February 10, 1999 For Immediate Release

University of Northern British Columbia Founding Chancellor Iona Campagnolo will be awarded an honorary degree at UNBC's 1999 Convocation Ceremony.

Iona Campagnolo was UNBC Chancellor from 1992 to 1998. The people who nominated her to receive the honorary degree cited her service to the University: "Everywhere she went, she introduced UNBC to friends and made friends for UNBC. Through her speeches, she reaffirmed the founders' vision, making the whole community aim a little higher. She gave soul to what might have been just a collection of buildings and programs."

Iona Campagnolo grew up in northern BC and was first elected to public office as a school trustee in Prince Rupert in 1966. In 1974, she was elected as Member of Parliament for Skeena, and in 1982, became the first woman president of the Liberal Party of Canada. She has participated in many non-governmental organizations in education, human rights and environment: she has been a member of the Interchurch Committee for Human Rights in Latin America, the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, the Commonwealth of Learning, and the Arctic Institute. She has many honours to her credit including the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. She is currently Chair of the Board of Directors for the Fraser Basin Council.

The 1999 UNBC Convocation Ceremony will be May 28th at the Prince George Multiplex.