Unique Fundraiser For New Program For North

Friday, December 10, 2010 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C. - The head of the Northern Technology and Engineering Society of B.C. is determined to see an engineering program for the north...

And Dr. Albert Koehler has come up with a unique idea that would allow stakeholders across the region to get in 'on the ground floor' -- he's selling bricks.

Bricks made of a mix of mountain pine beetle wood and concrete that, Dr. Koehler hopes, will then be used in the construction of a new engineering and technology facility. He plans to sell them for $100 each and have the name of the donor engraved into the brick.

Dr. Koehler, former president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, says support for such a centre includes the Provincial Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he says the issue has been raised twice before during provincial budget discussions and has made it on to the recommendations to the provincial government for inclusion in budget development.

Koehler says the program could be an expansion of the one that is running at UBC...much the same way as the Northern Medical Program is an extension of UBC's medical program. Unlike the overwhelming public support for a northern medical program generated at a rally at CN Centre in 2000, Dr. Koehler admits it's not an issue that generates a lot of public discussion. He adds engineers in the region are too busy to rally, but he says continuing to 'build the northern economy' is dependent on developing a regional engineering program.

Koehler says there is a great need for engineers that if there were 500 graduates this year, each one would have a job. He says the demand for engineers is only going to continue to grow as existing engineers reach their retirement age.

Anyone wanting to purchase a fundraising brick can email Dr. Koehler at akoehler@telus.net

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Posted on Friday, December 10, 2010 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: He spoke on December 10 2010 1:00 PM

500 this year, what about 4 years from now when they graduate. How about 72 a year, and give them all a chance to get a job when they graduate.

Why even worry about it. The NDP is gonna win the next election and BC will be in a recession three years later, and there will be no jobs for them anyway.

Posted by: Palopu on December 10 2010 10:22 PM

If the NDP wins the next election you can thank the bloody Liberals.

I cant beleive that the Liberals are so stupid that they cannot see that the HST is a millstone around their neck and it will sink them. They need to get rid of the HST as fast as possible. Get rid of it all together. No more BS.

The HST was nothing more than a huge gift for business and corporations at a huge cost to the average taxpayers. The Liberals tried to pull a fast one and they got caught. Now they are not smart enough to extract themselves from the bloody mess they got into.

If they had any guts they would tell business and corporations to SUCK IT UP . If business and corporations dont like to pay the PST then they can pack their bags and get the hell out of the Province. There are lots of business's who would be happy to replace them.

Its time for the Liberals to get a backbone and quit nuzzling their business cronies.

The alternative is to go into political oblivion for the next 20 years.

Posted by: slim67 on December 12 2010 9:55 AM

Palopu who do you work for? Why would so many businesses if they are on a waiting list not fill the many for lease and for sale properities in our fine community.
Do some research and see how many other provinces with the HST have done very well and in most cases the average tax payer pay's less. If the HST goes away so does the billions of dollars from the federal governement. Then see what our PST or other taxes will be. They will make it up somehow, then see who will be sucking it up.