In the glorious wilderness of northern British Columbia, ancient glaciers, dense forests and wild animals are a constant reminder of the magnificence of the natural world. Located within this landscape is the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), a unique institution that was formed by, and for, the local community and which proudly calls itself “Canada’s Green University,” as a testament to the seriousness with which it takes its commitment to the planet and its people.
“That has been a driving force for us,” says UNBC President, Dr Geoffrey Payne. “We have really tried to use that moniker to drive the decisions we make. We recently relaunched our strategic review and pledged to take the idea of a ‘green university’ to the next level of sustainability – we are looking at sustainability in terms of climate, land, water, communities and people through education, research and community impact.”
UNBC was formed 30 years ago after 16,000 members of the local community pledged $5 each to begin the process of founding a university for the region. On 17 August 1994, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the campus in Prince George to officially open the university. A plaque commemorates those 16,000 pioneers, and – with pleasing symmetry – UNBC has recently graduated its sixteen thousandth student. The students come from all over the world to study at a university that has developed an international reputation for making a global impact around sustainability, community and natural resources, thanks to an innovative approach to study in areas such as green energy.
“We are a small but nimble university and punch well above our weight, and we are proud of that,” says Payne. “Over 30 years, the students, faculty and staff have changed as the world has changed. This is a natural resource-driven part of the country with a lot of forestry and mining, and we don’t want to stop that, we want to do it better and more efficiently. We talk about developing local solutions that are globally relevant. We aren’t striving to just meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals or net zero – we want to go further than that.”
The university set up a Green Fund in 2009 using proceeds from parking charges. The fund provides grants for students, faculty and staff who have developed projects that can make a demonstrative difference to sustainability at UNBC. This approach is not just about the environment, however; it is also about building sustainable communities and businesses. To this end, the university works alongside Indigenous communities to share learning and experiences, as well as educational opportunities, while also forging close relationships with local businesses.
“A majority of our graduates stay in this region, so the university is an essential driver of qualified personnel for local industries. Students in the 21st century want more than just a degree, they want fulfilling experiences, exciting opportunities and a meaningful career at the end of it.”
UNBC provides students with a good pathway into employment, and that helps the university to have a strong relationship with local employers. “I am a strong believer in partnerships. Individually we can do great things, but collectively we can do so much more,” says Payne.
Above all, “we are always true to who we are. The pillars of this institution will always be natural resources, science and sustainability, forging relationships with Indigenous peoples, and communities. We have never wavered from that focus even as they have evolved.”
