UNBC To Offer New Business Program in Cariboo and Nechako Valley

October 30, 2008
In an effort to help support local opportunities for economic diversification, UNBC is offering a new Aboriginal and Small Business Leadership Certificate program in Williams Lake, Vanderhoof, and Quesnel.

The mountain pine beetle infestation has contributed to reduced employment levels in the forest industry throughout northern BC, leading to greater focus on economic diversification. Much of this diversification is expected to come through new small business initiatives. Many small businesses, however, fail in their first years, often because of a lack of skilled background in business ventures. While the failure rate for aboriginal businesses is much lower, the number of aboriginal small businesses remains a fraction of the overall total.

The five courses in the Certificate will be offered in Williams Lake, Quesnel and Vanderhoof and cover broad skills needed to succeed in small business ventures. Each course will be delivered over three consecutive three-day weekends. The courses will also transfer to the UNBC School of Business, which will provide the foundation necessary for students who are interested in completing a Commerce degree.

“This program is special in that it offers flexible, modular delivery of University programming in these three regional communities,” said Blanca Schorcht, UNBC’s South-Central Regional Chair, based at the Quesnel campus. “Students participating in this program will also receive support and follow-up for any business initiatives that they may generate. Thanks to an investment from Western Economic Diversification, the cost of the courses has been reduced to offer those individuals in communities hardest hit by the mountain pine beetle epidemic the best opportunity to participate in this training. Each course will cost only $150.”

Registrations are now being accepted for the first course, which will begin on November 28, following an orientation session on November 21.

For more information on the Aboriginal and Small Business Leadership Certificate, please contact Titi Kunkel at 250-991-7541 (1-800-627-9931 toll free) or email kunkel@unbc.ca. Information is also available online at www.unbc.ca/continuing_studies/certificates/businessleadership.html.

Media Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622