Darlene McIntosh, an Elder with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, has been reappointed by the University of Northern British Columbia’s board of governors as chancellor for a second term.
“It has been my honour and pleasure to serve as chancellor of UNBC. I have seen the positive impacts of the University’s achievements and I am grateful for the opportunity to carry on in the role for another term,” McIntosh says. “Engaging with students, faculty, staff and community at campus events, at the First Nations Centre and convocation and graduation ceremonies across northern British Columbia has been so rewarding. 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.”
As chancellor, McIntosh serves on UNBC’s senate and board of governors, confers degrees at UNBC’s convocation and joins in graduation celebrations at UNBC’s campuses in Terrace, Quesnel and Fort St. John. She also represents UNBC at the Convocation at the Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute in Gitwinksihlkw, B.C.
McIntosh began her role on July 15, 2022 and was officially installed at a special ceremony on Oct. 21, 2022.
A review committee composed of members of UNBC’s board of governors, senate and alumni council recommended McIntosh’s reappointment to the Board of Governors for a second term. The term begins on May 1, 2025 and runs until April 30, 2028.
“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Chancellor McIntosh the past two years. Her reappointment as chancellor ensures the UNBC community will continue to benefit from her wisdom, guidance and profound commitment to our mission to ignite, inspire and lead change,” says UNBC president Geoff Payne. “Thank you to everyone who provided feedback to the review committee and to the committee members for the dedication.”
McIntosh has longstanding ties to UNBC. Prior to taking on the role of chancellor, she was a key member of the UNBC Lheidli T’enneh Translation Initiative team that led to the creation of the entrance sign in the Lheidli T’enneh dialect of the Dakelh language that reads Nizdeh Nekeyoh Hohudil’eh Baiyoh or House of Learning.
McIntosh works as a cultural advisor at the College of New Caledonia where she provides holistic support, encouragement and guidance to Indigenous students, staff and faculty and promotes understanding of Indigenous culture, values and protocols.
McIntosh is UNBC’s eighth chancellor, following the Hon. Iona V. Campagnolo, Dr. K. George Pedersen, Peter J.G. Bentley, Dr. Alex C. Michalos, Dr. John MacDonald, the Hon. James Moore and Dr. Joseph Arthur Gosnell Sr.
