July 4, 2001 For Immediate Release

Health care and community officials from throughout northern BC will be attending a forum tomorrow designed to provide information and seek input concerning the proposed Northern Medical Program. The Forum will be held in the Weldwood Theatre (Room 7-238) on UNBC's Prince George campus.

The proposed Northern Medical Program is a collaboration between UNBC and The University of British Columbia and is aiming to increase the number of doctors practicing in the North by training them in the North. The Forum on July 5th will include northern BC mayors and councillors, medical health officers, and representatives from regional health councils and societies, the North Central Municipal Association, First Nations health organizations, and from the Rural Health Task Force that was created at the conclusion of the National Health Summit (held in Prince George this past January). The agenda will include an update on progress to establish the NMP and an outline of the planning process.

While the Forum is not open to the public, members of the media are welcome to attend part of the meeting. At 11:15am, camera operators (still and video) will be welcome to attend the forum and shoot photos/video. At the conclusion of the Forum (roughly 11:45am), all media are welcome to attend a summary of the Forum and an update on the progress of the NMP provided by UNBC President Charles Jago, UBC Vice-President Academic Barry McBride, and John Cairns, Dean of the UBC Medical School