4 news October, 4 2011 - Over the Bdge UNBC BECOMES A MEMBER OF CANADA WEST UNBC timberwolves now quality fo play in the big-leagues. HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR UNBC has officially become a full “member of the Canada West Univer- sities Athletics Assosiation. Canada West is one of Canada’s top Univer- sity athletic associations and UNBC will be competing: in both basketball and soccer. UNBC first applied for membership in 2008, but the initial application was denied. UNBC re- applied this year for both basketball and soccer and the application was finally accepted. Canada West is one of four con- ferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sports. The organization is comprised of now 16 schools from the provinces Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Note-able members include the University of Alberta, UBC, the University of Cal- gary, and the University of Victoria among others. UNBC UNBC's Official Sports Talk radio show Pius all your UNBC Timberwolves and Local sports news Live Tuesday Nights @ 6pm UNBC needed the support of at least 75% of Canada West member- ship, and received more than 84% support for joining the league. UNBC is now a probationary full-member of the Association. “I am very excited of our region, our amazing fans, and our student- athletes and coaches as we take this large step forward to bringing the best and brightest to UNBC and our community,” says UNBC President George Iwam. “Canada West’s deci- sion allows their association to reach the very deserving families and youth of northern British Columbia and fur- ther provides UNBC the opportunity to be a sport leader in the region.” “Though we know that the transi- tion to Canada West may not be with- out some short-term challenges, we are excited,” continues Dr. Iwama. SPORT STUDIO Podcast available ~ “As a community, we have witnessed great accomplishments by our stu- dent-athletes and their unwavering pursuit of excellence will only be strengthened by this decision.” UNBC will begin playing in the league in the 2012-2013 year. Stu- dents will look forward to cheering on the guys and girls of the timber- wolves basketball and soccer teams play notable rivals like UBC in the coming seasons. The fan base of the Timberwolves is already quite strong but no doubt competing in this new league will put even more spirit and support into UNBC’s athletics. Your Source for everyting: NFL, NBA, ML, NHL & MMA! Gines With Hosts: Justin Rodger ‘The Official Voice of UNBC Timberwolves Basketball” & Co-host Puneet Hayer ‘Over the Edge Sports Editor’ Answering your e-mails and phone calls live on the air E-MAIL: SPORTSTUDIO@CFUR.CA 88.7 FM CFUR.CA 94.7 Cable PG Hotel PRINGE GEORGE TO GET A WOOD INNOVATION AND DESIGN CENTRE The future wood building wil target PG's forestry industry HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR The site of the Prince George Hotel downtown has been slated to become the new home of a future building that will be called the Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC). Premier Christy Clark confirmed the project, which will see a 10 story wood build- ing constructed in Prince George’s very own downtown core. The project is unique because the building will primarily be constructed with wood that will make it the world’s tallest multi-use wood building. The WIDC ‘is intended to revitalize the forest in- dustry and create support for genera- tions of jobs in local and rural econ- omies. The building will potentially house UNBC programs, space for the province to utilize, as well as com- mercial retail space. Architectural firms and engineers are already being sought to submit designs for the centre, which Premier Christy Clark says could be under construction by this time next year. “The work, training, and research coming out of the Wood Innovation and Design Centre will expand the scope and size of our market, creat- ing good paying jobs throughout the province,” says Clark. Skeptics question whether it is possible for one building made of wood to achieve so much. The build- ing is proposed to highlight new and innovative wood building products and techniques. However, the pow- ers of this new centre, beyond novelty value and office space, have not been made explicit as of yet. It can only be speculated how the new building will affect the finer points of a resource based economy, and create those jobs for generations to come. “We are extremely pleased to hear that the province is moving ahead with its proposed Wood Innovation and Design Centre,” says Prince George Mayor Dan Rogers. “With downtown catalyst projects like this one, we will continue to build the city and region’s future as a knowledge- based resource economy, connected to the world.” The 10-story centre can be con- sidered one of the first major efforts made to salvage Prince George’s dismal downtown culture. While the centre will undoubtedly increase the amount of people coming through the downtown area, no evidence exists as to whether the wood structure will make people more invested in spending their time and money on the streets of downtown Prince George as opposed to the more popular malls and big box stores. If all else fails, Prince George will be able to join the “world’s biggest club” in an official capacity with the admission of “world’s biggest wood building”. We can hope that down- town’s downward trend does not hold and there does not have to be a sub- mission of “world’s biggest empty wood building” instead. ly