CN provides major donation to keep medical doctors in the North

April 6, 2005 -- CN today announced it will donate $300,000 to the Northern Medical Programs Trust to help train and retain physicians in northern BC.
The NMP Trust is a partnership between northern communities and the University of Northern British Columbia designed to improve health care by educating physicians in the north. To date, some 25 communities have pledged to raise more than $4 million toward the total endowment of $6 million. CN’s support will be credited to the pledges of Northern BC communities where the company operates. With the CN donation, fundraising for the Northern Medical Programs Trust has surpassed $2 million.
“CN has operations in northern communities like Hazelton, Terrace, Williams Lake and Quesnel and we know how important it is to have skilled medical professionals available to meet the needs of northern residents,” says Peter Marshall, CN’s senior vice president, Western Canada.  “There is a chronic shortage of doctors in small communities and rural areas, and we hope that our support will help encourage them to build their practices where the need is greatest.”
Mr. Marshall presented a cheque to Dr. Charles Jago, President of the University of Northern British Columbia at a reception and dinner in Prince George on April 6.  CN’s contribution will be paid over five years.
“We are delighted that CN has become a generous partner and a permanent member of the NMP Trust,” says Dr. Jago.  “Their gift will make a huge difference in our fundraising campaign, and ultimately in the quality of health care available to the people of the North.”
The Northern Medical Program has been guided by a simple concept: if physicians are educated in northern BC, they will be more likely to practice in northern and rural areas. The program integrates state-of-the-art technology with a particular focus on training future doctors who have the skills and attitude to practice in northern communities.  The NMP is part of the expansion of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and delivered in partnership with UNBC.
Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.