Prince George, BC – The appointment of President Daniel Weeks, the launch of the 25th anniversary celebrations, and an improvement in the annual Maclean’s university rankings are just a few of the stories that made 2014 a great year at UNBC.

Dr. Weeks joined UNBC in July after five years at the University of Lethbridge as Vice-President, Research. He arrived just in time to help kick off celebrations marking 25 years since UNBC was founded on June 22, 1990.

UNBC also climbed back into second place in the Primarily Undergraduate category in the Maclean’s rankings, the third time UNBC has reached that level. The rankings reflect UNBC’s strengths in teaching, research, and student success – all of which are represented in the 2014 Year in Review:

UNBC founders plant a tree as part of the 25th Anniversary kick off celebrations

January

• Researchers from five universities, including UNBC Ecosystem Science and Management Professors Dezene Huber and Brent Murray, receive funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to continue their work studying the ongoing mountain pine beetle epidemic. 

• The UNBC Timberwolves receive their largest single corporate donation from Integris Credit Union. The $75,000 pledge over three years will help provide additional recruiting and retention incentives for student-athletes.

• Ecosystem Science and Management Assistant Professor Philippe Henry reports his findings on how the tiny American pika is able to adapt itself to a changing climate.

February

• Associate Professor of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Pam Wright is named to Nature Canada’s Women in Nature Initiative.

• Ecosystem Science and Management Professor Mark Shrimpton shares the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation for his work with a BC fish farm on Quadra Island, and researchers from four universities across Canada.

March

• Langara College and UNBC sign a memorandum of understanding for a partnership to have student spaces for UNBC’s Bachelor of Social Work program available at Langara’s Vancouver campus.

April

• For the third year in a row, UNBC is named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. The University earns the distinction from the editors of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.

• Sustainability Manager Emily Harrison fills a unique position at UNBC. She’s tasked with mobilizing expertise at the University to help the 2015 Canada Winter Games meet its sustainability goals.

May

• The UNBC Timberwolves are granted full membership status in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association.

• The Northern Medical Programs Trust approves distributing more than $160,000 to support students in the Northern Medical Program and UNBC’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program.

• The Integrated Water Research Group at UNBC secures $1-million worth of funding to explore important issues regarding the Nechako River basin over the next four years.

• UNBC welcomes Dr. Guido Wimmers as the inaugural program lead for the proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design. The program will give students the skills they need to find innovative new ways to use wood and improve on existing wood engineering.

• UNBC grants more than 800 credentials at its Convocation ceremonies in Prince George, Terrace, Gitwinksihlkw, and Quesnel.

June

• The Bioenergy Plant at UNBC receives a Green Building Award from the Canadian Green Building Council, and Sustainable Architecture and Building Magazine. It is the first time a facility in Northern BC has been so recognized.

July

• Dr. Daniel Weeks is named President and begins his new duties.

UNBC President Daniel Weeks

• Political Science Associate Professor Tracy Summerville becomes the second member of UNBC’s faculty to sit on the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s governing council.

August

• Biochemistry student Daud Akhtar earns a BC Cancer Studentship to continue researching how to break interactions between proteins and the gene products that cause cancer.

• Mark Dale is named UNBC’s first Dean of Regional Programs, an appointment that is effective Jan. 1, 2015. Dr. Dale was UNBC’s Vice-President Academic and Provost and also served as Interim President prior to the arrival of Dr. Weeks.

September

• UNBC’s 25th Anniversary celebrations kick off with a ceremony in the Canfor Winter Garden and a tree planting in the Ceremonial Loop. The 2015 Canada Winter Games also announce that the Closing Ceremonies will be held at UNBC on March 1, 2015.

• The provincial government commits $1.1 million to fund the Sustainable Communities Demonstration Project. The project is the third phase of the UNBC Energy Initiative and will connect the residence buildings and daycare to existing bioenergy systems on campus. In addition to the government support, the project also receives support from TransCanada Corporation, Pacific Bioenergy, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, and the BC Bioenergy Network.

The SCDP will connect the residence buildings and daycare to existing bioenergy systems on campus

• A pit house built by students in a First Nations Studies class is officially unveiled to the community. The construction of the traditional structure was completed as part of an Undergraduate Experiential Service Learning Program course during the summer of 2014.

• UNBC unveils a unique program to encourage participants in the 2015 Canada Winter Games to return to Northern BC. All athletes and officials are eligible to receive a $2,500 tuition credit.

October

• The UNBC Otway Nordic Legacy Scholarship Fund surpasses its initial fundraising goal of $150,000 and will begin offering an annual full-tuition scholarship as well as smaller awards to elite Nordic athletes who attend UNBC.

• UNBC researchers release initial findings into ongoing work around the tailings pond breach at the Mount Polley Mine. The findings were presented at the Dr. Max Blouw Quesnel River Research Centre, located just 23 kilometres from the site of the mine.

• The Northern Medical Programs Trust approves distributing more than $160,000 to support students in the Northern Medical Program and UNBC’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program.

• The Integrated Water Research Group at UNBC secures $1-million worth of funding to explore important issues regarding the Nechako River basin over the next four years.

• UNBC welcomes Dr. Guido Wimmers as the inaugural program lead for the proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design. The program will give students the skills they need to find innovative new ways to use wood and improve on existing wood engineering.

• UNBC grants more than 800 credentials at its Convocation ceremonies in Prince George, Terrace, Gitwinksihlkw, and Quesnel.

June

• The Bioenergy Plant at UNBC receives a Green Building Award from the Canadian Green Building Council, and Sustainable Architecture and Building Magazine. It is the first time a facility in Northern BC has been so recognized.

July

• Dr. Daniel Weeks is named President and begins his new duties.

UNBC President Daniel Weeks

• Political Science Associate Professor Tracy Summerville becomes the second member of UNBC’s faculty to sit on the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s governing council.

August

• Biochemistry student Daud Akhtar earns a BC Cancer Studentship to continue researching how to break interactions between proteins and the gene products that cause cancer.

• Mark Dale is named UNBC’s first Dean of Regional Programs, an appointment that is effective Jan. 1, 2015. Dr. Dale was UNBC’s Vice-President Academic and Provost and also served as Interim President prior to the arrival of Dr. Weeks.

September

• UNBC’s 25th Anniversary celebrations kick off with a ceremony in the Canfor Winter Garden and a tree planting in the Ceremonial Loop. The 2015 Canada Winter Games also announce that the Closing Ceremonies will be held at UNBC on March 1, 2015.

• The provincial government commits $1.1 million to fund the Sustainable Communities Demonstration Project. The project is the third phase of the UNBC Energy Initiative and will connect the residence buildings and daycare to existing bioenergy systems on campus. In addition to the government support, the project also receives support from TransCanada Corporation, Pacific Bioenergy, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, and the BC Bioenergy Network.

The SCDP will connect the residence buildings and daycare to existing bioenergy systems on campus

• A pit house built by students in a First Nations Studies class is officially unveiled to the community. The construction of the traditional structure was completed as part of an Undergraduate Experiential Service Learning Program course during the summer of 2014.

• UNBC unveils a unique program to encourage participants in the 2015 Canada Winter Games to return to Northern BC. All athletes and officials are eligible to receive a $2,500 tuition credit.

October

• The UNBC Otway Nordic Legacy Scholarship Fund surpasses its initial fundraising goal of $150,000 and will begin offering an annual full-tuition scholarship as well as smaller awards to elite Nordic athletes who attend UNBC.

• UNBC researchers release initial findings into ongoing work around the tailings pond breach at the Mount Polley Mine. The findings were presented at the Dr. Max Blouw Quesnel River Research Centre, located just 23 kilometres from the site of the mine.

QRRC Manager Sam Albers taking samples near Mount Polley dam breach

• UNBC matches its highest ranking ever in Maclean’s magazine’s annual university report, placing second in the Primarily Undergraduate category. UNBC receives excellent scores in student awards, student/faculty ratio, and library acquisitions.

• The Wood Innovation and Design Centre officially opens its doors. The new facility in downtown Prince George will house UNBC’s proposed Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design.

November

• Assistant Professor of Nursing Greg Thomas-Reilly travels to Liberia to help the fight against Ebola, working with the training and response team of International SOS.

• Current and former youth under the care of a government agency will have one less barrier to accessing a university education. UNBC’s new Youth in Care Tuition Waiver will cover the full tuition cost of the first undergraduate degree for qualified participants.

• UNBC Associate Professor of History Dana Wessell Lightfoot is named a founding member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

December

• UNBC launches its search for a new Chancellor to succeed John S. MacDonald when his term expires in 2016.

• UNBC appoints William (Bill) Krane to be its new Vice President Academic and Provost. Dr. Krane comes from Simon Fraser University, where he served for more than 10 years as Associate Vice President Academic and Associate Provost.