Due North Info Bulletin - 16 March 2026
An audio bulletin for the week of March 16th 2026
This week in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh the weather outlook holds clouds & precipitation, though starting off with great air quality.
Some municipal events of note:
The RCMP is alerting the public to be aware of Romance scams & Sextortion.
Local conservation group Conservation North announced that UK based pellet manufacturer & energy provider DRAX will stop burning wood from BC within the next year.
The Two Rivers Art Gallery exhibit From Far and Wide: The Soundscapes carries on to April 6th
On Tuesday the City's Public Standing Committee on Public Safety meets.
A Seed Starting Workshop takes place at the PG Public Library March 21st at the Nechako branch.
and March 27th will see the first Thrash Metal Rock Opera to ever be performed in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh, Space Race
More to come on Due North, your local source of news, updates, events, & information. Airing weekdays at 7am & 5pm on CFURadio 88.7FM / www.cfur.ca/listen-live.
and March 27th will see the first Thrash Metal Rock Opera to ever be performed in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh, Space Race
Stay tuned to CFURadio 88.7FM & www.cfur.ca/listen-live for local news, updates, events, & information. Due North airs weekdays at 7am & 5pm.
- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Boomhauer has hot info for you
If you like locally grown veggies & produce, consider locally produced journalism from your friendly community-campus radio station
Check out our stories on FrequencyNews.ca
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Point Up 2026 Juno Nominees Part 2
Point Up Episode: Listening to and talking about the femme nominees in all categories for a 2026 Juno Award. Part 2
Queer Clothing Swap Returns to UNBC Campus
The Northern BC Queer Connections Society (NBCQCS) has been hosting Queer Clothing Swap and Sew events for over a year, creating opportunities for up-cycling, economical fashion, and self expression. One of which was held at late February’s Voices & Culture Summit at the Prince George Civic Centre.
One might not think of a clothing swap as a valuable resource for artistic expression, and skill building, but local Drag artist Iris highlighted just that in her presentation “The Magic of Drag” at the conference.
Opportunities to practice sewing have been available at the events, alongside opportunities for costuming, and networking with community. These are all critical aspects to supporting a solid drag routine, and have the added benefit of sustainability.
Confirming this benefit, was UNBC’s Faculty of Environment Dean, Dr. Nicola Koper who happened to be volunteering at the summit’s clothing swap. CFURadio captured her efforts to divert clothing from the landfill, and encourage all to attend the upcoming Queer Clothing Swap and Sew on UNBC campus’s NUSC Space on Sunday March 15th, 1-4pm.
- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
If you like locally grown veggies & produce, consider locally produced journalism from your friendly community-campus radio station
Check out our stories on FrequencyNews.ca
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Defense Metals Corp. Wicheeda Project near Bear Lake selected by CMO for permitting support
The audio has been edited form its original presentation to include more accurate, and better detailed information regarding the processing of ore as it pertains to rare earth elements.
Projected to open in 2030, the rare earth element mine’s primary minerals of interest would be neodymium & praseodymium oxide (NDPR). These elements provide materials needed for the manufacture of rare earth magnets, electric vehicles, cell phones, medical equipment and a wide array of other technology. Strengthening the prospect of this development, the BC Government’s Critical Minerals Office (CMO) announced on February 23rd that the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project has been selected, with two other mines in the Province, as an advanced project. This identifies projects for early co-ordination support as they prepare for environmental assessment and future permitting processes. President & CEO of Defense Metals, Mark Tory, joined us over the line to chat about what this designation means for the local project from his perspective.
If the project reaches production, it is estimated to generate about 400 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs. This activity brings up the question of Northern BCs potential capacity to process the mined minerals in a downstream industry. Tory confirms that about 90% of the metal conversion, and processing & refining relating to rare earth metals occurs in China, and there is an interest in developing that capacity in Canada.
Despite his position as a producer, and not a finished product manufacturer, we asked Tory about how that secondary industry could be encouraged. Tory asserted a fundamental aspect, “There needs to be a surety of supply,” he continued, “not only just outside of China but also outside of the US.” For localized refining of the mineral to happen, investment would also have to occur, on that front Tory mentioned EU relations, “The recent strengthening of relationships with the EU and Canada is also a real positive in the potential for us to go to the EU and the EU coming to us and invest in that downstream processing.” In short, the raw material would have to appear in abundance before investments in refining that raw material appear.
Recently returned from a trip to Europe as part of a trade delegation, Tory has a to-do list for moving the Wicheeda project farther down the road. His agenda includes a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), getting results from a Pilot Test Plant via the "benefaction" process, and attending the PDAC conference in Toronto where logistics solutions & investment may be discovered. Fitting its piece into the Province’s larger economic puzzle, only time will tell whether elements below the surface change the fortunes of Bear Lake or not.
- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stay tuned to CFURadio 88.7FM & www.cfur.ca/listen-live for local news, updates, events, & information. Due North airs weekdays at 7am & 5pm.
Check out our stories on FrequencyNews.ca
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The Big Sib Radio Show Episode 39!
With a special guest! Lots of laughs and big feelings :)
On Earth Radio Hour - Episode 1 - Greetings, Earthlings! -20260311
On Earth Radio Hour… Episode 1!
In this brand new show, you can expect a random assortment of music and a lot of enthusiasm. Today’s episode introduces your host, Kiki, and some of the unique interests they are going to bring to you each week. Highlights from this first episode include: songs about fish, songs about birds, songs about caves, and a dash of bagpipes.
PS: Don’t forget to watch Angine de Poitrine! They are a visual experience that cannot be captured by radio alone:
Voices & Culture Summit Returns to Hearten Local 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
For only the second time in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh’s history, a conference celebrating queer culture was held this February 2026. The first, being held almost as a dry run this past September 2025, went well enough to expand upon the themes of community voices, artists, service providers, and people doing grassroots work for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community across Northern BC.
Panels on Two-Spirit identity, Entertainment & Production, and more were peppered amidst a drag story time, a zine creation workshop, and other opportunities to express & gain perspective. The day was not strictly academic though, as the evening capped the summit off with a gala featuring burlesque, a drag infused runway-inspired fashion show, and plenty of dancing.
V&C Panel: Organizing Pride in Northern Communities
The Northern BC Queer Connections Society (NBCQCS) spearheaded the event dubbed the Voices & Culture Summit, and in so doing revealed they had bridged a gap amongst related local non-profits. At the event, NBCQCS Executive Director Laura Binette and Prince George Pride Society Secretary Heather Hillier announced on stage that their separate organizations would now collaborate to bring together the annual Pride Parade and Pride Picnic into one event this summer, on July 4th.
That welcome news added to the general sense of fulfillment that populated the Prince George Civic Centre during the summit. Many attendees remarked how heartened they felt to witness and be a part of such a gathering in Northern BC. While some wished there was a larger presence of elected officials, local artist Bowie, noted the significance of the event’s visibility, “It feels symbolic to have a huge queer event like this in the heart of downtown.”
- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Local Author Samantha Alleman holds a recently published poetry collection, “The Lightning Path”
Stay tuned to CFURadio 88.7FM & www.cfur.ca/listen-live for local news, updates, events, & information. Due North airs weekdays at 7am & 5pm.
If you like locally grown veggies & produce, consider locally produced journalism from your friendly community-campus radio station
Check out our stories on FrequencyNews.ca
Podcast RSS url:
A number of local artists brought their work to showcase and sell throughout the course of the day.