Prince George, B.C.-  There are proposed pipelines,  both  for  natural gas and bitumen,  mining development,  natural gas extraction,  liquefaction plants,  possible  hydro dam  construction, all construction projects that will have  a  major impact on Northern B.C.

UNBC is  hosting a two day  event that will focus  on the  cumulative effects  of all this development on  communities, the  environment, and  our health. Greg Halseth,  Geography Professor and  Director, Community Development Institute at UNBC  says  while many projects are  proposed, this  event is not a case of  closing the barn doors after the horses have  gone.  “We have to still continue to think about the different ways the activities we’ve done in the past , the activities we’re doing now and the things we might wish to do in the future  all continue  to  have implications for one another, so  we need to continue thinking about this very topical and timely  matter.”

Halseth says   much of the focus of  developments has been on  negative environmental impacts and how those impacts can be  mitigated,  “There is much more that we need to do.  One of the things we are trying to do with this conference is to bring  more to the  centre of these discussions, issues  more generally affecting communities and their development as well as health for populations and eco-systems.”

Halseth says the cumulative effects discussion is “much wider”   as it will look at possibilities, opportunities  challenges and constraints presented by  resource development.

The  event  starts at  3:30 this afternoon with a  talk about  provincial decision making for Crown land  and  resources,  will also be a public panel  this evening.

The panel session ( to take place in the Canfor Theatre 7-9 tonight ) will  feature  representatives from  a variety of sectors to discuss the  impact multiple  developments will have  on  Northern B.C..  In addition to presentations, there  will be an opportunity for  questions and discussion.    You can watch this event  online via Livestream.

Registration is already full for Saturday’s all day workshop  where participants can  reflect on what they heard Friday,  and hear   perspectives from researchers, community and  other sectors.

Halseth says his hope is that the event will “Foster a wider discussion and  awareness  of the cumulative effects of  resource development in the North”.  He says they will collate their findings and outcomes and capture  what people have been sharing on the issue  so those who  aren’t able to  attend  the session can have some  material on which to build and continue the  discussion.