Any controversy that struck the University of Northern British Columbia this past year was left at the door Friday as a decidedly celebratory mood permeated convocation ceremonies for graduating students.
Over the course of two ceremonies, more than 700 credentials were granted to students wearing gowns and mortar boards, and the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre was packed with friends and family.
Faculty dressed in their own regalia added to the colour, as did a town crier to announce the start of the event, a bagpiper to lead students into the building and a Lheidli T'enneh elder carrying a talking stick, ornately carved with aboriginal depictions of wildlife.
The aboriginal motif carried on in the massive "button blanket" banner over top of the stage and in the chairs carved with traditional images for UNBC's president and chancellor.
In a speech during the morning session, president Daniel Weeks highlighted UNBC's ranking as the top "primarily undergraduate" university in Canada by Maclean's magazine's, a mention that drew applause and cheering.
When students were asked why they thought UNBC was number one, a particular message came out loud and clear, Weeks said.
"And that is we are a community," he said. "We're not simply a university or a place of employment, we're a place of being, of contributing, excelling, sharing and inspiration.
"And to continue being an exceptional place, we must continue to build our community, in fact all the communities in which UNBC does its business - the communities of the north, the communities of British Columbia, Canada and indeed the world.
"We must forge new relationships and commit to working together for the betterment of UNBC."
Despite the controversy surrounding his selection, there were no signs of protest when former Conservative MP and cabinet minister James Moore was sworn in as UNBC's new chancellor.
In his own speech, Moore, who grew up in the Lower Mainland, talked about why he chose UNBC to earn both a bachelors and a masters degree in political science and how it also helped him to gain the confidence to run for parliament just three months after graduation.
"This university has meant everything to me," Moore said. "To my personal development and the person I've become and the experiences I've had the privilege to experience thus far in my life.
"To the entire UNBC community, I want you all to know that I respect deeply the special trust that's been place in me to serve our university as chancellor and I will work with everyone to continue to build on the successes of this great institution that has meant so much to my life and has meant so much to all of you."
Moore's appointment so soon after his retirement from politics and his connection to a government that was criticized for muzzling government scientists were sore spots for a number of faculty and students on campus.
In a question and answer session with local media prior to the event, Moore said his goal is to "work with everybody, everybody, to make this school has not only 25 but 100 great years of graduates on the horizon. It's an important job and I understand the responsibility that comes with it."
Moore said he's already done some work on the university's behalf, saying he's met with faculty and student groups and UNBC's leadership team and has visited all the regional campuses and will be participating on all the regional convocations as well.
As chancellor Moore's primary task is to promote UNBC and act as its figurehead. He said he will likely take his marching orders from the Senate and Board of Governors but also work his connections to raise funds and recruit students.
"Among the challenges that I think UNBC has going forward is to push back against the decline of enrollment from the Lower Mainland," Moore said, adding the proliferation of universities across the province has hurt the local campus.
To that end, he said there is a need to "reintroduce UNBC to all British Columbians...and let people know that the North is a really fascinating place with a phenomenal university to attend, if you just give it a try."
Moore's excitement at being sworn in as chancellor was tinged by the death of his father on Monday.
"He was planning on coming up," Moore said. "He had a plane ticket and he bought a new suit and he was ready to come up and be here today, so me it's a bit of a tough day in that sense but I'm proud to be back and honouring my dad in that way because he was blown away by how great this school was."
