Prince George, BC – One of the main buildings on the Prince George campus of the University of Northern British Columbia will be re-named after the late Charles McCaffray, a visionary and thought leader whose work helped spearhead the campaign to establish a University in the North.

“Charles McCaffray’s determination as an academic champion and educator, and his ability to unite skeptics towards a common goal laid the foundation upon which UNBC is built,” said UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. “He was not a person who sought recognition, so many may not have known of his involvement with the University’s establishment, which is why it is a tremendous honour to recognize his contributions in such a manner.”

McCaffray was an influential member of Prince George’s academic community and the President of the College of New Caledonia in the mid-1980s. It was he who first floated the idea of a University in the North as a way to expand access to post-secondary education in Northern B.C.

He was a member of the “No Name Group” who met in the ’80s to engage in conversations about the future of post-secondary education in the North, and later was an indispensable asset as a member of the Interior University Society (IUS). He was also responsible for bringing acclaimed Swedish educator Dr. Urban Dahllöf of Uppsala University to Northern B.C. It was Dr. Dahlöff’s report that demonstrated the feasibility of a regional University system, and whose international reputation provided additional credibility to the IUS.

In the spring of 2015, shortly after McCaffray passed away, Tom Steadman one of the early founders of UNBC and a business leader in Prince George at the time of the University’s creation, submitted a letter to the editor of the Prince George Citizen recognizing this loss and McCaffray’s “quiet” role in creating UNBC. Steadman and several other founders at that time also approached the University about a lasting recognition in honour of McCaffray.

During Dr. Weeks’ 25th Anniversary speech, he announced he would bring forward a proposal to do so, and that proposal was wholeheartedly endorsed by UNBC’s Senate and Board of Governors.

The University will rename its Administration Building to Charles J McCaffray Hall at a special dedication ceremony on Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Members of the public wishing to join the celebration are welcome to attend. RSVP by Friday Sept. 16 to development@unbc.ca

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