UNBC Conference Aims to Answer the Question

April 12, 2005 for immediate release

Some of the province’s leading experts on the state ofnorthern BC and the province’s rural areas will be attending a three-dayconference at UNBC later this month. Academics, provincial business leaders, andpublic figures will discuss and debate the place of rural regions in theprovince’s past, present, and future.

The opening and closing plenary sessions will be open to thepublic and feature well-known leaders on the issues confronting northern BC andthe non-metropolitan regions of the province:

Thursday, April 28

David Baxter of the Urban Futures Institute will present hislatest findings that illustrate the significant contribution of northernregions to generating the province’s export wealth.

7:30pm, Canfor Theatre

Saturday, April 30

The closing panel discussion will explore theheartland-hinterland debate in BC

Dave Barrett, former BC Premier and current Member ofParliament

Jock Finlayson, Executive Director (Policy) of the BCBusiness Council

Tim McEwan, Executive Director of the BC Progress Board

David Mitchell, former BC MLA and WAC Bennett biographer

12:45pm, Canfor Theatre

Tickets to both the opening and closing plenary discussionsare available for $10 at the UNBC and CNC Bookstores, Books and Company, and atthe door.

In addition to the plenary discussions, about 150 people areexpected to attend more than 30 sessions that will make up the academicconference. Sessions will cover various topics, including the future offorestry, community identity, First Nations, economic development anddiversification, and ethnicity.  

Contact:

Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations,UNBC – 250.960.5622