Former MLA to receive honorary degree from UNBC
By Spencer Hall
Former long-serving Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond will be awarded an honorary Doctors of Law degree from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) at this year’s convocation ceremony.
The university described Bond, a five-term MLA, as “a community champion, passionate advocate for northern British Columbia and trailblazer in provincial politics,” adding that she’s spent her career working to improve the lives of those in northern B.C. and across the province.
“Guided by a deep commitment to northern British Columbia, Shirley Bond’s groundbreaking political career and tireless advocacy have shaped vital investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure — building stronger communities across the region she calls home,” UNBC said in a press release.
Bond told The Goat that she was surprised to receive a call from the University informing her she’d be receiving the degree.
“It was very emotional. I have had a decades long commitment to supporting UNBC and was part of that whole movement to actually bring a full research university to northern British Columbia. So it really is, in a way, a full circle for me,” she said. “Lobbying and advocating to actually have a university here and then receiving an honorary doctorate is certainly something that was unexpected but [I’m] unbelievably honored and very grateful to the Senate at UNBC.”
Bond said she started lobbying to have a university in the region during her days as a trustee for School District 57 — prior to serving as MLA. She said she wanted to make sure students in the region had access to higher education closer to home.
“Having our own university was an important step in the evolution of our community. My belief has always been — and it really drove the work that I did in public office — that no matter where you live in this province, you should have the opportunity to have a great education and health care as close to home as possible,” she said.
Bond’s first job after becoming MLA and a cabinet minister was working with staff at UNBC to deliver the medical program at the University, which marked the first time doctors were trained in Northern B.C.
According to UNBC, she played an instrumental role in securing critical investments in infrastructure and services for the region, including the creation of the Northern Medical Program at UNBC, the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre and the BC Cancer Centre for the North.
The BC Cancer Care Centre for the North has been in operation since 2012 and allows residents in Northern B.C. to access cancer treatment, resources and financial support closer to home.
Bond has gone on to make her mark in the BC Legislature, becoming the first woman to serve as attorney general and Minister of Justice in 2011. She says one of the most cherished memories during her time as attorney general involved students from Valemount, who travelled to Victoria to visit the BC Legislature.
While walking down the hall at the legislature, the group walked past the wall where all the photos of former attorney generals were displayed. A young female student from Valemount then asked Bond why there were no pictures of women on the wall
“I remember being able to say to her, ‘I want you to know that the next picture that goes on the wall will be a girl.’ And it was me,” Bond recalled.
“When my photograph did go up in the hallway, I very consciously talked to my staff. I said, ‘I am going to buy the brightest pink jacket you have ever seen. So that when you walk down that hallway, that jacket will stand out and will be a reflection of the fact that it was the first time a woman served in that job.”
Since then, two other women have served as attorney generals in B.C. — Suzanne Anton from 2013 to 2017 and Niki Sharma, who has been in the role since 2022.
Since deciding not to run in the 2024 provincial election Bond says she’s been transitioning to the life of a private citizen and has been enjoying spending time with her family, which was something she missed out on a lot while serving as an MLA.
“My grandsons are teenagers now and one of the things I’m doing, I’ll be honest, is I get to help with homework and their buddies to various things. I love that and a really important thing for me is that family involvement,” she said.
Her family will join Bond at UNBC’s Convocation Ceremony on May 30th, where she will be awarded her honorary degree.
