October 7, 2005 for immediate release

Following a public consultation process, the Universityis continuing to consider its future participation in national inter-universityathletic competition and the sports with which it would seek admission.

Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) represents thehighest level of amateur sport competition in the country. No other sportorganization can match its breadth and scope: it annually involves more than11,000 student-athletes competing in 11 sports. Membership in CIS requires aminimum commitment of four teams: two male and two female. UNBC already has anestablished men’s and women’s basketball program and a strong Nordic ski team,but cross-country skiing is not recognized as a CIS-sport. That leaves theUniversity with the challenge of identifying two other teams if it is tocontinue pursuing participation in CIS.

“We’ve contacted sport organizations in the city,focusing on those sports that are core sports of the CIS,” says UNBC PresidentCharles Jago. “We’ve been interested in determining if any community sportgroups have the capacity to partner with us in operating CIS teams. Soccer andhockey have emerged as possible alternatives, though the door is still open toother sports.”

The University will be continuing discussions withlocal sport organizations with the intent of building two additional teams thatwould complement the basketball program.

“With the development of the Northern Sport Centre,our participation in CIS would highlight the city’s opportunity to be a majorcentre for high-performance sport,” says Dr. Jago. “At the same time, it wouldgreatly improve our profile in the region and across the country and connectlocal youth with additional role models who are committed to sport andeducation. Nevertheless, the investment in CIS – especially with the twoadditional teams – is significant. It’s essential that we find communitypartners who can work with us.”

Currently, the UNBC men’s andwomen’s basketball teams participate in the BC Colleges Athletic Association.Their first home games of the 2005-06 season are November 4th and 5th.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622