oF AN INTENSE lobbying campaign urging the pro- vincial government to pay for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program here is about to start, More than 100 prospec- tive students, instructors and health care providers attended a Feb. 13 session here to discuss plans for a ‘University of Northern “ B.C.-Norihwest Commun-. ity College degree. pro- gram. The plan is for students to take the first two years of the program at the col- lege and the final two years through the univers-. ity here. Practicum placements in northwestern hospitals atid other health care faci- lities are also needed. ’ Graduates would then be free to pursue registered nurse status. Local education offi- ‘cials- were ecstatic with the Feb. 13 turn out, say- ing that a number of po- tential instructors came forward, While there’s a short- age of registered nurses, there’s an even more criti- cal shortage of instructors, noted college president Stephanie Forsyth. “We now know there are people qualified to teach here,” she said. — What’s wanted here is College examines Rupert campus tenders NORTHWEST COM- MUNITY College and other officials are this: week examining the five bids. submitted. to. build, tb institation’s it Rupert campus, “Yellowbridge, a Port Moody company, is the low bidder at $9.368 mil- - lion, college president Stephanie Forsyth said last week after tenders were opened Feb. 14. A northern company, Wayne Watson, submitted a tender of $10.738 million - followed by Smith Bros. Wilson of Vancouver at. $10.44 million, Western Industrial of Prince George at $9,978 million, and Swagger Construction of. Abbotsford at $9.513 mil- - lion. The latter company re- ceived the contract to build the new Skeena Ju- nior Secondary School. Bids are examined not only on the basis of money but on ability to da the ‘work, campus development is projected to cost more than $10 million in total. Construction is to slart this. spring witha sche-. duled completion date of. the summer of 2004. The college is now lo- cated in several leased lo- cations in Prince Rupert. Te twee “6 ihaow alan com Cheee A ia pore ow eat B90 TTBS Northwest Smile Design Center -— DLBA Okimi he, Fen Seri, Ful Foc Oden, TA. * Serving the Northwest for 10 years * Full Fate Orthodontic Core © lavisalign - the invisuble braces * TAL), Treatment * Porcelain Crowns and Veneers -# Teeth Whitening {Bleaching} # latex Free Office Dr. Peter. A. Okimi 200-4619 Park Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 1V5_ [250] 635-7611 Header = 2 2 ars The new Prince Rupert an integrated program in which students entering the college automatically move on up to the univers- ity- level. It would be similar to a program already in place between the Coilepe of New Caledonia in Prince George and the University of Northern BC (UNBC) campus there, The. pood news is that the college here already offers all but two of the re- quired first and second year science courses, said Forsyth, “Next is lo work with UNBC on a proposal and to lobby the provincial government,” said Forsyth.’ “We're. asking people write their MLA and lobby -hard,” _ she added. - of UNBC’s western region, that to be: worked oul, Leslie King, the chair Well-attended meeting way to promote nursin foresees a program size of 24 students — 16 of whom would start at the college and another eight spaces for those who could trans- fer in for the final two years from other institu- tions. One advantage is that UNEC already has a nur- Sing degree program, Meaning that. a Terrace- based one wouldn't have to go through the kind of approval process that a brand new one would face, said King, “The big task is to get the [nursing] spaces ap- proved by the govern- ment,” she said. Program costs have yet King continued. Optimistically, a pro- gram wouldn’t start until: - fall 2004, she said. King said the chair of oYour: Genera: Deaters Stephanie Forsyth (he nursing program in Prince George, Dr. John - Cuicliffe, was impressed with what he saw at the Feb. 13 meeting. _ “It's a huge challenge, | but itis possible,” she” said. “We don’t have winter weekends like this on the prairies.” From $69 to $79, double occupancy, including continental breakfast. Welcome to our winter weekend specials, Tour Victoria — Shop Vancouver - Ski and Wine Tour the interior - then relax ina clean comfortable room with great beds, Perfect. - * Valid Friday, Saturday, Sunday to March 31/03. 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