Alastair McNair, former publisher of The Prince George Citizen, died Monday after battling cancer.
McNair took the position of publisher at The Prince George Citizen on Aug. 1, 1987 and left in 1994.
He took over the position from Bryson Stone who moved to the Kamloops News as publisher.
McNair was circulation director at Pacific Press in Vancouver, managing the circulation departments at both the Vancouver Sun and the Province newspapers, before moving to Prince George with his wife, Lynne, and their three children, Nicola, Toni and Alison.
McNair was an active community member and a former hobby farmer whose family had a lifelong interest in show horses and 4-H Clubs.
"Al was a wonderful, generous man who really cared about his employees and he really cared about this community," said Lu Verticchio, former Citizen advertising director. "He was an ideas man, a renaissance man, and I think the biggest thing was how much he cared about his employees and the community. He was a real joy to work with. I am so saddened by this loss."
McNair was the publisher when current Citizen publisher, Colleen Sparrow, was first hired at the paper.
"I started in the business office on switchboard and he would always take the time to stop and ask me how I was enjoying my job," said Sparrow.
"He was just a caring, caring man and I really admired him."
Even after he retired, Sparrow would run into McNair out in the community.
"He would always ask me if I was still enjoying the industry, and he would tell me he was proud of me," said Sparrow. "I can't say enough nice things about him. He was such a huge part of this community. He was a great leader and mentor and to hear of this loss is just so sad."
Bruce Strachan, former Prince George MLA and provincial cabinet minister, met McNair when he first became Citizen publisher. The two became fast friends. When Strachan was defeated in 1991, McNair asked him to be a political columnist for The Citizen and Strachan did the job off and on for the next 20 years.
"Al was a really friendly, engaging guy," said Strachan. "He always had a very positive, upbeat attitude even during his terminal illness. He was a really neat fellow."
