Esteemed community advocate Margaret Mubanda received an Honorary Doctorate at University Canada West’s (UCW) Fall 2025 Convocation.
A lifelong champion for immigrant families, women and children, Dr. Mubanda has made a profound and enduring impact on communities across British Columbia. Originally from Uganda, she arrived in Canada with a deep commitment to service. A commitment that has guided her professional work, volunteerism and leadership for more than three decades.
Looking back at her own graduation 28 years ago, Dr. Mubanda shared a piece of advice, “’What do you have in your hand?’ This question helped me to see myself beyond academic achievements and critically looked at who I was, what I was made of and what was the reason for my being.”
She added, “In my search for the reason for my being, I realized I was a piece of puzzle without which a puzzle could not be completed. I began to think about all possibilities available for me to explore. I revisited my early childhood upbringing and what I learned from my parents.”
Generosity, advocacy and persistence were all lessons Dr. Mubanda said has helped shape who she has become today.
Dr. Mubanda spent 21 years as a social worker with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, supporting vulnerable families and guiding children through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Alongside her public-service career, she devoted 15 years to being a foster parent, welcoming more than 20 children into her home and offering them stability, care and advocacy.
Her lived experience, as both an immigrant and a caregiver, inspired her to co-found the Daughters of Hope Resource Society, a Surrey-based non-profit dedicated to helping newcomer women and families adjust to life in Canada. Through culturally responsive mentorship and support, Daughters of Hope offers community and confidence to those navigating unfamiliar systems and environments.
Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Mubanda is widely recognized for spearheading the Youth Aging Out of Care project in Surrey, a groundbreaking initiative that successfully pushed for extended government support for foster youth beyond the age of 19. Her work has strengthened the safety net for young adults transitioning into independent life, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to benefit youth across the province.
Even in retirement, Dr. Mubanda remains an influential leader and tireless volunteer. She plays active leadership roles in the Uganda Canadian Association of BC and the African Women Empowerment Society, advocating for women’s rights, immigrant integration and community cohesion. She also facilitates a weekly traumatic-bereavement support group, helps newcomers by translating immigration documents, and continues to provide refuge and guidance to those in need.
Her extensive contributions have been recognized at the highest levels: in 2020, she received the YWCA Metro Vancouver Women of Distinction Award (Connecting the Community), and in 2021, the Province of British Columbia awarded her the Medal of Good Citizenship for outstanding community service.
Dr. Mubanda received a degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, during UCW’s Fall 2025 Convocation ceremony on December 2.
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