UNBC Life Nicole Halseth News Editor USC UNBC is the local branch of World University Services Canada, an Ottawa-based Non-Governmental Organization. The WUSC official mandate, as stated on their webpage, is fo work “towards a world in which all young people can grow up in safe, secure and supportive environments; have access to high quality education opportunities from early childhood to adulthood; are able to secure fair, decent and fulfiling employment; and can actively participate in all aspects of their society's development.” One way UNBC fulfills this is by sponsoring international students each year to come to Canada and study through the “Student Refugee Program” (SRP). WUSC UNBC welcomed its new student through the SRP this August; the fifth since WUSC UNBC began participating in this pan-Canadian initiative in 2005. These sponsor students typically come from countries and situations in which it is difficult, if not impossible, to gain access to post-secondary education. Many students in the past have come from refugee camps such as Dadaab in Kenya (for more information check out: dadaabstories.org). Students at UNBC support Ba je) S 3 S S S < 2 S WN al —_ University Farmer's Market Kickoff farmers make to our lives. Many of the events at this year's UFM were directed towards appreciation of the same cause. Sarah Jackson Culture Editor C); Tuesday September 10th, the University Farmer's Market (UFM) kicked off another great year of providing a diverse range of local products to students right There is no need to worry if you missed last week's UFM kickoff. The student-led UFM will be held in the Northern Undergraduate Student Centre, beside the Thirsty Moose Pub, from llam to 3om on Tuesdays throughout the year. It is a great place to take a break from your studies, meet friends, and do your on campus. Vendors spilled out onto the lawn of the NUSC event space on luesday, offering students the chance to purchase locally grown and homemade produce, baking, preserves, and handmade goods. The UFM included entertainment in the form of live music, barbecue, potato weekly grocery shopping. Who can forget the smell of butter chicken in the NUGGS building. it is to die sack races, and prizes. for! For those students or faculty The UFM coincided with the Fourth Annual Farmer's Appreciation interested in the environment, and/or ethics in regards to food production, the UFM is a great way to put those beliefs and ideas into action without leaving campus. Week; a week designated to raise awareness around the important contributions local food and local Club Spotlight: WUSC: World University Services Canada students with an annual levy of five dollars. Other WUSC initiatives pursued at UNBC include fair trade chocolate sales, as well as annual humanitarian awareness initiatives, and many others, so be sure to watch for the next exciting WUSC event. WUSC UNBC is a tight-knit, friendly community engaged in numerous social activities throughout the year. These include the traditional pub nights and club dinners, as well as trios to regional sites of interest such as the Ancient Forest. WUSC is a place of intercultural exchange and learning. Whether you are interested in engaging with global issues, gaining unique and valuable experience, or networking within UNBC and across Canada, WUSC provides a fun and interesting environment for any individual. More information about WUSC can be found at www.wusc.ca, or by emailing unbcwusc@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Sarah Jackson | OTE Sarah Jackson Culture Editor s a province founded by gold miners and railroad workers interacting with First Nations culture, British Columbia is now home to an incredibly diverse range of cultural groups. These groups are made up of many individuals who practise many wondertul traditions, one of which is particularly close to everybody's heart regardless of their cultural origin; food! BC is not home to only the descendants of European immigrants; it is a region full to bursting with cultural diversity. This diversity includes people who can trace their roots back to every continent on earth, as well as the original inhabitants of the region; more than 4O major First Nations groups call BC home, each with their own specific customs, cultural practices, and unique cuisine. According to the hellobc website, Chinese and Punjabi are the most spoken languages in this province after English. The website adds that BC also contains sizable German, ltalian, Japanese, and Russian communities; these each bring unique cuisines and customs to our multi-ethnic province. What does this mean for students at UNBC?2 Prince George has a reputation as an isolated, resource- based city, nine hours from anywhere. However, it is also home to a variety of culturally diverse restaurants which demonstrate the extent of the city's diverse population. Newcomers to the city might not realize that there are nine independent sushi restaurants in Prince George. Or that Spicy Greens, which provides butter chicken at the University Farmers Market, has two locations, one in the Hart and the other in College Heights. In fact, there are Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Persian, Greek, African, and Canadian restaurants in Prince George. In addition to the usual selection of greasy fast food, and fast pizza places, downtown Prince George is also rife with cosy cafes, bookshops, and boutiques. If you are looking to spend whatever is leftover in your bank account after books and tuition, take the bus downtown and explore. You might just find yourself learning something about another culture at the same time.