Honorary degrees for locals

Photo: UBC

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip will be given an honorary degree by UBC this spring.

An acclaimed winemaker in West Kelowna and a bestowed Indigenous leader in Penticton will both be given honorary degrees from UBC this spring.

Anthony von Mandl, the founder of Mission Hill Family Estates, will receive a degree from UBCO during the spring convocation, taking place on June 7 and 8. 

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, will be honoured with a degree at UBC's convocation which goes from May 23 to 25 and May 28 to 31.

The Vancouver-born von Mandl created a wine importing business at age 22 before founding Mission Hill in 1981 — a winery that has been awarded Canadian Winery of the Year six times, most recently in 2016. He received the Order of British Columbia in 2006, and in 2016 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Phillip is a former chief of the Penticton Indian Band, and now is president of the UBCIC and chair of the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

UBC acknowledged Phillip has "taken an active role in the defence of Aboriginal title and rights by supporting First Nations communities in need, and has been involved in numerous protests and lobbying movements at provincial and national levels."

In 2006, Phillip was bestowed with the rare title of Grand Chief by the ONA for his efforts to defend First Nations.

The full list of those who will be recognized with honorary degrees this spring by UBC and UBCO can be seen here.