A Saanich resident, former judge and prominent Canadian scholar with claims of Indigenous ancestry has now had two Vancouver Island honourary doctorates relinquished amidst public scrutiny regarding her heritage.
Vancouver Island University (VIU) awarded former University of British Columbia (UBC) professor and former judge Mary Turpel-Lafond an honourary doctorate in 2013 and Royal Roads awarded her a similar doctorate three years later in 2016.
Since a CBC investigation brought to light discrepancies with her claims of Indigenous heritage, education and accomplishments, she has since returned them as review panels began questioning the former judge.
“The University contacted Turpel-Lafond during the review process, which also included consultation with Indigenous and academic colleagues as well as engagement of the University’s Advisory Committee on Honours and Awards,” said a Royal Roads spokesperson in a statement.
“Turpel-Lafond responded by voluntarily relinquishing the degree, and the Royal Roads Board of Governors has accordingly cancelled the degree.”
Her VIU doctorate was relinquished on January 17th following a statement similar in nature.
Turpel-Lafond was thought to be the first person from a treaty First Nation in Saskatchewan to be appointed to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan. With the scrutiny she’s been under and other false claims coming to light, her authentic ancestry is uncertain.
CBC’s investigation also found she has also been accused of falsifying claims to have received an honourary doctorate from the First Nations University of Canada and about an international law diploma she claimed to be a master’s from Cambridge.
