UNBC Hosts Seminar On Northern Governance
October 17, 2002 For Immediate
Release
Inaugural Event to be held in Smithers
Many northern communities are facing challenges brought about by declining
levels of government services, resource-dependency, self-government aspirations
of First Nations, etc. All of these issues influence how northern regions
are planning their futures.
On Sunday, October 20th, the University's Political
Science program will be hosting a first annual conference on northern
governance. Titled the Steelhead Seminar, it will involve both past and
present practitioners, as well as academics. The participants at the conference
range from former provincial ministers, current MLAs, and municipal officers
to academics from the University of Alberta, University of Saskatchewan,
University of Waterloo, and UNBC. The session will be opened by Smithers
Mayor Brian Northup.
"Communities across northern BC and the other provincial norths
have tremendous opportunities for developing new economic initiatives
and forging new relationships with First Nations," says Greg
Poelzer, Chair of UNBC's Political Science program. "But, these
opportunities are tempered by the challenges of declining populations
in some communities and uncertainty in many resource industries. Issues
of governance are central to how northern communities can meet these challenges.
Smithers is a microcosm for what is happening across the North and is
a perfect venue for our first conference."
The first annual Steelhead Seminar on Northern Governance will be held
in the Sandman Inn from 9am - 4pm on Sunday, October 20th. Media and other
residents are welcome to attend. The academic research presented at the
conference will be posted on the program webpage.
The UNBC Political Science program focuses its teaching and research
on northern regions, especially northern BC and similar areas in Canada
and around the world.