First Consultation in Dawson Creek for NCMA Delegates

May 5, 2009

Less than four months after the idea of the New North Foundation was unveiled at the Northern Economic Summit in January, Dawson Creek will be the site tomorrow of the first consultation designed to give shape to the concept.
 
Delegates to the North Central Municipal Association annual convention will have the first opportunity to give their input into the planning of the New North Foundation, which is proposed as a new knowledge portal that will connect northern communities and industries to researchers. The workshop in Dawson Creek will engage municipal and industry leaders in a discussion about emerging regional development opportunities, past experiences with researchers and research projects, and the role UNBC and its researchers should be playing in regional development.

“Mobilizing research in the direct service of northern communities is key to developing the region as a knowledge-based, resource economy connected to the world,” says UNBC President Charles Jago, who will be speaking at the workshop along with Janine North, CEO of the Northern Development Initiative Trust. “It’s particularly gratifying that industry is providing the initial seed funding for this feasibility study. Thank you very much to Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines and to Rio Tinto Alcan for enabling us to develop the concept of the New North Foundation.”

“Rio Tinto Alcan is pleased to provide continuing support for UNBC and in particular this newest initiative, the New North Foundation," says Paul Henning, Vice-President, BC Operations & Strategic Projects Western Canada for Rio Tinto Alcan. "By linking community, education and industry interests with research efforts, opportunities to maintain and diversify regional economies will be enhanced.”

“We believe UNBC’s New North Foundation can become a catalyst for economic development across northern British Columbia,” says John Carruthers, President, Enbridge Northern Gateway. “Enbridge Northern Gateway is very happy to partner with the University and to support this very worthwhile initiative.”

The New North Foundation workshop will be Wednesday, May 6, at 3pm in the George Dawson Inn.

For more information about the proposed New North Foundation, click here.


Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Vice-President External Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5750