KAMLOOPS – One of our country’s most celebrated and respected female athletes and entrepreneurs will become the first Chancellor of Canada’s newest university, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, B.C.
Nancy Greene Raine, named in 1999 as Canada’s female athlete of the 20th Century and as one of the recipients of the first honorary degrees bestowed by The University College of the Cariboo (UCC) in Kamloops, has accepted the offer to become Chancellor of the new university that is being created from the 35-year old former university-college.
The Chancellor, as honorary head of the university, will both represent and bestow prestige on the institution. The chancellor will also be a member of the new Board of Governors and the University Council when they are convened this fall.
“Nancy Greene Raine is a great British Columbian and a great Canadian,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “She is an excellent choice to help guide B.C.’s newest university, and I know her commitment to excellence and to our province will inspire a whole new generation of great B.C. achievers as they build their futures at TRU.”
The selection of Dr. Nancy Greene Raine as the first Chancellor of TRU was made by the Board of Governors, on the recommendation of a Board committee, which included student, faculty and community representation. She will be formally installed as Chancellor on Thursday, March 31st as part of the ceremonies marking the Inaugural Convocation of Thompson Rivers University.
“Nancy’s reputation as a champion and her obvious dedication to British Columbia is an inspiration to us all, and especially students,” said Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong. “She is a great role model for achievement, setting a positive example for students who are working hard on their educational goals.”
Nancy Greene Raine grew up in Rossland, BC and by the age of 16 was a member of the Canadian National ski team competing at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley. It was the first of three Olympic Games for the Canadian star, who would become Canada’s top skier in the late 1960s, winning two overall World Cup titles and gold and silver medals at the 1968 Olympics.
Dr. Nancy Greene Raine’s impressive list of accomplishments, in both athletics and business, has earned her many forms of recognition, including: Officer of the Order of Canada; member of the Order of British Columbia; Whistler Citizen of the Year; BC Ambassador of Tourism; and selection to the National and BC Sports Halls of Fame.
Nancy and husband Al Raine made tourism their fulltime business in the 1970s, establishing themselves in Whistler, BC, bringing credibility and worldwide recognition to the resort that will be a centre-piece of the 2010 Olympic Games.
In 1994, Nancy and Al brought their success and vision to the Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, another international success story in the making, where they operate Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge and where Nancy is Director of Skiing for the resort, and still one of the foremost ambassadors for skiing in Canada today.
For more information, please contact Nancy Greene Raine at 250-851-1649
