Message on behalf of Dr. Jan Hare, Dean and Professor
Dear Colleagues,
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dr. Donald C. Wilson, Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP). A thoughtful and dedicated educator, Dr. Wilson helped shape social studies education and international curriculum development over several decades. His scholarship and mentorship left a lasting impact on colleagues, students and the broader educational community. He passed away on November 21, 2024.
Dr. Wilson, born in 1938 in Smithers, BC, devoted his professional life to advancing education and global understanding. He earned a BA from UBC in 1961, completed his teacher training the following year, and returned to UBC for his MEd (1970). He received his PhD in Secondary Education from the University of Alberta in 1976.
Dr. Wilson began his career as a classroom teacher in Kamloops and London, England. He joined UBC as a lecturer in 1970, became a full-time faculty member in 1980, and remained with the Faculty until his retirement in 2004.
Widely respected for his expertise in social studies and international education, Dr. Wilson was a co-editor of Asia and the Pacific: Issues of Educational Policy, Curriculum and Practice (1990), the first comprehensive volume to spotlight the region and its pressing educational reforms.
A passionate advocate for global learning, Dr. Wilson played a key role in organizing the 1988 international conference, The Pacific Rim: Emerging Opportunities for the Social Studies Educator, which promoted awareness of the region’s growing importance and encouraged collaboration in curriculum development.
Throughout his career, Dr. Wilson was active in academic and professional communities. He served as an adjunct associate professor in the Canadian/American Studies Program at Western Washington University (1986–88), held numerous teaching and research roles across Canada and the United States, and was involved in several professional societies. Notably, he served on the Board of the BC Council for Leadership in Educational Administration (1985–86) and was appointed to the International Activities Committee of the National Council for the Social Studies (1986–89).
As a dedicated mentor and prolific scholar, Dr. Wilson supervised many graduate students, presented widely and authored or co-authored numerous works on curriculum policy and development, Canadian social issues and qualitative research, advancing critical conversations at the intersection of Canadian and international education.
To honour his memory, the British Columbia, Musqueam, and UBC flags will be lowered. For details, please visit the Ceremonies and Events website.
The Faculty of Education extends its heartfelt condolences to Dr. Wilson’s family, friends, former students and colleagues.
With sympathy,
Jan
Dr. Jan Hare PhD
Dean and Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), Indigenous Pedagogy
Chair, Association of BC Deans of Education (ABCDE)
Faculty of Education | Vancouver and Okanagan Campuses
The University of British Columbia