Outstanding Indo-Canadian Arvinder Singh Bubber has been appointed as Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s first Chancellor. He will serve a three-year term through 2011.
The appointment is seen as a great honour to the whole community. Bubber, who will be officially installed at Kwantlen’s fall convocation in October, will preside over the convocation ceremonies and grant degrees to the students. He will also play a pivotal ambassadorial role in advancing the university’s interests within the local, provincial, national and international communities.
Dr. David W. Atkinson, President of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, said: “Arvinder Bubber embodies a combination of high achievement, genuine care and deep community experience that makes him the ideal choice as chancellor,” said. “I look forward to working with him during this significant time in Kwantlen’s history.”
That sentiment was echoed by Kathleen Casprowitz, the current Board Chair, who noted: “I have the great privilege of working with Arvinder on the Board, and I believe his past and future success as a leader, as well as his dedication to education and communities, will inspire our students and enrich the learning environment at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.”
Bubber told The VOICE that this appointment came as a complete surprise to him. He said: “I am overwhelmed by this honour. Kwantlen is a great university which takes pride in reaching out to all its communities, in making people welcome, and in providing a great educational experience for their students. The faculty and staff are very dedicated individuals with the best credentials and are completely motivated to teach and inspire their students. I feel very humbled that they have chosen me as their first chancellor. I look forward to serving the university in this new capacity.”
Bubber’s ancestors are from Butari village in Punjab, India. Although his mother had a grade 10 education, and his father grade 5, his parents encouraged their children to study. After receiving his undergraduate degree in sciences from University of Punjab, Bubber moved to England in 1971 and earned his credentials as a chartered accountant. He moved to Canada in 1976 to Regina, Saskatchewan and worked for different levels of government. He moved to Vancouver in 1991 and set up his own practice as a chartered accountant, A.S. Bubber and Associates.
Bubber believes in giving back to the community and encourages both young and old alike to get a good education and to continue with the life-long learning process. “One is never too old to learn. When we stop learning, we stop growing,” he says. He believes in giving respect to all, and in respecting both one’s own culture and cultures of others. “All cultures share the same humanistic values,” he says.
Bubber was appointed to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Board of Governors (then Kwantlen University College) in October 2001 and served until July 31, 2008. He served as their Board Chair from 2002 to 2007. B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell appointed Bubber as Vice-Chair, Asia Pacific Trade Council, in 2005, and Simon Fraser University appointed him to their Presidential Advisory Council in 2006.
His other major public service role has been as the founding President of SPARK Education Foundation, which consists of prominent business people in our community. In partnership with Kwantlen, Surrey School District, and the provincial government, the SPARK Foundation encourages youth to go into post-secondary education to attain their dreams.
The SPARK program, which has been in place since 2003, has had a success rate of 85% in getting youth, who may be disadvantaged economically or culturally, to complete high-school and then go on into post-secondary. There is strong community support for the program as shown by the amount of funds raised by the Indo-Canadian community. As Bubber says, “Be involved in the community and give back as often as you can.”
Established in 1981, Kwantlen has grown considerably over the past 27 years to offer 135 programs to more than 17,000 students annually, with 1,500 employees on four large campuses. Kwantlen is one of the largest employers in the Metro Vancouver region and was named as one of the top 100 employers in Canada this past year and one of B.C.’s top 40 employers for 2008.
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