September 23, 2002 For Immediate Release

Donors, government officials, and UNBC representatives will be participating in the official opening ceremonies for the Bentley Centre and new Laboratory expansion on Saturday. The opening ceremonies, public tours, and scientific displays/presentations will all be open to the public. The schedule for the day follows:

2:15pm Opening of the Bentley Centre with presentations by Charles Jago,
Bank of Montreal, and Peter Bentley. Ribbon-cutting to follow.

2:45pm Opening of the new Teaching Laboratory, with presentations by
Chancellor George Pedersen, Board Chair Alice Downing, Mayor Colin Kinsley, and Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond. Ribbon-cutting to follow.

3-5pm Public talks by UNBC faculty on "Science and People."
The talks will highlight innovative UNBC research and demonstrate the relevance of scientific research to northern BC. Five presentations in total will be given and they will be in Agora Room 7-150 (just off Telus Student Services Street). The speakers will be Joe Ackerman (Canada Research Chair in Physical Ecology and Aquatic Science), Greg Halseth (Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small-Town Sustainability), Katherine Parker (Forestry program and Muskwa-Kechika Chair), Tracy Summerville (Political Science program), and Todd Whitcombe (Chemistry program).

Campus tours and tours of the new Lab will run concurrently. Various displays will also be set up in Student Street.

5pm A community reception and kick-off for the annual fund campaign
in Student Street, followed by a dinner for major donors.