June 6, 2001 For Immediate Release

Northern FIRE - a new UNBC research centre focusing on issues in women's health - is being officially launched at the University on Thursday, June 7th.

The Centre will pay particular attention to the health concerns of women living in northern, rural and remote areas. It has been shown that population health status in such regions is consistently lower than in southern and urban centres across Canada. The lack of health services, vulnerable economic conditions, and the physical and social isolation that characterize these regions are among the factors that contribute to reduced population health status. The research undertaken by Northern FIRE will examine these factors, particularly as they affect women.

Since 1996, UNBC has housed a northern office for the BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. This organization has examined women's health issues from a provincial perspective.

"Setting up our own women's health research centre at UNBC allows us to be more focused on northern and regional issues, rather than exploring issues from a provincial context," says Theresa Healy, Research Director. "Northern FIRE has the same mandate as the Northern Secretariat for the BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health, but we're no longer affiliated. By being an official UNBC research institute, we'll be able to take issues to a national level, working together with other northern regions."

The official launch of Northern FIRE will be Thursday, June 7th at 4:30pm in the Atrium of the UNBC Administration Building.