Over the Edge + April 13, 2011 UNBC's Exciting Year! A look back at the fun events that went on at UNBC 2010-201 1 HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR Gathering Place Opens On September 21st the Gathering Place opened at UNBC. The centre is also known as “Lhuhuhwhezdel” which means: “gathering place” in the Lheidli dialect of the Dakelh language. The Gathering Place is a part of a province-wide initiative to enhance support for aboriginal students. UNBC’s gathering place is one of 27 centres created at public post-secondary institutions. Located in the library building, the Gathering Place includes a fully equipped kitchen, two classrooms, and an event space. The centre was also designed with a unique ventilation system to exhaust all smoke from traditional smudging ceremonies. The Gathering Place has been a welcome addition to the campus this year. UNBC ties Harvard for Campus Sustainability Award On October 11th, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability for Higher Education presented UNBC with a North American Award for Excellence for Campus Sustainability. The award was granted on the basis of a case study detailing the installation of Canada’s first University- owned pellet fuel system, and the interdisciplinary academic involvement of the project. First place for the Campus Sustainability Award was shared with the prestigious Harvard University. Best in the West MacLean’s magazine annually ranks Canada’s universities, and has named UNBC the best University in Western Canada. UNBC was ranked third in the undergraduate division of the MacLean’s rankings behind the Atlantic Canadian universities of Mount Allison and Acadia. MacLean’s ranked twenty-five universities in the undergraduate category nationwide and the annual issue, which was released on November 10th, 2011. Green University Centre Opens The renovations began in January for UNBC’s Green University Centre, which is located in the Winter Garden across from Tim Horton’s. The Green University Centre serves as a resource for UNBC students, staff and faculty to access information on sustainable activities on campus and beyond. The Centre provides information about issues such as renewable energy (e.g. bioenergy), energy conservation, climate change, waste reduction, local food, alternative transportation and recycling. UNBC Wins Spread the Net Student Challenge Campaign The famous Canadian TV personality and political comedian, Rick Mercer, spent Monday March 21st on campus. A visit from Rick Mercer was the prize for achieving first place for the Spread the Net Student Challenge, a competition where Universities were pitted against each other to see who could raise the most money to prevent Malaria. A group of students from the ISSA spent hundreds of hours on bake sales and campaigning, but it paid off, since the results that UNBC won were announced later on the Mercer Report. Students gathered in Student Centre Lounge to eagerly wait for the announcement and jumped for joy when Rick Mercer broadcasted that UNBC had beaten every other participating university in Canada. The UNBC crew raised well over $18,000 for the campaign. In the next few days Rick Mercer was on campus getting everyone excited about the university and the campaign. A segment aired on The Rick Mercer Report featuring UNBC and the high school that won the secondary school division of the contest on Tuesday March 31st. UNBC Students raise money for Japan The FOCUS club, Asian club, international students from Gakushuin Women’s college, Utsunomiya University, and Hiroshima Shudo University came together to raise money and hope for the people suffering in Japan in the wake of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami. The strings of paper cranes,that students made throughout the weeks after the disastrous earthquake now hang in the Wintergarden as a symbol of solidarity for those suffering in the disaster. The group also took donations for the Canadian Red Cross, which will be sending all funds to Japan for relief efforts. Upcoming Event in Prince George Bike to work week JANIE ROBERGE CONTRIBUTOR From May 30th to June 5th, the City of Prince George and the Cycling Club will be hosting Bike to Work Week, a community-wide and province-wide initiative designed to promote cycling as a healthy, fun, and sustainable transportation. Students who attend summer classes or who stay in Prince George during the summer to work are invited to participate in this event that will include many fun, safe, and celebratory activities such as a bike swap, a free breakfast, and prizes! Participants need to register as a team in order to be eligible to win exciting prizes. The steps to register a team are quite simple. First, you need to visit the registration section of the Bike to Work Week website in order to find out if someone at your workplace has registered a team. If yes, you need to contact the team leader in order to join the team. If not, you should become your work place’s team leader and encourage your co-workers to leave their car home for a week! It is easy and quick to register a team, and you will receive support from the Bike to Work Week organizers for providing information to your team about the various events taking place, and some safety tips. At the end of the week, you only need to submit a short participation record. It is a good way to be part of the solution by encouraging people of your direct surroundings to cycle! As the name of the event suggests, Bike to Work Week targets working people worry! Participants are all provided with a sticker to put on their helmet, which allows them to take the bus with their bicycle for free! Summer students who wish to participate should stop by Danielle Smythe’s office at the Centre for a Green University in the Winter Garden to mention their interest. For more information, visit the Bike to Work Week website at or look at the posters that will be around town sometime soon! Bike to work. UNBC’s pellet fuel system. ONLINE SOURCE ONLINE SOURCE