Dr. Walter Gordon Hardwick

HARDWICK, Dr. Walter Gordon Died peacefully in his sleep June 9, 2005 after a long illness. Born in Vancouver, B.C on May 3, 1932, to Walter and Iris Hardwick he is survived by his brother, Dr. David F. Hardwick. He married Shirley Steeves (predeceased) in 1956. They had four children, Colleen (Nystedt), Douglas, Cindy (Plasterer) and Gordon, and five grandchildren, Kathryn, Jennifer, Shannon, Daniel and Karl. Dr. Walter G. Hardwick was a man of vision, leadership and commitment, expressed in many ways through his involvement in public life at the civic, regional, provincial, national and international level. He was honoured several times, most notably with the Order of British Columbia in 1997 and with an honorary degree from UBC in 2000. Beginning in 1950, Walter attended UBC (BA), the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Minnesota (PhD). He first joined UBC's Department of Geography in 1960, and until his retirement in 1997 taught courses in urban studies, urban geography, and political geography. He also headed the "Vancouver Urban Futures" survey project from 1971 to 1974, and a second related project called "Choosing Our Future" in the late 1980's these projects served as a basis for urban planning in the Greater Vancouver Regional District and inspired the district's "Livable Region" strategy. He wrote the seminal book Vancouver (Collier-MacMillan Canada Ltd., 1974). He was also a key figure in the grassroots movement to prevent the construction of a freeway system through Vancouver which would have destroyed the historic areas of Gastown and Chinatown. As an urban planner, Walter Hardwick has been credited with a formative role in the development of False Creek. He was a cofounder of TEAM and served on city council beginning in 1968 through 1974. During his time on council he initiated the transformation of the south shore of False Creek from industrial use to housing, which he had advocated as early as 1962. He was instrumental in writing the 1963 "MacDonald Report," UBC President John B. MacDonald's report on post-secondary education which laid the groundwork for Simon Fraser University and the province's network of community colleges. Recognized as a visionary educator and informed public servant, Dr. Hardwick served as Deputy B.C. Minister of Education and UBC's Director of Continuing Education. The founding President and Chair of B.C.'s Knowledge Network, he also led the development of the Open Learning Institute. Dr. Hardwick served on the Lower Mainland Regional Planning Technical Advisory Committee, 1968-69; as a Vancouver City Alderman for TEAM, 1969-74; on the City Library Board, 1969-72; as a Director, GVRD, 1973-74; and as Chair and President of Knowledge Network of the West Communications Authority, 1980-88. He was also on the Universities Council of B.C., Strategies Planning Committee, 1983-84; a member of the B.C. Association of Colleges, Committee on Distance Education, 1983-84; board member of the B.C. Health Research Foundation, 1977-80; and a member of the Medical Teaching Hospital Expansion Coordinating Committee, 1977-79. He was a B.C. Representative for Habitat 76 Canadian Steering Committee; a member of the Western Canada Post-secondary Coordinating Committee, 1976; co-chair of the Federal/ Provincial Committee on Telecommunications and Satellites in Education, 1979-80; and a member of the National Capital Planning Committee, 1986-90 (chair, 1990). From 1944 onward, Walter enjoyed every summer at Keats Island with his extended family and camp community of Hardwicks, Binghams, Steeves, Hagadorns, Bensons, Slades, Pallots and many more. He was an active member of Fairview Baptist Church where he was an avid participant in discussion groups. The family wishes express their sincere thanks to Shirley Campbell and the staff at Dogwood Lodge for their support and care over the past 5 years. In lieu of flowers, donations gratefully accepted to the Walter G. Hardwick Scholarship in Urban Studies at UBC. An event celebrating his life will be announced in the near future. 100126