UNBC's Fourth President to Be Installed Next Friday

Saturday, October 10, 2009 06:34 AM

Prince George, B.C.- UNBC's fourth president, Dr. George Iwama, will be officially installed Friday at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre.

The ceremony will start at 2:00 p.m. will include the unveiling of Dr. Iwama’s convocation robes, an oath of office, and the delivery of greetings from representatives of universities and colleges across Canada. Among the other university and college presidents attending will be Stephen Toope of UBC, Allan Cahoon of Royal Roads, Ralph Nilson of Vancouver Island University, and CNC President John Bowman. Performances will be given by the Prince George Symphony, the Gitlakdamix Ceremonial Dancers from the Nass Valley north of Terrace, and a group of UNBC students and alumni called the Dakelh Singers.

Dr. Iwama was born in Okinawa, Japan, and moved to Vancouver at the age of 17. He attended UBC and later returned as a professor of Zoology for 15 years. His academic and administrative career also took him to Acadia University, the National Research Council, and Carleton University.

He is the first Canadian university president of Japanese descent and the Installation Ceremony will have a distinctive Japanese feel: there will be a performance by traditional Japanese dancer Izumi Tanahara and greetings will be presented by Hideki Ito, the Consul General of Japan.

The Installation Ceremony is open to the public and local residents interested in attending can contact 250-960-6304 or email convocation@unbc.ca.

Previous UNBC presidents have been Geoffrey R. Weller, Charles J. Jago, and Donald A. Cozzetto.

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Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2009 06:34 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Palopu on October 11 2009 6:19 PM

Its a good thing that we do not celebrate the promotion of all Presidents of all Business in BC. If we did we would be celebrating all year.

Its rather strange that Universities seem to feel they have some kind of special status, and therefore must delve into the world of pomp and circumstance,and congratulate each other ad infinitum.

Posted by: supertech on October 11 2009 9:40 PM

Maybe that celebrity 'Suzuki' will come up too; no, probably not--he would leave too big a carbon footprint flying up here.

Posted by: gus on October 12 2009 5:25 PM

I'm getting a plumber to install a new WC next week.

Posted by: gus on October 12 2009 5:32 PM

It's an old tradition that goes back many centuries. In fact, they have not had any fashion designers update the outfits they wear.

They "install" the new Mayors and Councils. In all parts of the world they install the new Premiers, Prime Ministers, Popes, Bishops, Presidents and other Grand Poohbas.

So, the UNBC president is simply another Grand Poohba.