Podunk Below the Masthead (Wednesday, February 17, 2010)

UNBC's new chancellor is profiled in the Daily News, Gary Coons joins the list of those seeking a full inquiry in the murdered and missing women of Highway 16 and weather concerns have organizers of Terrace's BC Winter Games looking at their schedules. some of the items of note for Wednesday.

Daily News, front page, headline story

FORMER RUPERTITE RECEIVES HIGH HONOUR FROM UNBC -- The Daily outlines the latest details from the University of Northern British Columbia, which has name a former Prince Rupert resident, John MacDonald to the post of chancellor. Sharp eyed readers of our blog of course will look back to last Thursday when we provided first notice of this announcement with our blog piece on this, the second Prince Rupert resident to hold that honour since the university opened.

Gary Coons has joined the lengthy list of those seeking for a public inquiry into the numerous cases of the missing women of Highway 16, as we outlined on the blog earlier today, the push is renewed to have a full inquiry into those deaths and disappearances.

Student debt continues to be a concern to those attending college or university, the Daily explores the issue with a page five article, on Monday CFTK TV 7 made first mention of the local aspect of this growing student debt problem, as the Canadian Federation of Students drew attention to the problem during a stop at the Prince Rupert campus of NWCC.

The Sports page featured a look at the success of the PRSS Senior Rainmakers, winners of the AA Zones and now off to Kamloops for the Provincials, which start at next week.

The Daily also provided comprehensive coverage of the ongoing All Native Basketball Tournament, which continues on through this week at the Civic Centre.

(Archive for Daily News Articles for February 17, 2010 )

The Northern View

No new items were posted to the Northern View website, with the exception of the posting of results from the All Native Basketball Tournament (see results here)

CFTK TV7 News
Lack of Snow May Force Changes to BC Winter Games Schedule -- Much like the Vancouver Olympics, nature has a way of throwing organizers a curve, details of potential changes to the BC Winter Games schedule in the wake of a lack of snow in the Northwest (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
World's First Kermode Cam Now Online -- A Rosswood couple is sharing its finding of a hibernating Kermode Spirit bear, providing for an online camera outside of the bear's den while they and their viewers await spring and a wake up call for Apollo (see article here)

CBC News Northern British Columbia, Daybreak North

Northern Gold rush-- A look at the progress of Northern British Columbian athletes at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics (listen to interview here)

The full list of current Daybreak North interviews can be found here.

Daily News, front page headline story

Former Rupertite receives high honour from UNBC

By George T. Baker

The Daily News

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

For the second time in less than ten years, the University of Northern British Columbia has picked one of Prince Rupert’s own for its chancellor role.

Order of Canada recipient John MacDonald, a top executive in the world of aerospace development and design, received the appointment last week and follows Iona Campagnolo, the local Rupertite who was the first UNBC chancellor.

The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University and a primary duty is granting degrees at annual Convocation ceremonies.

Former UNBC president, Dr. Charles Jago, approached MacDonald one year ago and asked if he would be interested in taking over the chancellorship once the current chancellor, Alex Michalos, finishes his term this May.

MacDonald said he thought about it for a second, realized the honour and opportunity associated with the job, and accepted.

“I did try to retire,” joked MacDonald. MacDonald was born and raised in Prince Rupert, and graduated from Booth Memorial high school in 1954. He left town the next year, attending the University of British Columbia, and then began his amazing career in engineering.

In 1969, he co-founded MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, which he headed until his retirement in 1998, first as President and CEO and then as Chairman of the Board. The company gained an international reputation as a pioneer and leader in using satellites to provide high-resolution images of the earth.

Since establishing Canada’s position as a world leader in space science and technology, Dr.MacDonald has turned his attention to solar energy. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of Day4 Energy Inc., a supplier of new generation photovoltaic modules and system solutions that promise superior results in converting the sun’s rays to electricity.

“It’s an honour for UNBC to have a global leader and one of the great minds of the B.C. technology industry joins past chancellors - who have all been passionate advocates for this university,” says UNBC President George Iwama in a press release.

For MacDonald, he said the opportunity to have input on UNBC’s Board of Directors was something he looked forward to.

UNBC is at the centre of possibilities for the North, reasoned MacDonald, who added that the university could play a role in strengthening the future northern economy.

“This university is becoming really very important to the North. I guess it always was, but even more now,” said MacDonald. “We have reached a stage in developed countries where it is no longer the case that people in remote regions and living away from population centres can do without advanced education to have a successful career. That is the role these universities can play – and UNBC is a good one.”

“Our industries are becoming more knowledge based as time goes on and the raw material that staff those industries – the people resource – that’s what universities do. That is their product.”

“MacDonald is a northerner, entrepreneur, educator, researcher, and visionary who will provide incredible guidance to me and to UNBC as we grow and fully realize our potential as Canada’s Green University,” Iwama added.

UNBC is based in Prince George and has 4300 students per year. The University opened in 1994 and named Campagnolo as its First Chancellor.

MacDonald will be officially installed during the Convocation ceremony on May 28, 2010.