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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.

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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.

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A number of local artists brought their work to showcase and sell throughout the course of the day.

Due North Info Bulletin - 9 March 2026

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An audio bulletin for the week of March 9th 2026

This week in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh the weather outlook appears to be on a cooling trend, though that hasn’t tempered the amount of events coming our way. Wrestling, a business fair, live music, and public skating are all on the agenda.

Some municipal events of note:

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

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The 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni, or Weaving Words, festival returns for 21st year

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For just over twenty years the 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni, or Weaving Words, festival has emerged each spring in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh to become what is now among Canada’s longest running indigenous literary festivals. Since 2005 it has brought indigenous authors, creators and wordsmiths together for an accessible summit of storytelling.

This 2026 the festival focuses on the theme “Yinka Ghunek 'Udada ~ Land, Language, and Story,” bringing authors & performers like Katarena Vermette, Kym Gouchie, G̱a̱mksimoon and Richard Van Camp together while festival originator, scholar Paul Michel, also returns for the opening gala on March 4th. Our city does not have a reputation as a literary epicentre, but well known authors come and return to 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni year after year. Dr. Rob Budde has some idea why, “we’re well known as a destination writers desire.” He also noted, “Richard Van Camp has called our festival the storyteller’s storytelling festival, because it’s partly about the connections between the authors and storytellers that come in.”

It stands to reason that after twenty years of consistently hosting a literary festival, a community would emerge around it. As has been the case since its inception, festivalgoers can access every 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni event free of charge, and be a part of its community as well.

'Ut'loo Noye Khunni, or Weaving Words, festival runs March 4th to 7th, across virtual spaces, UNBC Campus, at Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors), Books & Co., and Omineca Arts Centre.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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Space Race: the local dystopian Thrash Metal Rock Opera of the Future

In the vein of King Diamond’s narrative focused material, a local group of friends drawn together through their shared grief of a lost friend and passion for thrash metal, have spawned a rock opera that debuts this month.

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Space Race follows a protagonist who rises to the challenge of winning back our planet’s freedom in the face of an alien invasion. The creation of this sci-fi thrash opera didn’t happen overnight. Local musician Travis Moore began composing tracks which would become feature components for the piece a few years ago, initially without a clear direction, as a form of processing the impact of a close friend’s untimely death.

Left to Right: Nick Tindale on drums, David Baycroft on guitar & vocals, Travis Moore on guitar & vocals, Drew Gray on lead guitar

Simply by speaking to friends about what he was up to, others joined the project. The group, also comprised of percussionist Nick Tindale, David Baycroft on guitar & vocals, lead guitar Drew Gray, Marco Perry on visuals and formerly Colton Boyd on guitar, diligently crafted the homage to their fallen friend. The process of healing led to an unlikely, but positive, outcome that they can all be proud of.  While the event will be the first thrash metal rock opera in Northern BC, though Moore notes, “that’s the thing that breaks my heart, is that he never got to hear any of it.” An audience in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh will finally be able to hear part one of the opera’s two part presentations though, on Friday March 27th, 7pm at Omineca Arts Centre.

Tickets $20 at the door.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter


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CNC’s NorthWorks Career Fair Sees Healthy Attendance

Listen Here

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The College of New Caledonia (CNC) held its annual NorthWorks Career Fair this February 2026 with a crowd of students and recruiters on hand. 2025 saw a competitive local market for entry level jobs, and while not every gig at the fair was for a first year apprentice, the employers at CNC’s event were hoping to fill myriads of roles with post-secondary graduates and students.

Photo Credit - College of New Caledonia
Note: None of the students pictured here were part of the associated audio recording

Gail Little, Manager of Student Success and Retention mentioned there seemed to be a theme that emerges each year: 

In prior years were more non-profit or healthcare, and this year we’re noticing a higher intake of trades. Mining companies, Finning is here, engineering companies, so we can see that the focus is definitely more on the trades area this year.

While jobs were on offer in the Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh area, many were located throughout BC’s northern region. Students seemed interested in the prospects of nearly every opportunity regardless of location, excepting Vancouver according to one Automotive Collision and Refinishing student. Have a listen.

Ian Gregg, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two Rivers Gallery Turns Its Ear Towards Interactive Soundscapes In New Exhibit

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While we may tend to think of art as something to look at, Two Rivers Gallery has brought in an exhibit you can hear and even feel. Curator Ehsan Mo spoke with CFURadio about the gallery’s auditory experience on display in their exhibit From Far and Wide: The Soundscapes.

Artists Anju Singh of British Columbia, Mathieu Léger of New Brunswick and Ian Foster of Newfoundland and Labrador echoed the idea of “home” as an influential concept for their work, but all presented radically different interpretations in this collection. When asked if the exhibit changed his own experience of living in Prince George–Lhiedli T’enneh, Mo exclaims, “Of Course!” He went on to note disparate experiences park to park, in the forest and on the pavement, “These things add another layer to the way that I understand the place I’m living.”

The interactive exhibit runs from February 5th to April 6th this 2026, at no charge to visitors.


Ian Gregg, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out the story on Frequency News


Third Annual BHM Exhibit at Two Rivers Gallery Draws from Community Fabric

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Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George-Lheidli T’enneh’s preeminent art gallery welcomes back Black History Month with an official exhibit for the third time in recent history. Heading the exhibition and showcase event is Public Programming Coordinator Maya Levy, who has made it her prerogative to represent local talent & expertise. A variety of keynote speakers and hands-on workshops will be open to the public, but so will a collection of art touching on this year's theme, “Community Roots.” Participants are able to bring an item that represents an aspect of their culture and incorporate it into a tree on display, creating an interactive piece that reflects diversity in the local community.

Until February 14th, anyone who identifies in the black diaspora who has created a visual art piece they’d like to share are invited to submit their piece for consideration to the gallery.

The online submission form can be found here.

Featuring visual art, musicians, keynote speakers and more, on Friday February 27th, Levy says, “it’s really for everyone in Prince George to really come out and support and learn about a new culture that they maybe haven’t before.”

This LJI story is also available on FrequencyNews.ca

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Picaroon Pictures Presents Psychological Thriller: Hypnonaut

Picaroon Pictures has announced the premiere of “Hypnonaut,” a new short film that strikes into the thrilling depths of Sci-Fi Horror. This locally directed and produced feature was masterminded by director Jonathan Chuby and written by R.D. Muirhead. A cast & crew of roughly 50 people was assembled in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh over the past year to bring the project into fruition, with financial aid from TELUS Storyhive Editions.

Set Designer/Actor Bradley Charles joins us in the CFUR studio with the film’s Cinematographer Sam Ellis to keep us in suspense ahead of the March 13th Premiere at the Prince George Playhouse. In summary:

The story follows Jacob (Chase Wamderdam), suffering from fatal insomnia, whose rare condition is not just extreme, but fatal. Desperate to survive, Jacob seeks out an experimental treatment at a secluded sleep clinic in northern British Columbia, run by the enigmatic Dr. Stygian (Gil Botelho). But the scientist’s motives may be more sinister than therapeutic. 

Hypnonaut’s script was written about 8 years ago, and what may appear as a leap into this project now is actually the result of many prior stepping stones. While the team has its share of credentials with Charles’ live theatre directing credits, Sam Ellis’s Emmy in cinematography, & Jonathan Chuby’s Indie Series Award, that isn’t where they started. While the collective accreditations may indeed be serious, Charles speculates that the film’s funding application was secured because of its heavy reliance on the Northern BC setting and the crew’s proven track record. While the project experimented with a number of techniques in order to build the crew’s skill set, Charles emphasized, “If you can prove that you have capacity to do something, you’re that much closer to getting that funding.” 


Get your tickets on Studio 2880’s site by searching Hypnonaut

The March 13th premiere promises more than just the screening of Hypnonaut, but also a live performance which takes advantage of the crew’s experience in theatre, as well as a curated selection of Picaroon short flicks ready for the big screen.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tickets

Northern BC Queer Connection Society hosts February Voices & Culture Summit

The Northern BC Queer Connection Society (NBCQCS), a non-profit here in Prince George–Lheildi T’enneh tested the waters by holding the first 2SLGBTQIA+ event of its kind, a conference, this past September 2025. Rolling forward with that momentum, the organization is hosting the Voices & Culture summit Friday, February 27th 2026. Executive Director, Laura Binette, says one of the lessons learned from the last go-round was, “Hey, we’ve got to market a lot more!” Feedback was positive, but there was room to grow, and this February’s event hosted at the Prince George Civic Centre has the capacity.

As a professional event planner, Binette knows how to throw a party, and the NBCQCS has a reputation for hosting solid soirées. September’s conference at the Treasure Cove Casino & Resort was impactful, though a relatively subdued affair. This February’s summit meanwhile, has some scheduled fun to soak in alongside the seminars with a night market, film preview, and evening gala planned.

Besides a good time, attendees can expect a day of interactive panels, workshops, and collaborative community projects focused on supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community across Northern BC.

In case any prospective attendees get cold feet, Binette wants people to know they are welcome, “It’s a learning opportunity. As long as you’re coming, and your heart is open, and you’re being kind, come on over. Ask questions, and just be part of the whole event, and a whole opportunity to just be a part of this community.”

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More Information

CFURadio Spoke with NBCQCS Executive Director, Laura Binette about the February 2026 Voices & Culture Summit

Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

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