Media Release

For Immediate Release

January 2, 2009

Saint Mary's history prof named to Order of Canada

Dr. James Morrison

Dr. James Morrison, a History professor at Saint Mary’s University, was named a Member of the Order of Canada on Dec. 30 by Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

The Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

Dr. Morrison’s appointment recognizes his service to education through the collection and preservation of Nova Scotia’s multicultural heritage, notably as an authority on oral histories. He has published works on Canadian and global history, and contributed actively to the collections and displays at Pier 21, Canada's Immigration Museum. 

“We’re proud to have a member of our faculty recognized nationally for his long-standing commitment to excellence in education,” said Dr. J. Colin Dodds, the President of Saint Mary’s University. “His contributions to the preservation of Nova Scotia’s history have long benefited our students and will serve as a legacy for this province and this country.”  

Dr. Morrison received a Commonwealth scholarship from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and completed his degree there in 1976. He worked as a research historian for Parks Canada until 1979 at which time he came to Saint Mary's as Executive Director of the International Education Centre - a research/resource centre for International Development and Ethnic Studies. He served as Dean of Arts (1983-1989) and has served as the Coordinator of the Asian Studies Program as well as the International Development Studies Program. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1990.

Dr. Morrison's research and teaching interests lie in Global, Southeast Asian and oral history. He has held visiting fellowships at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Singapore), Hokkaido University of Education (Japan), and Jawaharlal Nehru University (India). He is past president of the Japan Studies Association of Canada, the Canadian Oral History Association, the Nova Scotian Federation of Heritag, and the Society for the Study of Ethnicity in Nova Scotia. Former Editor of FORUM, the Canadian Oral History Association journal, Morrison is now the Book Review Editor for that publication. His book publications include oral history, military history, social history, ethnicity, and adult education.

Dr. Morrison’s appointment was one of 60 new appointments to the Order of Canada announced by the Governor General. Recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

For more information on the Canadian honours system, please visit: http://www.gg.ca/honours/index_e.asp.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca