Two of our esteemed alumni have been awarded honorary doctorates this month from the University of Calgary. Harvey Locke ’75 was recognized as a writer, photographer and the driving force behind regional and global conservation initiatives. Dr. Locke attended the Strathcona School for Boys and credits his time at STS for his ability to engage with ideas and consider different point of views.
“Strathcona Tweedsmuir School for Boys on Riverdale rescued me from a floundering academic career through contact with great teachers and taught me how to be tough by the rugged English public school method. At STS in the country, I learned to engage with ideas, to consider different points of view and to shoulder the responsibility the fortunate have to make the world a better place. I am deeply grateful for all the school has done for me,” said Dr. Locke.
Dr. Locke is well-known for establishing the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative with the goal of creating a continuous corridor for the free movement of wildlife from Yellowstone National Park to the Yukon. In 2013, he received the J.B. Harkin Medal for Conservation and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2014 he was awarded the Fred M. Packard Award for outstanding service to protected areas by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas at the World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia. In 2014, Dr. Locke also received the Gold Leaf Award from the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas for his lifetime of extraordinary commitment and vision to advance the cause of parks, wilderness, ecological integrity and landscape connectivity in North America and the world. He is a co-founder of the Nature Needs Half Movement and has spoken to STS students several times in recent years about the need to conserve undeveloped land for the preservation of our planet and its species.
David Pierce ’90 was recognized as an international composer and the creative force behind the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show. Dr. Pierce is an Emmy Award-winning composer and songwriter. In 2010, Pierce was the Music Director and Composer for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. His scores accompanied the Opening, Medals and Closing Ceremonies which were viewed by a television audience of 3.5 Billion people. The Olympic project entailed scoring over five hours of original music, producing sessions, developing creative concepts with the ceremonies team, and conducting over 500 hours of orchestra, choir and big band recordings.
“STS taught me how to dream big and overcome obstacles in order to achieve the best,” said Piece.
In 2005, Pierce was commissioned to write a composition for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that was performed by a symphony orchestra and a one-thousand voice choir. He has arranged music for a wide range of artists including: Bryan Adams, Carrie Underwood, Michael Bublé, Nelly Furtato, Jann Arden, Sarak McLachlan, kd lang, and Alanis Morrisette. He has also produced gold and platinum selling CD’s and numerous stage shows and television productions. A few years ago, Dr. Pierce worked with STS students as part of the Rozsa Artist-in-Residence Program.
It is wonderful to see STS alumni doing amazing things in diverse areas and continuing to make our world a better place.