Former Rupertite named as new Chancellor of UNBC

There is a definite Prince Rupert stamp once again on the campus of UNBC, besides the large number of Rupertites who have travelled down Highway 16 to gain their higher education, at the top of the administration chain Prince Rupert can lay claim to some recognition as well .

On Thursday, the Prince George based university (which has satellite campuses across Northern BC) announced that John S. MacDonald, will be the next Chancellor of the University. Mr. MacDonald, who was born and raised in Prince Rupert, has gone on to much acclaim both in the business world and the world of academics.

During the course of his years since leaving the city he has led a life of much achievement. From his days of study at the famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to the co-founding of one of Canada's most famed corporations, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, which was a a pioneer and leader in using satellites to provide high-resolution images of the earth.

He has served on the faculty at both MIT and UBC, been named as an officer to the Order of Canada and most recently has turned his attentions towards the development of solar energy, a passion that will most likely be consulted upon with UNBC's dedication towards developing a Greener University.

For the most part his duties are ceremonial, where he will grant degrees at the University's annual Convocation ceremonies. Among his other plans as Chancellor, he is looking forward to take the opportunity to visit the member communities of UNBC including his old hometown of Prince Rupert. He takes on his duties with the convocation of May 28, 2010.

He follows in the footsteps of another former resident of the city Iona Campagnolo, who served as the University's founding Chancellor from 1992-1998.