Prince George’s Safe Streets Bylaw scrutinized by expert

A presentation and panel discussion was held March 12th 2026 at the House of Ancestors in downtown Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh, critiquing the city’s Safe Streets Bylaw. University of Toronto Scarborough’s Sociology Dept. Chair Dr. Joe Hermer took an interest in the subject in the bylaw after he was contacted by the BCAFN in 2021. At the event, he summarized his publicly available report, The Complaint is the Crime for the assembled crowd. He primarily spoke to five aspects of the research which included recommending an immediate moratorium on the enforcement of the bylaw’s open drug use section, identifying dubious criteria for enforcing various aspects of the bylaw, and encouraging better communication between bylaw enforcement and assorted outreach services or agencies during encounters.

Notably, a number of outreach, social-service, frontline, and municipal workers were in attendance alongside some elected municipal officials. CFURadio separately caught up with Dr. Hermer, Mayor Simon Yu, and Councillor Trudy Klassen for comment after the presentation, whereupon Dr. Hermer issued plainly:

The city has to start being honest or more frank. This is enforcement. It has impacts. It is a real law. It has to be followed lawfully. Let’s not get into vague sort of discussions around being education. Let’s take it for what it is. That’s law enforcement, and it has impacts. Let’s start the conversation there, instead of pretending it’s something else to obscure, potentially, a real critical discussion.

UNBC's 'Count Us In' Survey

You may have seen the email in your @UNBC inbox, or maybe a handbill or two on a table around campus advertising UNBC’s Count Us In Survey, open until April 1st (no joke). The data collected is intended to inform the further development of an equitable and inclusive environment for UNBC students, staff, and faculty.

This anonymous survey is the first of a series to be launched year over year. In this instance, various demographics are sought. The data is intended to help meet UNBC’s regulatory needs, and among other things, measure progress towards its institutional priorities.

Mindy Gobbi - Manager of UNBC’s office of Equity and Inclusion

UNBC’s office of Equity and Inclusion manager Mindy Gobbi spoke to CFUR about the survey so you can know more before taking the five minute plunge.

Will Happily Ever After, or Happy For Now, do for this International Women’s Day?

On International Women’s Day 2026, an SFU Limited Term Lecturer Dr. Reema Faris visited Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh and hosted a discussion on the relationship between women, reading, and power at Books & Co. The discussion centred around her research, which in part, examines Happily-Ever-After and Happy-For-Now (HEA-HFN) narratives. She argues that an overwhelming presence of these narratives in media tends to influence our understanding of what a typical relationship is, creating expectations for ourselves and others.

In our March 8th conversation, Dr. Faris validated the choice to have a heterosexual marriage and a number of children, but highlighted that there are more just as valid options. While reading can offer different global perspectives, Dr. Faris noted that localized selections offer alternative perspectives too:

Have you read memoirs of folks who have immigrated to Northern BC? Have you read what it’s like for them? Because if you read what it’s like for them, it might open your eyes to things that you might have to address in your own community. It’s not just about looking elsewhere. It’s even understanding where we are in a particular moment. Let alone, as we talked about, the history that shaped the place that we occupy or that we live in.

Reading provides entertainment, but it also offers a window into local histories that could otherwise be unconsidered as we make choices that affect our communities and families. We asked Dr. Faris about what she feels we have access to in Northern BC that expands our understanding beyond current norms, as opposed to narrowing them. Dr. Faris extolled the opportunity post-secondary education provides saying, “Online learning is not the same as in-person learning. It works for some people. It doesn’t work for everybody.” She continued, “I think that if we believe in ‘better’ for Northern BC, or anywhere else in the world, it is tied to education.” She illustrated some concerns and noted, “I hope people will do what they can to ensure the health of the education sector here in Northern BC.”

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


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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:

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

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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

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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.


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