May 3, 2005 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will be hosting three major events in Prince George this week, attracting a total of more than 600 people.

Speakers and delegates from across Canada and the United States will be participating in a conference on key issues in sustainable development for resource communities. Titled, Managing for Tomorrow: Resource Communities and the Environment, the conference will be held at UNBC from May 6th and 8th. A reception will be held the evening of May 5th at the Two Rivers Gallery to welcome delegates. Each day will feature keynote presentations and panel discussions in the morning with workshops in the afternoon. Key aims of the conference include fostering industry and community leadership and highlighting successful decision-making processes and environmental management tools. “Often, when we discuss issues such as climate change, air & water quality, and biodiversity, we perceive them to be in conflict with forest harvesting, oil and gas exploration, and mining, but resolving conflicts and achieving balance is essential for the development of many BC communities, especially those in the North,” says UNBC Political Science professor Gary Wilson, one of the conference organizers.

From Tuesday to Thursday, the University will be welcoming nearly 300 teenagers to the National Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition. Presented by the Business Development Bank of Canada, the event is the culmination of web-based instruction on developing and presenting business plans. Workshops on Tuesday, May 4, will include seminars on effective public presentations and PowerPoint. There will also be sessions on leadership, guest speakers, and an awards presentation on May 6.

On Friday, May 7th, an estimated 100 physicians will participate in the annual Northern Doctors Day. The event is a professional development and networking opportunity for physicians in the northern interior and there will be various sessions on topics such as cancer and genetics, infectious diseases, and orthopedics.