October 30, 2008

In an effort to help support local opportunities for economicdiversification, UNBC is offering a new Aboriginal and Small BusinessLeadership Certificate program in Williams Lake, Vanderhoof, andQuesnel.

The mountain pine beetle infestation has contributed to reducedemployment levels in the forest industry throughout northern BC,leading to greater focus on economic diversification. Much of thisdiversification is expected to come through new small businessinitiatives. Many small businesses, however, fail in their first years,often because of a lack of skilled background in business ventures.While the failure rate for aboriginal businesses is much lower, thenumber of aboriginal small businesses remains a fraction of the overalltotal.

The five courses in the Certificate will be offered in Williams Lake,Quesnel and Vanderhoof and cover broad skills needed to succeed insmall business ventures. Each course will be delivered over threeconsecutive three-day weekends. The courses will also transfer to theUNBC School of Business, which will provide the foundation necessaryfor students who are interested in completing a Commerce degree.

“This program is special in that it offers flexible, modular deliveryof University programming in these three regional communities,” saidBlanca Schorcht, UNBC’s South-Central Regional Chair, based at theQuesnel campus. “Students participating in this program will alsoreceive support and follow-up for any business initiatives that theymay generate. Thanks to an investment from Western EconomicDiversification, the cost of the courses has been reduced to offerthose individuals in communities hardest hit by the mountain pinebeetle epidemic the best opportunity to participate in this training.Each course will cost only $150.”

Registrations are now being accepted for the first course, which willbegin on November 28, following an orientation session on November 21.

For more information on the Aboriginal and Small Business LeadershipCertificate, please contact Titi Kunkel at 250-991-7541 (1-800-627-9931toll free) or email kunkel@unbc.ca. Information is also availableonline atwww.unbc.ca/continuing_studies/certificates/businessleadership.html.

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