Prince George, B.C. - Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the remarkable strides women have made and reflect on the ongoing journey towards equality.

The UNBC community is deeply enriched by the ideas, ambitions, perspectives and tireless efforts of countless exceptional women – faculty, students, staff, Elders and community leaders who have played, and continue to play, crucial roles in advancing education and the learning environment at our campuses.

Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute (WWN) President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Deanna Nyce and UNBC Chancellor Darlene McIntosh are two Indigenous leaders who continue to inspire, support, guide and help create a more equitable and inclusive community for everyone at UNBC and beyond.

Nyce’s research and publications have provided a template for Aboriginal curriculum development. She has been an Adjunct Professor in UNBC’s First Nations Studies program for more than 25 years. As CEO of WWN, Nyce oversees the operation of the institution, is responsible for educational planning and programming, and fostering affiliations with other post secondary institutions for program delivery in the Nass Valley.

Elder Darlene McIntosh became UNBC’s eighth Chancellor and the first from the Lheidli T’enneh Nation when she was sworn in at a special ceremony in the fall of 2022. However, her connection to the University is longstanding. McIntosh was a critical member of the Lheidli T’enneh Translation Initiative committee that worked on the translation “Nizdeh Nekeyoh Hohudil’eh Baiyoh” in the Lheidli T’enneh dialect of the Dakelh language that represents UNBC as “House of Learning.” She was also in attendance when UNBC raised the Lheidli T’enneh flag permanently at the Prince George campus and signed the first Memorandum of Understanding with Lheidli T’enneh Nation in 2016.

When reappointed to her second term as Chancellor by UNBC’s Board of Governors this summer, McIntosh said, “We see Truth and Reconciliation taking place like never before and I look forward to continuing to enhance connections across the region and advancing UNBC’s shared goals around education, research and community impact. The future looks so bright.”

Across history and around the world, women’s achievements span every field – from science and technology to politics, the arts and beyond. Make time this month to celebrate the progress made, honour those who came before us and reaffirm a commitment to achieving true gender equity for all.