The new chancellor at the University of Northern BC (UNBC) is not only its first to graduate from the university but is its youngest-ever at age 39.
James Moore, also a former federal cabinet minister, took over as the sixth chancellor of the university when he was appointed in November 2015. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in political science before earning a masters in political science from the University of Saskatchewan.
Moore says he did not study political science because he wanted a political career. A professor asked him what books he looked for when he went to a bookstore. Moore’s reply was politics, current affairs and history, to which the professor said that’s what he should study at university.
“You want to study things that you are curious or passionate about and let university supplement your passion,” said Moore of the professor’s advice.
From 2000-2015, Moore was the Conservative MP for Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam and served as Minister of Industry, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Secretary of State for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Minister for the 2010 Olympics. He was chair of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Prosperity and Vice Chair of the Operations and Social Affairs Cabinet Committees and was the Senior Regional Minister for B.C.
Being made chancellor is an honour, he said and he hopes alumni continue to become chancellors of the university after him. His term is for three years. He still lives in Vancouver and will commute as needed.
“The quality of grads who come out of this university really are impressive,” he said. “People of the north are doing amazing things in academics, sciences and public life.”
A May 31 visit to Terrace was his second here and was part of his northwest trip to attend convocation ceremonies. Terrace had 12 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates, two Bachelor of Science (Integrated) grads; two Masters of Education in Counselling graduates; one Bachelor of Commerce grad; one MBA graduate and one Masters of Education in Special Education grad.
A May 30th ceremony was emceed by Deanna Nyce, CEO of Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute, a post-secondary school that offers academic courses in cooperation with UNBC, and included greetings from H. Mitchell Stevens, Nisga’a Lisims Government president; Ronald Nyce, Nisga’a Village Government chief councillor; Gerald Robinson, Gitlaxt’aamiks Village Government chief councillor; Henry Moore, Laxgalts’ap Village Government chief councillor; and Claude Barton, Gingolx Village Government deputy chief councillor.