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Written by Citizen staff
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Friday, 03 July 2009 |
This time he means it. There will be no second encore for Charles Jago at the helm of the University of Northern B.C.
Jago bade farewell to the institution this week after completing one final year in a mop-up role following the sudden departure of president Don Cozzetto.
Cozzetto was on the job for less than two years before he resigned in unexplained circumstances, prompting the university to talk Jago out of retirement for a year until a successor was found.
Suffice it to say Cozzetto's style and actions weren't universally admired and even the circumspect Jago didn't mince words with The Citizen's Bernice Trick this week. He said he returned to a "damaged and demoralized" institution that endured two years of hardships that "weren't necessary."
He bristles at the memory of being cast as the fall guy for alleged deep financial problems at UNBC that resulted in "unnecessary cutbacks."
Under Jago's watch for the past year the university has regained its footing and stature in the community. Certainly there was a high comfort level having Jago's familiar manner and leadership at the controls for 12 of the past 14 years.
It is worth noting that Jago was not involved in the selection of Cozzetto to succeed him, but did have a hand in the hiring of George Iwama. There is something reassuring about the incoming president arriving with Jago's stamp of approval.
The list of Jago's accomplishments at UNBC is long and impressive and is topped by the establishment of the Northern Medical Program. He quickly guided UNBC to national prominence for excellence which resulted in his investiture into the Order of Canada -- the first and only Prince George resident to be so honoured.
Jago has left the campus but his name never will, having been enshrined on the state-of-the-art Northern Sport Centre - a lasting and fitting legacy to a modern-day Prince George pioneer.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 July 2009 )
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