Northern Medical Society of British Columbia

Description

The UNBC story began in January 1987 at a public meeting held at the College of New Caledonia on the possibility of extending degreeawarding opportunities in Prince George By the fall of 1987 after around a dozen meetings it had became apparent that there was considerable enthusiasm for the creation of a full university in the north and on December 1 1987 the Interior University Society IUS was incorporated under the Societies Act This Society swiftly expanded to include Directors representing the whole northern region

History

Important early support for the IUS was obtained from Bruce Strachan MLA for Prince George South and Minister of State for the Cariboo Region who saw the regional development potential of a northern university This led to the commissioning of a study Building a Future of Excellence a University of Northern BC quotThe Dahloff Reportquot This report which was to demonstrate the credibility and feasibility of a university in the north was one major element of the IUS strategy The other elements were campaigns to educate the people of the north of the value of university gain the endorsement of public bodies throughout the north and prove to the government the depth of individual support through a petition On October 13 an IUS delegation was able to present the government with
a petition signed by 16000 voters who had paid 5 for the privilege
letters of support from every town village city regional district hospital board school board and Chamber of Commerce in northern BC
an Angus Reid survey which indicated that 94 of northerners were in favour of creating the university
the Dahloff Report indicating the feasibility credibility and value of the university

1989 The IPG

Some felt that the momentum towards creation of a university was now unstoppable but the provincial government then received the quotBullen Studyquot on the expansion of postsecondary education which recommended creation of universitycolleges rather than the full university for which the IUS was campaigning The IUS then engaged in a determined campaign to resist this alternative saying that a full research university was necessary given the Norths unique situation It was clear however that the alternative was strongly favoured by some key figures in the government

In April 1989 the IUS negotiated with the Ministry of Advanced Eduction Training and Technology on a way forward Subsequently the Minister appointed the Implementation Planning Group IPG to advise him on what type of institution would be best for the north Though some feared that this was just a delaying tactic there was satisfaction in the fact that the majority of IPG members either were from or had experience of northern BC