A lawyer dedicated to transforming the justice system for Indigenous Peoples is being recognized with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
Colleen Spier, KC.
Colleen Spier, KC, who graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology from KPU in 2002, will be honoured on June 11 during convocation ceremonies at KPU Surrey.
Spier, who is Métis-Cree, has been a lawyer and mediator for nearly two decades. She is currently serving as the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Indigenous Justice Secretariat within the Ministry of the Attorney General. Spier was also recently appointed to be a Provincial Court judge.
Working in partnership with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, Spier and her team at the Indigenous Justice Secretariat are responsible for developing and implementing transformative justice strategies to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples involved in, and negatively impacted by, the criminal and child welfare systems.
"Knowing that Indigenous overrepresentation in the justice system is, in part, a result of colonial systems of justice that do not serve Indigenous people, I pursued a career where I could support nations in reclaiming and rebuilding their Indigenous justice systems, laws and institutions, wherein culture grounds the work, and healing people and communities is the focus," says Spier.
Spier's academic journey began at KPU as a single mother with a Grade 9 education. After earning her Grade 12 Dogwood Diploma through KPU's Adult Basic Education program, she enrolled in the Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology program, graduating in 2002 with a President's Outstanding Graduate Award. During her time at KPU, Spier served as a student representative on the university's Indigenous Advisory Committee.
Driven by a passion for advocacy, Spier went on to pursue a law degree at the University of B.C. and was called to the bar in 2008. In 2010, she opened her own law firm, Spier & Company Law, and in 2011, she became one of the first Indigenous child protection mediators in the province, earning the Susanna Jani Award for excellence in mediation in 2022.
"My professional achievements are attributable to the support, encouragement and mentorship I received, and continue to receive, from students, staff and instructors at KPU," she says. "Being honoured through receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award from KPU brings me immense pride and indescribable elation. KPU provided me with the foundation for who I was to become, and for who I am today."
Spier's unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others is why she's deserving of this award, says Nancy Armitage, Director of Alumni Affairs at KPU.
"Despite the adversity she faced along the way, Colleen has built a successful career through her hard work and determination," she says. "Her dedication to advocating for Indigenous Peoples and giving them a voice has made a profound impact in transforming the legal landscape, and we're proud to honour her."
Spier has been recognized throughout her career with several awards, including a Premier's Award for Organizational Excellence in 2021, a King's Counsel Designation in 2023 and a King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 for her dedication and impact in reconciliation and justice transformation.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes KPU alumni who demonstrate lifetime accomplishments in one or more areas: professional, entrepreneurial, innovation, service, exemplified resilience in the face of adversity, and significant contribution on a regional, national or international level.
