VST Announces Bruce W. L. Curtis as a 2025 Recipient of Honorary Doctorate
VANCOUVER, BC, January 24, 2025. The Board of Governors of the Vancouver School of Theology is delighted to announce that Bruce W. L. Curtis has been selected as a 2025 recipient of VST’s Honorary Doctor of Divinity.
This Honorary Doctor of Divinity (HDD) is awarded to individuals who exemplify the values of VST, an internationally recognized theological school known for its innovation and global leadership. VST’s HDD recipients have made significant contributions through the integration of theology and practice of ministry in one or more of the following: theological scholarship, ecumenical dialogue, the life and ministry of the Christian community, and interdisciplinary scholarship involving theology with other fields.
About Bruce W. L. Curtis
For over 50 years, Bruce W. L. Curtis has been a tireless champion of human rights and mutual understanding in the Comox Valley and beyond. An early advocate for restorative justice, Mr. Curtis was a founding committee member of the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre (CJC) and served as a volunteer coordinator before becoming Chief Administrator. During his 18-year tenure as Chief Administrator, the Centre flourished and grew in ability and impact. A dedicated member of The United Church of Canada, Mr. Curtis studied at the Vancouver School of Theology under a McMillan Theological Fellowship from 1976–1977. He has served in various roles at United Churches on Vancouver Island, including preaching and worship leadership.
Through his work at the CJC, Mr. Curtis has been a stalwart advocate for restorative justice and the inclusion of LGTBQ+ and Indigenous people. He initiated the annual Campagnolo Lecture in Restorative Justice at the CJC, which featured such distinguished speakers as Beverly McLachlin, Adrienne Clark, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Murray Sinclair, and Cindy Blackstock. The Campagnolo Lectures ran from 2012–2023, a total of 12 times, and attracted hundreds of attendees each year.
Reflective of his commitment to fostering mutual understanding, Mr. Curtis is an ecumenist and a gatherer of hearts. His reconciliation work has included involvement in the 2015 Walking With Our Sisters memorial by K’ómoks First Nation; organizing a conference featuring Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian MD who spoke on compassion as the path to reconciliation in Israel and Palestine; and participating in bringing together members of the Christian and Jewish communities in the Comox Valley through a Seder.
Mr. Curtis’ contributions to the greater good through restorative justice and ecumenical solidarity are extensive. His profound impact on the Comox Valley as a leader, organizer, and educator have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, the Order of the Red Cross, and the province of British Columbia’s Medal of Good Citizenship. VST is humbled by Mr. Curtis’ years of service and grateful to present him with this Honorary Doctor of Divinity to honour his lifelong commitment to the common good and the world that God so loves. Mr. Curtis’ exemplifies the richness of theology in action.
“In a very practical sense, Bruce is a peacemaker. The impact of Bruce’s work on individuals and on our community and beyond is profound. His work constantly reminds us that we live in relationship to each other and calls to us to be our better selves and to be in right relationship with each other.”
—Anne Davis, past president, Comox Valley Community Justice Centre
“[Bruce’s] achievements in moving forward the cause of LGBTQ+, Reconciliation, and social justice more broadly are too numerous to count. In all instances his faith life has stoked in him passion for the common good.”
—Rev. Ryan Slifka, Minister, St. George’s United Church; Member of the Board of Governors, Vancouver School of Theology
“Bruce is well known as a person of faith, taking a leadership role in his home congregation and serving the community as a marriage commissioner while also officiating at celebrations of life. He is a committed family man, a great supporter of arts and culture and a man of letters.”
—Douglas A. Hillian, Councilor, City of Courtney; Director, Comox Valley Regional District; Board Member, Comox Valley Justice Centre
“Over the years, [Bruce] has inspired and supported volunteers to resolve up to 150 referred cases annually, which provides them opportunities to develop their restorative justice skills. He has also built important relationships on the Comox Valley’s Community Justice Centre’s behalf and deepened the application of restorative justice in his community.”
—Rev. Maggie Enwright, Temporary Pastoral Relations & Community of Faith Support Minister for The United Church of Canada, Pacific Mountain Region