December 18, 1996 For Immediate Release

1996 was a year of continued growth for the University of Northern British Columbia. While the year lacked a single major event like the Queen's visit in 1994, there were many important developments and events. Some are outlined below:

January
The million-dollar UNBC daycare centre opens; the University receives its first application via the World Wide Web; nearly 2400 students register for courses in the Winter semester.

February
UNBC Political Science professor Alex Michalos travels to South Africa to conduct quality of life workshops; a UNBC nursing student in Quesnel delivers an assignment by dogsled; the Provincial Government approves a UNBC proposal for a PhD program in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies.

March
About 1,000 people, including about 500 high school students, attend the second-annual UNBC WinterFest; UNBC and the College of New Caledonia launch the Technology Centre, which would later win the Technology Innovator Award from the Prince George Chamber of Commerce; Student Services Street is named in honour of BC TEL for the company's significant support of the University; Seth Raymond of Prince George becomes the first student to complete the requirements for a masters degree.

April
Economics professor William Low gives a popular public presentation on how month-of-birth influences success in hockey; the Real Estate Foundation of BC contributes $750,000 to establish the Northern Land Use Institute; Weldwood contributes $250,000.

May
73 students receive degrees at the University's third Convocation ceremony, increasing membership in the alumni association fivefold; Honorary degrees are awarded to former BC Lieutenant Governor David Lam and Stoney Creek elder Mary John; Premier Glen Clark visits the Prince George campus during the election campaign and comments by a local Reform Party candidate create controversy; the Russian State Committee on the North meets at UNBC.

June
UNBC offers a popular local history course in Barkerville; the UNBC Child Welfare Research Centre offers courses in Quesnel; approval is received for a new BA in Resource-based Tourism -- the first program of its kind in Canada.

July
15 UNBC students attend a course on Russian Politics in Moscow.

August
UNBC Chancellor Iona Campagnolo and senior University officials visit a number of communities in the Cariboo; more than 100 delegates attend a World Conference on Quality of Life; Kiwako Okuma of Japan becomes the first International student to graduate from UNBC.

September
2700 students register for courses; UNBC offers a total of 40 courses in 14 communities outside of Prince George; the Canadian Institute of Planners officially recognizes UNBC's Planning program; Resource Recreation and Tourism professor John Shultis conducts research on the impact of the loss of the Vanderhoof Airshow; Forests Minister David Zirnhelt announces the creation of a research forest near Fort St James; UNBC and CNC launch a collaborative Nursing program.

October
UNBC hosts forum on local poverty; History professor Aileen Espiritu receives $100,000 grant to research health needs in Siberia; UNBC's first offical team -- the women's Timberwolves basketball team -- begins play in the Prince George rec league.

November
UNBC opens Northern Secretariat of the BC Centre of Excellence in Women's Health; UNBC Planning Committee presents a draft five-year strategic plan reaffirming the University's northern focus and importance of growth; History professor David del Mar publishes unique book on violence against wives; registration begins for UNBC's first Internet courses and inquiries are received from as far away as France, Singapore, and New Zealand; A new masters degree specialization in Curriculum and Instruction is announced for the Northwest; Maclean's magazine publishes its annual ranking of Canada's universities and includes a feature on UNBC; new Prince George Mayor Colin Kinsley judges the third annual UNBC Santa debate and proclaims that "Santa Lives."

December
The Prince George Symphony Orchestra presents a candelight baroque concert in the Atrium to a sold-out crowd of 350; Fort St John student Pamela den Ouden is invited to read one of her papers at the University of Edinburgh's (Scotland) Centre for Canadian Studies; the UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team participates in its first tournament against teams from CNC, Grant McEwan College (Edmonton), and Mount Royal College (Calgary).