Physical Education graduate Clyde Griffith is a pioneer on two fronts: he is among the first graduates of UBC’s Recreation program while at the same time was one of the students who in the late 1950s came to UBC from the West Indies. This unique period of UBC history – from the mid 1950s through the mid 1960s – saw a primarily white campus introduced for the first time to Caribbean students who numbered approximately 200. These were the pioneering and accomplished “international” students who spawned UBC’s International House.
Clyde, from Trinidad, was part of this unique period, first enrolling in Medicine then realizing physical education and recreation were his passions. Also a noted musician, Clyde graduated from UBC in 1964 – he was International Student of the Year in 1962 – and quickly found his fellow alumni not only assisted his career but became life-long friends.
Griffith had a distinguished career in recreation as he was the first Recreation Director for the cities of Delta and Surrey and for over 20 years was Recreation Consultant for the BC provincial government. He was involved in many special projects including the Canada Summer and Winter Games and Commonwealth Games.
Griffith, who has a Masters in Community Development, also contributed to the community through authoring “The Black History Resource Guide,” documenting the contribution of black pioneers in BC.
Clyde has received many honours, among them recognition for his work with UBC’s International House and inclusion in “Who’s Who in Black Canada” and says his “ . . . driving desire is to give something back to my community.”
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
