Jillian Merrick elected as Prince George City Councillor

September 1, 2015
Jillian Merrick

BA Honours INTS, 2007

Here is Jillian’s story from International Studies to Prince George City Councillor in her own words:

In 2002, I had a choice to make. After spending a year abroad on an International Rotary Youth Exchange, I was keen to pursue a career in international development. At the time, only three universities in British Columbia offered an International Studies program: UBC, UVic, and UNBC. I had never been to Prince George before, but the prospect of small class sizes and a more intensive learning experience was appealing. A scholarship offer to attend UNBC sealed the deal.

After completing my first year of studies, I planned to return to my coastal hamlet hometown to live with my parents and sling coffee to save up for the next semester. I loaded my car with all my worldly possessions and traveled the 800+ kilometres back home. When I arrived, I received a life-changing phone call. Dr. Don Munton, founding chair of the UNBC International Studies program was offering me a summer research internship in Prince George. I didn’t even unpack. I just turned the car around and drove back north. It’s been twelve years since that day, and I’ve never looked back.

My career path and life goals have changed significantly since 2002, but my focus on small class sizes and intensive learning remain one of the most important parts of my education. My most memorable moments at UNBC were in tiny classrooms with less than ten students and professors who challenged us to dig far deeper than the pages of a textbook. During the course of my studies, I branched into an additional focus on Economics, recognizing the influence of economic systems on global relations. I became more involved with community projects and developed a love for work in the non-profit sector.

Since graduation, I've pursued a more 'local' career path, but the theories and principles that I learned the International Studies program still apply. Thanks to my education, I am well equipped to navigate the complex power relationships and legal frameworks inherent in local to global community change - an exercise I find myself performing every day in my new role as a local government elected official.

In 2014, I was elected a City Councillor in Prince George - a city that, prior to attending UNBC, I had never heard of. I am both the youngest city councillor on record and one of only two elected representatives to have earned a degree at UNBC. Perhaps not coincidentally, my Council colleague Garth Frizzell is also an International Studies graduate. While the election was certainly a life changing moment for me personally, I am beginning to recognize it also represents a change for the community as a whole. While students at UNBC may be studying the 'world out there', the impact of that learning can be seen, heard and felt in the local community.

Outside of my political duties, I still continue my work in the non-profit sector. Over the years I've managed many development projects that connect community with watersheds, forests and farmland. Most recently I developed a program to support the viability of the small farm business in northern BC. In a world of global commodity exchange, food production is rife with complex challenges and opportunities. Every day, my real world experiences build upon the foundation learning gained at UNBC.