We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Mr. Peter A. Allard, QC (BA’68, LLB ’71). I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Allard’s family on behalf of the entire UBC community. He will be deeply missed.
A lawyer, businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Allard has made an indelible mark on UBC and Canada through his philanthropy and service as champion of human rights and social justice. After receiving his Bachelor of Laws from UBC in 1971, he founded his own law firm, Allard and Co., where he practiced for 20 years and led investment company Peterco Holdings Ltd. In 1993, he founded the Highbury Foundation, which has supported medical research, equipment and scholarships for universities and colleges in Western Canada.
With a strong belief in the enduring and transformative power of a legal education, Mr. Allard was motivated to support pillars of excellence in human rights and ethics. His generous gifts to UBC, including the largest gift ever to a Canadian law school to support these beliefs, marked a transformational moment in the law school’s history. He chose to make this investment to enable students to pursue a profession that strives to create a more just society. The Peter A. Allard School of Law has achieved global recognition for the strength of its programs and brought unprecedented benefits to students and faculty.
With a great passion for art, Mr. Allard made gifts of art to Allard Hall, which emphasized the importance of free expression and culture within the law school. He also made a generous gift that established the Allard Prize for International Integrity to recognize exceptional courage and leadership in the fight against corruption and protecting human rights.
Mr. Allard’s efforts reflect a defining characteristic of Allard Law graduates: a commitment to the pursuit of justice. Like others before him and the generations that follow, Mr. Allard sought to inspire and provoke, to persuade and persevere, and to pursue justice at the local and international levels.
The UBC community offers our deepest sympathies to Mr. Allard’s family, as well as the many people throughout Vancouver, British Columbia, and beyond whose lives have been touched by his kindness and leadership.
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor