The BC, Musqueam and UBC flags (temporarily relocated to the East Mall Entrance and Plaza at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre) at UBC Vancouver, and the Canada, BC, Okanagan Nation Alliance and UBC flags on the UBC Okanagan campus will be lowered on Friday, October 24, 2025 in remembrance.
Dr. Barry McBride, B.Sc. ’63, M.Sc. ’65, Ph.D., passed away on October 14, 2025.
Barry served as UBC Okanagan’s inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor, guiding the campus through its formative years with dedication and vision until his retirement in 2007. As the campus’s first chief administrator, he played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of the Okanagan campus and laying the groundwork for its growth and success.
Prior to his leadership at UBC Okanagan, Barry held several key academic and administrative roles at UBC in Vancouver, including Provost and Vice-President Academic and Dean of Science. He was also a Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology in the Faculty of Science.
Barry’s connection to UBC ran deep—not only professionally, but personally. A proud UBC alumnus, he often reflected on the strong family legacy at the university, noting that 13 members of his extended family had earned UBC degrees across generations. He expressed great pride in having studied, worked and led at both UBC campuses, describing it as a profound honour and accomplishment.