A Queen’s nursing graduate who is dedicated to health and nursing policies and championing Aboriginal issues is this year’s recipient of the Kathleen Beaumont Hill (KBH) Award. The Award is the highest honour bestowed by the Vancouver Branch of the Queen’s University Alumni Association.
Dr. Heather F. Clarke, NSc’66, is being honored for her dedication to Queen’s and the School of Nursing, as well as her nearly 50 years in the field of nursing and health-care policy and research.
“Not only am I honoured to be the recipient of this year’s Kathleen Beaumont Hill Award, I am humbled. Those who have been recognized before me are role models for making a difference in this world – I hope I can live up to their achievements and dedication,” says Dr. Clarke.
Past KBH recipients include Purdy’s Chocolate CEO Karen Flavelle, Com’79, Chief Medical Officer for the Canadian Olympic Team Robert McCormack, Meds’79, and labour lawyer Carman Overholt, Law’84.
Along with consulting with governments, health authorities and First Nations councils, Dr. Clarke is also the Chancellor of the Vancouver School of Theology and is active with the VST’s Indigenous Studies Centre Native Ministry Consortium.
She also spends a lot of time working for not-for-profit boards, such as the Bill Reid Foundation, BC Council for Families, Vancouver Opera Guild and Shaughnessy Heights United Church.
“Heather is a shining example of giving back to the community. Her involvement with Queen’s is both broad and deep, with significant contributions of her time and wisdom. The pride she has in Queen's is certainly reciprocated,” says Vancouver Branch president Allan McGavin, Com’08, Law’12.
The Kathleen Beaumont Hill Award is presented annually to a person who best exemplifies Ms. Hill’s outstanding service, passionate advocacy, dedicated support, and contributions to the betterment of our university and our country.
“If my father, Walter Clarke, BSc’39 were alive I believe he would be the one receiving this award, not me. He was another role model for me, with values that we both had strengthened through our years at Queen’s,” Dr. Clarke says. “The Kathleen Beaumont Hill Award is testimony to the values, principles and caring that are foundational to Queen’s University. I am so proud to be an alum!”
The KBH Award reception in honour of Dr. Clarke will take place in Vancouver on Thursday, November 24.
