A northern academic says he’s excited to be joining the International Centre for Governance and Development.

Lindsay Blair has been named as a learning associate for the group and will, among other things, work with Masters Students to help them fulfill their professional program requirements.

Based in the University of Saskatchewan, the centre specializes in addressing problems posed by development in the north.

Blair says he’s happy to join the group and help it meet the challenges that are out there:

“Well part of the priority is capacity building in the north so helping to develop the next generation of leaders in First Nations governance, industry, government, private business, even entrepreneurship. “

Blair says he is looking forward to visiting the outlying communities in the new year and talking about the program with local residents.

Blair says the fact he lives in La Ronge gives him a personal stake in the venture too.