UNBC to Host Conferences on Rural Health, Resource-Based Communities, and the Environment

Media Release

May 13, 2008

Starting today, the University of Northern British Columbia will behosting a number of conferences aiming to increase discussion relatedto important issues in northern BC and other northern/rural regions.

The first is the inaugural conference of the BC Rural and Remote HealthResearch Network, which is based at UNBC. The conference, being held atthe Prince George Civic Centre today and tomorrow, is bringing together140 BC-based researchers to discuss opportunities for greaternetworking and research capacity in such areas as Aboriginal health,health care organization, partnerships among organizations, and ruralhealth across the lifespan. The keynote address is being given onWednesday, May 14, at 9:15am by Dr. Ronald Labonte, who will speakabout health equity in a global world.

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Contact: Martha MacLeod - 250.960.6507 or email macleod@unbc.ca

Space to Place: The Next Rural Economies Workshop will bring togethertwo-dozen rural scholars from eight countries to discuss possibilitiesabout the future of rural economies. Their presentations – in suchthemes as demographics and migration, emerging economies,resource-based regions, and governance – are open to local governmentand economic development officials from across northern BC to initiatedialogue on the practical application of this research. The workshopwill be held from May 15-17 at the University’s Prince George campus.Presentations will be given in Room 7-212, adjacent to the CanforWinter Garden.

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Contact: Greg Halseth - 250.960.5826 or email halseth@unbc.ca

From May 21-23, the Prince George campus will host a conferenceexploring BC’s Inland Rainforest. Located east of Prince George andextending south to Idaho and Montana, these wet forests are unusual inthat they are located so far inland but have many features shared withcoastal rainforests.  They face increasing threats from habitatfragmentation, logging, and climate change. In addition to researchpresentations and a visit to Dome Creek and area, UNBC professor DarwynCoxson will give a public presentation on the global significance ofthe Inland Rainforest on May 21 at 7:30pm in the Canfor Theatre at UNBC.

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Contact: Darwyn Coxson - 250.960-6646 or email darwyn@unbc.ca

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