Diversity, inclusion and culture were celebrated as the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) kicked off it’s first-ever Global U event.
The three-day event began this morning (March 19) with a special kickoff ceremony that included a traditional welcome, speakers and performance by Persian fusion band Navaz.
“Over the next three days Global U will highlight the rich global tapestry at UNBC,” said manager of International Education, Bjorn Petersen at the ceremony. “With students, faculty and staff of over 50 countries, there is a richness here that needs to be explored and celebrated.”
The jam-packed week features a variety of music, workshops, and even a special buffet with daily themed menus from different parts of the world.
The kick-off began with opening remarks form Lheidli T'enneh elder in residence Marcel Gagnon, as well as the traditional Indian practice of lighting a lamp organized by International Student assistant Badhri Narayanan.
Navaz performing at @UNBC’s Global U kickoff #CityofPG 🎶 pic.twitter.com/7tuSiRp7Ek
— Hanna Petersen (@hannaepeter) March 19, 2019
“We can take pride in welcoming students from around the world at this campus. It’s part of our mission to make this one of the top university destinations in the world,” said UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks.
“The timing couldn’t be more important to think about that today in light of what happened recently in New Zealand we need to take pause and think about the importance of inclusion and acceptance.”
UNBC’s director of International Education, Leonel Roldan-Flores says he hopes as Global U becomes bigger, it will become a part of the fabric of the community.
“This is the first time that we are holding this event,” Roldan-Flores tells PrinceGeorgeMatters. “In the past, we had the desire to do something like this, but it wasn’t until this year that we came together and did some planning.”
He says it’s important to highlight not only what international students bring to UNBC, but also international faculty and staff.
“I think in a multicultural place like Canada, we don’t celebrate that enough. I think it’s important given the times, with this blowback against diversity,” says Roldan-Flores. “It’s important in that context to have an event that celebrates diversity, that celebrates internationalism and that celebrates inclusion.”
The very serious topic of the importance of UNBC as a global university will also be tackled tomorrow (March 20) during the “Hot Wings Challenge”.
Roldan-Flores and Weeks will be taking on the subject as the two work their way through a platter of increasingly spicy chicken wings.
While Weeks has claimed there is not a hot wing made he cannot eat, Roldan-Flores is not so sure.
“I like hot food but I don’t know how hot it will become,” laughed Roldan-Flores.
“We wanted to come up with a way to discuss with the president a why international engagement is important without it being your boring panel,” he explains. “We wanted to make sure it was engaging, that it was fun and that people come and have a laugh.”
You can check out the remainder of events happening this week online, as Global U concludes this Thursday (March 21) with the last event happening at 5 p.m.
“I think UNBC has a leading role in Prince George in terms of highlighting the importance of international engagement, of diversity and of inclusion,” adds Roldan-Flores.
