseumRoyal British Columbia Museum
The Royal British Columbia Museum is a natural history and human history museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1886. The "Royal" title was approved by Queen Elizabeth II and bestowed by HRH Prince Philip in 1987, to coincide with a Royal tour that year...
in Victoria. The exhibits are created by students as part of the museum studies courses offered in the Department of Archaeology. Archaeological collections arising from excavations and other research by faculty, staff and students are also housed in the museum.
Also located at the SFU Library is the Electronic Document Centre, which provides internet access to digitized documents from a number of archival collections, such as Harrison Brown's Xi'an Incident
Xi'an Incident
The Xi'an Incident of December 1936 is an important episode of Chinese modern history, taking place in the city of Xi'an during the Chinese Civil War between the ruling Kuomintang and the rebel Chinese Communist Party and just before the Second Sino-Japanese War...
collection, and the history of British Columbia and Western Canada in general, including documents from the Doukhobor
Doukhobor
The Doukhobors or Dukhobors , earlierDukhobortsy are a group of Russian origin.The Doukhobors were one of the sects - later defined as a religious philosophy, ethnic group, social movement, or simply a "way of life" - known generically as Spiritual Christianity. The origin of the Doukhobors is...
migration from the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and then to British Columbia assembled for donation to the university by John Keenlyside
Residences
The SFU Burnaby Campus provides residence to 1766 SFU and FIC students in 6 different areas, all located on the western-side of the campus.- The Towers (officially opened in fall of 2004) are three dormitory-style buildings. One of the Towers features a 14-room hotel called "The Simon Hotel".
- McTaggart-Cowan Hall (built in 1985), traditional-style dormitory building.
- Shell House (built in 1967), traditional-style dormitory building.
- The Townhouse Complex (built in 1993), are 3-level townhouse units accommodating up to 4 students per unit. There are a total of 99 units.
- Hamilton Hall (built in 1993 and renovated in 2009), is a studio-style building for graduate students.
- Louis Riel House (built in 1969) is an apartment-style building (unfurnished) used for family and graduate housing.
UniverCity
UniverCity is an urban community located on top of Burnaby MountainBurnaby Mountain
Burnaby Mountain, elev. , is a low, forested mountain in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, overlooking the upper arms of Burrard Inlet. It is the location of Simon Fraser University, the Discovery Park research community, and the System Control Tower of BC Hydro and a new complex of...
, adjacent to Simon Fraser University. It has won several awards for sustainable planning and development. Envisioned in 1963 by Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey, the area adjacent to the University was not officially rezoned for development until 30 years later. Development of the community began in early 2000, when Simon Fraser University commenced construction on a new residential and commercial area occupying approximately 200 acre (0.809372 km²) adjacent to the campus. As of September 2011, approximately 3000 people live in UniverCity. The main commercial district on University High Street now houses restaurants, stores, and a 20,000 square foot Nester's Market. A new elementary school, University Highlands Elementary, opened on September 1, 2010. Several new residential developments are currently in progress, including the construction of a 12-storey highrise in the heart of UniverCity.
SFU Surrey Campus
The SFU Surrey campus is the most recent satellite campus. It is located in downtown SurreySurrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
, B.C., a quickly growing suburb of Vancouver. The campus is part of Central City
Central City Shopping Centre
Central City Shopping Centre is a shopping mall and office tower complex in Whalley, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, which is owned by Blackwood Partners Management Corporation. It is near Surrey Central Station of the SkyTrain system in the Whalley neighbourhood...
, an architectural complex adjacent to the Surrey Central SkyTrain
SkyTrain (Vancouver)
SkyTrain is a light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks, running mostly on elevated guideways, which helps SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability...
station. It was established in 2002 to absorb the students and programs of the former Technical University of British Columbia
Technical University of British Columbia
The Technical University of British Columbia was a special-purpose university in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, that operated from 1999 until 2002, when it was closed by the BC government...
which was closed by the provincial government. It has since expanded to house the Surrey operations of other SFU programs. The Central City complex that houses the campus was designed by architect Bing Thom
Bing Thom
Bing Wing Thom, CM is a Canadian architect and urban designer.Born in Hong Kong, he immigrated to Vancouver, Canada with his family in 1950.-Career:...
and opened in 2006.
SFU Vancouver
SFU Vancouver was launched in the 1980s with a store-front classroom. It was the first urban university classroom in British Columbia. A significant portion of funding for the building of the campus came from the private sector. The Vancouver campus has four buildings spread across the downtown core: SFU Harbour CentreHarbour Centre
Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline...
, the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, the Segal Graduate School of Business
SFU Business
The Beedie School of Business is the Faculty of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1965, SFU is home to the first Executive MBA program in Canada, and is now the largest business school in Western Canada...
and SFU Contemporary Arts at Woodward's. The original campus building at Harbour Centre, a rebuilt heritage department store, officially opened on May 5, 1989. Today, the entire campus serves more than 70,000 people annually. Approximately 10,000 are graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in courses and degree programs based downtown.
In September 2010, SFU Contemporary Arts relocated to the historic Woodward’s district in downtown Vancouver known as the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. The 130000 square feet (12,077 m²) SFU facility is part of the Woodward's
Woodward's
Woodward's was the name of a department store chain which operated in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada for one hundred years, before its sale to the Hudson's Bay Company .-History:...
revitalization project. The new facility accommodates the increasing enrollment of students in the programme and new cultural facilities, including the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental theatre, screening rooms, sound studios, and art galleries.
Student Life
The student newspaper The Peak was established shortly after the university opened and is circulated throughout the University. CJSF-FMCJSF-FM
CJSF-FM is a radio station on top of Burnaby Mountain in Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. The station features a wide range of genres, from spoken word politics to heavy metal music shows.- Station overview :...
radio is the school's radio station, broadcasting from 90.1 FM to Burnaby and surrounding communities, online at www.cjsf.ca or on cable at 93.9 FM. The Simon Fraser Student Society provides funding for over 100 campus clubs. Various campus events include the annual Terry Fox Run, Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Gung Haggis Fat Choy is a cultural event originating from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The name Gung Haggis Fat Choy is a combination wordplay on Scottish and Chinese words: haggis is a traditional Scottish food and Gung Hay Fat Choy / Kung Hei Fat Choi is a traditional Cantonese greeting ...
, Clubs Week, and other multi-cultural events.
Athletics
The university's varsity sports teams are called the Simon Fraser Clan, and the mascot is a Scottish TerrierScottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
named McFogg the Dog. In sports and other competitions, there tends to be a strong rivalry between SFU and The University of British Columbia.
The Clan competes in Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
(CIS) and the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) and the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...
(MCLA). In total, SFU has 15 varsity sport teams and 300 athletes. Football, men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball and women's wrestling compete for CIS championships only. Men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's cross-country and men's and women's track and field compete for NAIA championships only. Men's wrestling competes for championships of both organizations. The lacrosse team plays in the MCLA, and has reached the final four of the national tournament five times. The team is the only collegiate lacrosse team in Canada to compete for a national title. SFU has won the NAIA NACDA Director's Cup
NACDA Director's Cup
The NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is an award given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics...
five times, among others. On Friday, July 10, 2009, the NCAA announced that it has accepted SFU as a Division II member that will begin after a two year transition period. SFU will compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Great Northwest Athletic Conference
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which has historically operated in the Northwestern United States, but also currently includes four schools in areas not usually considered part of that region—two in Alaska , one in eastern Montana The Great Northwest...
. It is the first Canadian university to be accepted as a member of the NCAA at any level.
Many former Clan athletes later represented Canada during the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, including gold medalists Carole Huynh and Daniel Igali
Daniel Igali
Baraladei Daniel Igali is a Canadian freestyler wrestler who is an Olympic gold medalist. He lives in Surrey, British Columbia.-Wrestling career:...
, and Olympic medalists Sue Holloway
Sue Holloway
Susan Holloway is a Canadian cross country skier who competed in the late 1970s and sprint kayaker who competed from the late 1970s to the early 1980s...
and Hugh Fisher
Hugh Fisher (canoeist)
Hugh Fisher, is a New Zealand-born Canadian sprint kayaker who competed from the mid 1970s to the 1980s. Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won two medals at Los Angeles with a gold in the K-2 1000 m and a bronze in the K-2 500 m events.Fisher also won two medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World...
. Other Clan alumni include: Jay Triano
Jay Triano
Jay Triano is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Triano gained recognition during his tenure as coach of the Canadian men's national team. He is also a former national team player, who competed in two Olympics, starting in 1984...
, Jeff Thue, Bob Molle, Chris Rinke, Garry MacDonald, and Bruce Robertson.
There are also teams at Simon Fraser University that compete against other university teams at the varsity level. These sports include rowing, lacrosse (in the MCLA
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...
), hockey and cheerleading.
Convocation
The Convocation is composed of all faculty members, senators, and graduates (degree holders, including honorary alumni) of the university. Its main function is to elect the Chancellor (who acts as Chair of Convocation) and four Convocation Senators. Convocation ceremonies are held annually to confer degrees (including honorary degrees) as well as award diplomas and certificates.Board of Governors
The Board is composed of the Chancellor, the President, two student members, two faculty members, one staff member, and eight individuals appointed by the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
government. Traditionally, the Board is chaired by one of the government appointees. The Board is responsible for the general management and governance of the university.
Board Members As of June 1, 2011
- Mr. Robert G. Elton, Board Chair, Order-in-Council
- Ms. Carole TaylorCarole TaylorCarole Taylor, OC is a Canadian journalist and former politician.She is currently serving as the Chancellor of Simon Fraser University since June 17, 2011. She previously served as British Columbia's Minister of Finance from 2005 until 2008 in the government of Liberal premier Gordon...
, Chancellor - Professor Andrew PetterAndrew PetterAndrew J. Petter is currently President of Simon Fraser University. He was formerly the dean of the University of Victoria's law school. He served briefly as Attorney General of British Columbia under the New Democratic Party government of Ujjal Dosanjh...
, President - Ms. Lynda Brown-Ganzert, Alumni Order-in-Council
- Mr. Marc Fontaine
- Mr. Michael Francis, Order-in-Council
- Ms. Anne E. Giardini, Q.C. Order-in-Council
- Ms. Jo Hinchliffe
- Dr. Nancy MacKay, Order-in-Council
- Ms. Jeanette McPhee, Alumni Order-in-Council
- Dr. Gordon Myers
- Dr. Paul Percival
- Mr. Pasha Tashakor
- Mr. Brian E. Taylor, Order-in-Council
- Professor Judith Osborne, Vice-President, Legal Affairs and University Secretary
Senate
The Senate is composed of the Chancellor, the President, Vice-President, Academic, Vice-President, Research, Deans of Faculties, Dean of Graduate Studies, Dean of Continuing Studies, Associate Vice-President, Academic, University Librarian, Registrar (as Senate secretary), 14 student members, 28 faculty members, and 4 convocation members (who are not faculty members). The Senate is chaired by the President. The academic governance of the university is vested in the Senate.
Chancellor
The Chancellor is elected by and from Convocation for a three-year term, which can be renewed once. The main responsibilities of the Chancellor are to confer degrees and represent the university in formal functions.
- Dr. Gordon M. ShrumGordon ShrumGordon Merritt Shrum OC, OBE, MM was a Canadian scientist, teacher, administrator, and the first Chancellor of Simon Fraser University....
(January 1, 1964 - May 31, 1968) - Dr. Kenneth P. Caple (June 1, 1968 - May 31, 1975)
- Dr. Jack DiamondJack Diamond (Canadian businessman)Jack Diamond, was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist.Born in Lubience in Galicia, Diamond immigrated to Vancouver in 1927. He bought a butcher shop and later created British Columbia's largest meat packing firm, Pacific Meats...
(June 1, 1975 - May 31, 1978) - Dr. Paul T. Cote (June 1, 1978 - June 15, 1984)
- Dr. William M. Hamilton (June 15, 1984 - May 31, 1987)
- Ms. Barbara J. Rae (June 5, 1987 - June 4, 1993)
- Dr. Joseph Segal (June 5, 1993 - June 4, 1999)
- Dr. Milton K. Wong (June 5, 1999 - May 31, 2005)
- Mr. Brandt Louie (June 1, 2005–June 17, 2011)
- Ms. Carole TaylorCarole TaylorCarole Taylor, OC is a Canadian journalist and former politician.She is currently serving as the Chancellor of Simon Fraser University since June 17, 2011. She previously served as British Columbia's Minister of Finance from 2005 until 2008 in the government of Liberal premier Gordon...
(June 17, 2011-current)
President and Vice-Chancellor
The President and Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the Board of Governors based on a selection process jointly established by the Board of Governors and the Senate of the university. As Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Senate, the President is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the university.
- Dr. Patrick McTaggart-CowanPatrick McTaggart-CowanPatrick Duncan McTaggart-Cowan, was a Canadian meteorologist and the first president of Simon Fraser University....
(January 1, 1964 - May 31, 1968) - Dr. Kenneth Strand (Acting) (August 1, 1968 - July 31, 1969)
- Dr. Kenneth Strand (September 8, 1969 - August 31, 1974)
- Dr. Pauline JewettPauline JewettPauline Jewett, was a Canadian Member of Parliament.Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, she received a BA and a MA from Queen's University and a Ph.D in political science from Harvard University in 1949...
(September 1, 1974- October 9, 1978) - Dr. K. George PedersenGeorge PedersenKnud George Pedersen, OC, O.Ont, OBC is a Canadian academic administrator.He was the president of Simon Fraser University , University of British Columbia , University of Western Ontario , interim president of the University of Northern British Columbia, and founding president of Royal Roads...
(January 1, 1979 - March 31, 1983) - Dr. William G. Saywell (September 1, 1983 - March 1, 1993)
- Dr. John O. StubbsJohn Stubbs (educator)John Stubbs is a Canadian academic. He was president of Trent University and Simon Fraser University.Stubbs began his career as a historian and political scientist, specializing in the history of 20th century British politics and media. He distinguished himself as a teacher and administrator at...
(August 1, 1993 - January 31, 1998) - Dr. Jack P. Blaney (Pro Tem) (September 15, 1997 - January 31, 1998)
- Dr. Jack P. Blaney (February 1, 1998 - November 30, 2000)
- Dr. Michael StevensonMichael StevensonMichael Stevenson is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University. He retired on August 31, 2010, and was subsequently succeeded by Andrew Petter on September 1, 2010...
(December 1, 2000 - August 30, 2010) - Prof. Andrew PetterAndrew PetterAndrew J. Petter is currently President of Simon Fraser University. He was formerly the dean of the University of Victoria's law school. He served briefly as Attorney General of British Columbia under the New Democratic Party government of Ujjal Dosanjh...
(September 1, 2010 - Incumbent)
Terry Fox
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
. Diagnosed with bone cancer which resulted in the amputation of his leg, the 18-year-old kinesiology major set out to cross Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on a grueling run called the Marathon of Hope to raise funding and awareness about cancer. As a result of Terry Fox's legacy, running for charitable causes is now integrated within communities worldwide. He also inspired friend Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen
Richard M. Hansen, CC, OBC is a Canadian Paralympian and an activist for people with spinal cord injuries. Following a car crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour...
's Man in Motion world tour by wheelchair. In 2001, SFU awarded an honorary degree to Betty Fox
Betty Fox
Betty Lou Fox was a Canadian cancer research activist, the mother of Terry Fox and founder of the Terry Fox Foundation. She was the most prominent figure in Terry Fox's legacy .-Biography:...
, mother of Terry Fox and Honorary Chair of the Terry Fox Foundation.
Notable alumni
- Francesco AquiliniFrancesco AquiliniFrancesco Aquilini is the Managing Director of Vancouver-based Aquilini Investment Group. He is the current owner of the Vancouver Canucks and Rogers Arena....
, owner of the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
and Rogers Arena - Gordon Campbell, former Premier of British Columbia
- Calvin ChenCalvin ChenCalvin Chen Yi Ru is a Taiwanese singer and actor. He is currently a member of the boy band Fahrenheit. His stage name is a homophone of his birth name....
, Taiwanese actor, singer, host - Glen ClarkGlen ClarkGlen David Clark is a politician in British Columbia, Canada who served as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from 1996 to 1999.-Early life and education:...
, former Premier of British Columbia - Marc DaltonMarc DaltonMarc Dalton is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2009 provincial election, representing the riding of Maple Ridge-Mission. He formerly worked as a long-time teacher in the Maple Ridge School District at both the...
, MLA for Maple Ridge- Mission - Stephen Day (musician)Stephen Day (musician)Born in California and brought up in Canada and France, Stephen Day has enjoyed an exotic and varied life as a composer, producer, instrumentalist, vocalist and teacher. After studying sarod with world-renowned sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in India for three years, Stephen embarked on various...
, film composer, singer/songwriter, and sarodist - Ujjal DosanjhUjjal DosanjhUjjal Dev Singh Dosanjh, PC, QC, is a Sikh Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as 33rd Premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 including a stint as Minister of Health from 2004 until 2006 when the party lost...
, former Premier of British Columbia - Cary FowlerCary FowlerCary Fowler is the executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, based in Rome, Italy. Previously, Fowler was Professor and Director of Research in the Department for International Environment & Development Studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås, Norway. Fowler holds...
, American agriculturalist - Julia P. GelardiJulia P. GelardiJulia P. Gelardi is an author of European royal history. She is an independent historian.-Writing career:After Gelardi received her Master of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, she began her writing career by focusing on European royalty...
, American royal historian - Lyn HancockLyn HancockLyn Hancock is an award-winning Australian-Canadian photojournalist, wildlife photographer, and book author.She has raised numerous orphaned wild animals, including bears, cougars, eagles, puffins, raccoons, and seals; her experiences while doing so have formed the basis of her 20 books, including...
, photojournalist and author - Curtis HodgsonCurtis HodgsonCurtis Hodgson is a professional lacrosse defenseman for the Washington Stealth of the National Lacrosse League....
, professional lacrosse player - Hafeez HooraniHafeez HooraniDr. Prof. Hafeez Hoorani or Hafeez-ur-Rehman Hoorani or Hafeez R. Hoorani is a Pakistani particle physicist, with a specialization in accelerator physics, and a research scientist at the CERN...
, Pakistani physicist - Carol HuynhCarol HuynhCarol Huynh is a Canadian freestyle wrestler. Her parents are ethnic Chinese in Vietnam . Born in British Columbia, her parents were refugees from Vietnam who settled in the town of New Hazelton, British Columbia, after being sponsored by the local United Church...
, Olympic gold medalist - Daniel IgaliDaniel IgaliBaraladei Daniel Igali is a Canadian freestyler wrestler who is an Olympic gold medalist. He lives in Surrey, British Columbia.-Wrestling career:...
, Olympic gold medalist - Vincent KokVincent KokVincent Kok Tak-Chiu is a Hong Kong actor, scriptwriter and film director.Kok is best known for his frequent collaborations with Stephen Chow, acting and co-writing with him the films Forbidden City Cop, From Beijing with Love and The God of Cookery in addition to producing and co-writing Chow's...
, actor, director, and scriptwriter - Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, MLA for Vancouver - Mt. Pleasant
- Sonija KwokSonija KwokSonija Kwok is a Hong Kong actress, currently working for TVB.She was born in Hong Kong and is of mixed Cantonese and British parentage. Kwok immigrated to Vancouver, Canada from Hong Kong. She initially attended the University of British Columbia but she transferred to Simon Fraser University and...
, actress - Michelle LangMichelle LangMichelle Justine Lang was a Calgary Herald reporter and the first Canadian journalist to die in the War in Afghanistan.-Career:...
, journalist - Minh LeMinh LeMinh Le , also known by his online nickname Gooseman, is a Vietnamese-Canadian computer game developer who co-created the popular Half-Life mod Counter-Strike with Jess Cliffe in 1999...
, creator of the popular Half-Life modMod (computer gaming)Mod or modification is a term generally applied to personal computer games , especially first-person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves, but mods are not standalone software and...
Counter-StrikeCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation which originated from a Half-Life modification by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe... - Rachel MarsdenRachel MarsdenRachel Marsden is a Canadian conservative political columnist, geopolitical strategist, author and television commentator based in Paris. She writes an internationally syndicated weekly column for Tribune Media Services. She also teaches at Sciences Po University in Paris...
, political commentator - The Right Honourable Pakalitha MosisiliPakalitha MosisiliBethuel Pakalitha Mosisili has been the Prime Minister of Lesotho since May 29, 1998. He led his party, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy , to a near-total victory in the 1998 election, and under his leadership the party also won majorities in the 2002 and 2007 elections...
, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of LesothoLesothoLesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name... - Lui PassagliaLui PassagliaLui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
, former BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
football player - Sam SullivanSam SullivanSam Sullivan, CM served as the 38th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and has been invested as a Member of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian award...
, former Mayor of Vancouver - Jay TrianoJay TrianoJay Triano is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Triano gained recognition during his tenure as coach of the Canadian men's national team. He is also a former national team player, who competed in two Olympics, starting in 1984...
, former Head Coach Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion... - Margaret TrudeauMargaret TrudeauMargaret Joan Sinclair Trudeau Kemper is the former wife of the late Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada.-Early years and marriage:...
, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre TrudeauPierre TrudeauJoseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,... - Robert Turner (scientist)Robert Turner (scientist)Robert Turner is a director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, and is an internationally recognized expert in brain physics and magnetic resonance imaging...
, scientist - David UsherDavid UsherDavid Usher is a British-born Canadian singer-songwriter. Formerly the frontman for the alternative rock band Moist, he embarked on a solo career beginning in the late 1990s.-Biography:...
, singer and songwriter
Honorary alumni
In 1967, SFU awarded an honorary LL.D. (doctor of laws) to Marshall McLuhanMarshall McLuhan
Herbert Marshall McLuhan, CC was a Canadian educator, philosopher, and scholar—a professor of English literature, a literary critic, a rhetorician, and a communication theorist...
, the first honorary degree awarded by the university. On April 20, 2004, SFU conferred honorary degrees upon three Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
recipients: the 14th Dalai Lama, Bishop Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
, and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. On 10 October 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's,...
. At each convocation, SFU awards honorary degrees to various people from around the world for their activities and pursuits. Other honorary alumni include skier Nancy Greene Raine, Milton Wong, Doris Shadbolt
Doris Shadbolt
Doris Shadbolt, OC, née Meisel, was a Canadian art curator, writer and co-ordinator of exhibitions.-References:For details, see http://www.shadboltfoundation.org/founders.html...
, dancer and choreographer Judith Marcuse, economist Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
, Peter Gzowski
Peter Gzowski
Peter Gzowski, was a Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter, most famous for his work on the CBC radio show Morningside. His first biographer argued that Gzowski's contribution to Canadian media must be considered in the context of efforts by a generation of Canadian nationalists to understand...
, Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist. His fiction is complemented by recognized works in design and visual art arising from his early formal training. His first novel, the 1991 international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularized terms such as McJob and...
, Romeo Dallaire
Roméo Dallaire
Lieutenant-General Roméo Antonius Dallaire, is a Canadian senator, humanitarian, author and retired general...
, Canadian businessman Stephen Jarislowsky, Iain Baxter, American agriculturalist Cary Fowler
Cary Fowler
Cary Fowler is the executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, based in Rome, Italy. Previously, Fowler was Professor and Director of Research in the Department for International Environment & Development Studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås, Norway. Fowler holds...
, Martha Piper, Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, and Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen
Richard M. Hansen, CC, OBC is a Canadian Paralympian and an activist for people with spinal cord injuries. Following a car crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour...
.
Appearances in popular culture
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
of the Burnaby Mountain campus, many buildings, including the WAC Bennet Library and Academic Quadrangle have been used for location shots in a variety of films and television programmes over the years.
In film
Its first use as a film set was for the 1972 science fiction film The Groundstar ConspiracyThe Groundstar Conspiracy
The Groundstar Conspiracy is a 1972 film directed by Lamont Johnson. It stars George Peppard and Michael Sarrazin. The script was very freely adapted from L. P. Davies' 1968 novel, The Alien...
, in which the entire campus complex was used. It was then followed by The Fly 2, which has scenes shot inside and outside the Burnaby campus. The campus also appeared in the 1989 movie American Boyfriends
American Boyfriends
American Boyfriends is a 1989 Canadian comedy-drama film, and the sequel to My American Cousin . As before, written and directed by Sandy Wilson, Margaret Langrick and John Wildman reprise their roles as Sandy Wilcox and Butch Walker respectively....
, set in 1965, with the buildings dressed to look like they were still under construction. The campus served as a high-tech corporate setting in the film Antitrust
Antitrust (film)
Antitrust is a 2001 thriller film written by Howard Franklin and directed by Peter Howitt....
. Recently, in addition to other Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
-area landmarks, many parts of the Burnaby campus were used for the filming of the movie The 6th Day
The 6th Day
The 6th Day is a 2000 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as family man Adam Gibson, who is cloned against his will in the future of 2015...
as well as Agent Cody Banks
Agent Cody Banks
Agent Cody Banks is an American action comedy film directed by Harald Zwart. Its story follows the adventures of the 15-year-old title character, played by Frankie Muniz, who has to finish his chores, avoid getting grounded, and save the world by going undercover for the CIA as a James Bond type...
. The 2007 film Personal Effects
Personal Effects
Personal Effects is a 2009 American drama film directed by David Hollander and starring Kathy Bates, Ashton Kutcher, and Michelle Pfeiffer. It is based on Rick Moody's story Mansion on the Hill . This movie was premiered in Iowa City, Iowa on December 12, 2008 as part of a fundraiser for Iowa Flood...
was filmed in the newly-constructed Blusson Hall at the Burnaby Campus. In early 2008, the Burnaby campus was again used for filming, this time for The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film)
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 science fiction film, a remake of the 1951 film of the same name. The screenplay is based on the 1940 classic science fiction short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates, and the 1951 screenplay adaptation by Edmund H...
(2008 Remake). Filming of the 2012 movie Underworld 4 starring Kate Beckinsale began in early 2011 with parts of the AQ modified as part of the set. The SFU Surrey Campus has also been featured in blockbuster movies such as iRobot, Fantastic Four and Catwoman.
In television
The Burnaby campus has been prominently featured in science fiction television series such as Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
, Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
and Andromeda
Andromeda (TV series)
Andromeda is a Canadian-American science fiction television series, based on unused material by the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett Roddenberry. It starred Kevin Sorbo as High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt...
. The Academic Quadrangle has also served as a backdrop for shots of "headquarters" in the television series The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. Exterior shots of the Academic Quadrangle have also been used in the Vancouver-based TV series JPod
JPod (TV series)
jPod is a comedic television series based on Douglas Coupland’s novel of the same name. It premiered on CBC Television on January 8, 2008. Starting with the fifth episode, the show began airing Fridays at 9:00....
(based on the book). The SFU Surrey campus has been featured in several episodes of Caprica
Caprica (TV series)
Caprica is a science fiction drama television series. It is a spin-off prequel of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, taking place about 58 years prior to the events of Battlestar Galactica. Caprica shows how humanity first created the robotic Cylons who would later plot to destroy humans in...
with the entire mezzanine and registration area being transformed into the Caprica Inter-colonial Space Port. It has also been featured in the Smallville TV series. Recently, filming of the TV show Hellcats
Hellcats
Hellcats is an American cheerleading comedy-drama television series that originally aired on The CW in the United States from September 8, 2010 to May 17, 2011...
commenced in the West Gym of the Chancellor's Gymnasium in November 2010.
See also
- Applied Foresight NetworkApplied Foresight NetworkThe Applied Foresight Network is a global web of university-based centres connected by a network of forums for professors, students, teachers, and concerned citizens. The AFN supports informed discussion and social action on issues of critical importance to the future of humanity...
- CJSF-FMCJSF-FMCJSF-FM is a radio station on top of Burnaby Mountain in Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. The station features a wide range of genres, from spoken word politics to heavy metal music shows.- Station overview :...
- Education in CanadaEducation in CanadaEducation in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, funded and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education is within provincial jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province. Education in Canada is generally divided into primary education, followed by...
- Higher education in British ColumbiaHigher education in British ColumbiaHigher education in British Columbia is delivered by 25 publicly funded institutions that are composed of eleven universities, eleven colleges, and three institutes. This is in addition to three private universities, five private colleges, and six theological colleges...
- List of colleges and universities named after people
- List of universities in British Columbia
- Simon Fraser Student SocietySimon Fraser Student SocietyThe Simon Fraser Student Society is the students' union of Simon Fraser University in Metro Vancouver, Canada. It was founded after the opening of Simon Fraser University in 1967....
- The Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology at Simon Fraser UniversityThe Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology at Simon Fraser UniversityThe Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology ' at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in Communication, Contemporary Arts, Interactive Arts & Technology, and Publishing. Programs in the Faculty are taught at all three...
- The Peak
- Woodward's buildingWoodward's buildingThe Woodward's building was a historic building in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The original portion of the building was constructed in 1903 for the Woodward's Department Store when that area of Cordova Street was the heart of Vancouver's retail shopping district. ...