The Northern Economics Students Society (NESS) of the University of Northern British Columbia will be hosting a symposium next week on the economic impacts of the Prince George airport expansion.

“Our annual symposium provides an opportunity for students and others to hear from speakers who are applying their knowledge of economics to local issues,” says Neda Brkich, NESS President and a 4th year student in Political Science and International Studies, minoring in Economics. “Last year, we examined the potential economic impacts of the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. This year, we’ll be talking about whether Prince George is poised to “take off” with the airport. Our keynote speaker will be Michael Tretheway, a national expert on transportation economics.”

The symposium will be held on Wednesday, March 2 in the Bentley Centre. The schedule follows:

1:30pm Welcome by Neda Brkich

1:35 Greetings from Jim Randall, UNBC Dean of Arts, Social and Health Sciences

1:45 Mayor Colin Kinsley

1:55 Jim Blake, Chair of the Prince George Airport Authority

2:20 Stieg Hoeg, General Manager of the Prince George Airport

2:45 Michael Tretheway of InterVISTAS Consulting Inc. on what Prince George can expect from the Airport expansion

3:45 Kathy Scouten, Initiatives Prince George

 The symposium is open to the public.