A provincially-known board member figure has been tapped as the new Chair of the UNBC's Board of Governors.
The Prince George post-secondary says Aaron Ekman has officially been elected to the position.
Ekman has been on the UNBC Board of Governors Committee since September 2018 while taking on the role of Governance Committee Chair in 2019.
Also in 2019, he was elected president of the Prince George and District Labour Council.
In 2011, the Terrace-born resident represented and negotiated on behalf of provincial public servants and health-care workers across northern B.C. and also became founding president of the North Central Labour Council.
In 2014, Ekman was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the British Columbia Federation of Labour and served two terms.
“Though I’m hardly an academic, I’ve developed a profound appreciation for the herculean effort Northerners expended to establish UNBC, and for how vital it remains to the identity and for the advancement of Northern communities, many of which are now facing significant economic challenges," Ekman said in a release.
"This university has attracted and developed world-class faculty and staff while remaining laser-focused on serving the diverse interests of Northerners. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished, and honoured to play a roll confronting the challenges ahead.”
.@aaronekman, the founding president of the North Central Labour Council, is the new Chair of UNBC's Board of Governors.
— University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) (@UNBC) July 9, 2020
Learn more about Ekman and his role on our Board. https://t.co/pQIRctdpit #ThisIsUNBC
Ekman is also an active community member serving as a Board Member of Pacific Blue Cross, the Working Opportunity Fund, the Winch Institute, and formerly the BC Labour Heritage Centre, the Shareholder Association for Research and Education, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
“UNBC continues to make a demonstrable impact, not only in the communities we serve but around the globe, and that is due to the tremendous knowledge and effort provided by our students, alumni, faculty, staff, supporters, and of course our governing bodies, the Senate and Board,” UNBC Interim President Dr. Geoff Payne added in the announcement.
"During his time on the Board to date, Mr. Ekman has been a leader, providing valuable insight during our many and varied conversations. I’m looking forward to his support, as well as that from the Board as we continue working towards our vision of being Canada’s leading destination university.”
Andrew Robinson has also been chosen to be vice-chair of the board. He is the Chief Administrative Officer at Laxgalts’ap Village Government.
Robinson has also been a Deputy Representative Aboriginal for the BC Representative of Children and Youth, an Indigenous Consultation Reviewer with BC Assets and Lands, and served in various positions with the McLeod Lake Indian Band and Nisga’a Lisims Government.
The Board of Governors meets at least four times per year to conduct general business with the next regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 18, 2020.
