(L-R) Ken Watson, Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond, Dr. Charles Jago and Brian Savage at the construction site for the new $12-million health sciences centre.

PRINCE GEORGE - The province's northern medical school is a step closer to completion today as construction was launched on the new $12-million health sciences centre at the University of Northern B.C. said Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond.

"The new northern health sciences centre is part of our program to almost double the number of medical school graduates in B.C. - a commitment to northern British Columbians that Premier Campbell has ensured is a top priority for our government," Bond said. "The new medical school at UNBC is a major part of our New Era commitments to renew northern health care and expand our supply of health professionals."

Bond also announced that the $9.5-million building contract has been awarded to Wayne Watson Construction of Prince George.

The government announced its $134-million Life Sciences Initiative in March 2002 to increase the number of first-year medical school spaces in B.C. from 128 to 224 by 2005, including 24 new spaces at UNBC. The program includes a new Life Sciences Centre at the University of B.C., which is currently under construction, and satellite campuses at UNBC and the University of Victoria. Construction at UVic is expected to start this month as well.

This new, collaborative approach to medical training will allow students to take the first semester at UBC, then complete the program at UNBC and receive their medical degree from UBC. UNBC students will also serve their residency requirements in northern communities.

"Not only are we starting on the construction of our new northern health sciences centre, but I'm pleased to join UBC and UVic in announcing that we are now inviting prospective medical students to apply for our first class in 2004," said UNBC President Charles Jago. "All of us at UNBC - as well as the many communities around northern B.C. - are looking forward to welcoming the first medical students who will study in the North as part of B.C.'s expanded medical school."

"Bringing medical training to UNBC not only provides opportunities for students to study close to home, but is one more way that we're meeting the needs of patients in northern and rural communities by recruiting and retaining doctors," said Prince George North MLA Pat Bell.

The 4,000-square-metre health sciences centre will house the northern medical program and include labs, classrooms, small seminar rooms and a student common area. The centre will also showcase the use of wood in construction and be built next to the new laboratory addition. The new building will be ready by the fall of 2004