Prince George , B.C.- The Province is providing $30,000 towards the cost of the third annual Northern Multicultural Health Fair to help promote and support healthy living in northern British Columbia.

The Annual Northern Regional Multicultural Health Fair entitled "Healthy Living Across Cultures" hosted by the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS), will be held from November 6 to November 8, 2008 in Prince George in conjunction with the annual "A Healthier You" Expo, hosted by Bond.  The event will be held at the Civic Centre.

"The Northern Regional Health Fair has proven to be an excellent way to share information with northerners about how to access health services and how they can make healthier choices," said Prince George- Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond. "I am delighted to be partnering with IMSS this year to expand the impact of two successful health events."

"The health fair provides workshops, guest speakers, activities and exhibits for B.C.'s multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic communities in the northern region," said IMSS executive director Baljit Sethi. "Our annual
event has proven to be an effective tool in promoting healthy living options for ethnic groups in the area. This year's event will be even better thanks in part to the ongoing support of the Province of B.C. and the partnership with Minister Bond."

Participants in this year's health fair will include Health Minister George Abbott, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Mary Polak and several guest speakers such as Silken Laumann and Dr. Larry Ohlhauser.

A new feature of this year's event will include the a roundtable hosted by Northern Friends of Children, a non-profit society whose mandate is to assist Northern B.C. children in medical need from birth to 19 years of age.