Students in a UNBC Environmental Planning course will be putting their education to practical use this semester while working on a project for the Cariboo Regional District.

The 17 students will be developing a background report for the area immediately outside of the Williams Lake municipal boundaries. Essentially, the study will look at the best lands to accommodate future growth of the community.

“The first step will be to participate in an open house and visioning session in Williams Lake this Saturday, January 29th,” says professor John Curry. “We’ll also be compiling the results of a survey on fringe area development issues, preparing a report for the CRD, and then presenting that report to the Regional District’s meeting in March. The opportunity to participate in a project like this is of great benefit to the students and also provides the community with a tangible benefit at the end of the course.”

A number of UNBC classes have explored local development issues in communities throughout northern BC, on topics such as local history, air quality, and nature-based tourism.

“We’re very glad to be able to work with UNBC and have young minds and fresh ideas brought to the project,” says Planning Chair for the Board, Director Byron Kemp. “Community planning has been a priority for our Board of Directors for many years, and we recognize that by effective land use and development planning we can resolve many of the future issues that may effect our residents. An important part of our work is to coordinate with the City of Williams Lake. We want to see the valley planned as a complete whole and we’ll be working closely with the City to make sure our plans are consistent.”

UNBC’s School of Environmental Planning provides the only bachelor’s degree in Planning in western Canada. The program has three themes: natural resource planning, northern rural & community planning, and First Nations planning. For more information about the program, see www.unbc.ca/planning.