A small group of SCARP students from the 1990s gathered on a beautiful afternoon in August to celebrate the life of our beloved professor, Peter Boothroyd. We thought it would be fitting to meet on Vancouver’s East Side at New Brighton Beach to remember him and to share some Vietnamese take-out, as Vietnam was a country Peter had a strong connection to, having been involved in important social justice projects there.
We had hoped to have a larger number of former SCARP alumni from our cohort join us to pay tribute to this incredible human being, but alas, due to circumstances beyond our control, many were unable to attend. However, we received regrets from far and wide, as Peter had made a lasting impression on us all.
While there, we shared photos, including one Peter’s wife had generously forwarded of him in the very location we had chosen to celebrate his life, which felt like a lovely synchronicity. We exchanged joyous memories: Peter’s genius in simplifying complex social issues; his encouragement to cultivate broad outlooks and examine others’ perspectives; and his wry sense of humor, so relevant and to the point that we could still recall his jokes three decades later.
Peter had a sense of social justice like no other. He was a kind and student-centered professor, the ultimate planner, and had an uncanny ability to make us all feel valued — like little geniuses. We all agreed we were blessed to have studied under him.
Rest in Peace, Professor Peter Boothroyd (March 26, 1941 – June 23, 2025).
And thank you to the Alumni Association for the funding provided, which paid for our Vietnamese take-away dinner.
Submitted by Lisa Pedrini, MCRP '95
