The keynote address at the 13th annual Dr. Bob Ewert Memorial Lecture and Dinner will engage Prince George in one of the greatest puzzles in the history of Canadian exploration, one that very recently again made national headlines.

Dr. Martin Magne, recently with Parks Canada, has been leading a team of underwater archaeologists exploring the mystery of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin Expedition. The Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Team located HMS Erebus in September 2014, submerged in Wilmot and Crampton Bay, more than 160 years after the ship went missing. On September 12, 2016, the wreck of the second ship, HMS Terror, was found 100 kilometres away in Nunavut’s Terror Bay. The story is of special significance given Canada's sesquicentennial anniversary of confederation in 2017.  (Photo at right: Dr. Martin Magne)

“We are excited to have Dr. Magne as our speaker in conjunction with Canada’s 150th anniversary,” said Dr. David Nelson, president of the Northern Medical Society. “He will provide insights on the events surrounding Sir John Franklin’s hunt for a Northwest Passage, and a key chapter in Canadian history.”

The Ewert Dinner is the largest fundraiser for the Northern Medical Programs Trust, which assists students at UNBC in the Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program, the Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) program, and the Northern Medical Program.

“The tradition of the Ewert Dinner is vital to the development of health education that gives future practitioners a better understanding of Canada’s issues and needs,” said UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. “Together with our Trust partners, we are focused on providing students with the knowledge and experiences needed to help lead health innovation in rural and remote Canada.”

To date, the Trust has provided more than 500 grants to help health-care students pursue unique clinical placements in northern and rural communities as part of their studies.

"The Trust helped to enhance my clinical experience in several northern communities,” said George Wood, a second-year UNBC Family Nurse Practitioner student. “It was a great learning opportunity, which opened my eyes to various care issues, including a great need for complex primary care and mental health services. This ultimately has triggered my interest around these issues and helped me to consider seeking employment in underserved communities in the North."

The annual Ewert event honours Dr. Bob Ewert, the first medical specialist to practice in Prince George.

The Dr. Bob Ewert Memorial Lecture and Dinner is presented by the Northern Medical Society, UNBC, the Prince George Community Foundation, and Northern Health. This year’s event takes place Saturday April 8, 2017 at the Prince George Civic Centre. Tickets cost $125 each or $1,200 for a table of 10, and are available online at www.unbc.ca/giving. 

For more information, contact the UNBC Office of University Advancement at 250-960-5750 or giving@unbc.ca.