November 27, 1996 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern BC will be the northern centre for the BC Centre of Excellence in Women's Health. The BC Centre of Excellence is located at BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver and includes community partners across the province, as well as researchers from UNBC, UBC, and the University of Victoria. The Northern Secretariat will be located at UNBC, and will ensure that research on women's health issues effectively addresses the the unique cultural, geographic, and economic dynamics faced by women living in Canada's northern regions.

"Research will be centred around improving the health status of women who live in remote, rural, and northern areas, and whose health concerns may be complicated by geographic isolation, race, abilities, lack of access to women-centred care, and other issues," says professor Barbara Isaac. "Many women face significant disadvantages regarding their health and access to health care as a consequence of their life circumstances."

As an integral part of the larger BC Centre of Excellence, the Northern Secretariat will network with northern community women's groups.

The BC Centre of Excellence is one of five across the country that has received $2 million from Health Canada, and will focus its work on the health needs of women, the patterns of health provision, and influences on health.

The Official Opening of the Northern Secretariat will be onMonday, December 2nd at 1pm in UNBC Conference Centre Room 6-205