Northern Connections: Strengthening Relationships in Prince George and UNBC

At the beginning of April, PCPE’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Mandy Young, travelled to Prince George to strengthen relationships with community organizations, UNBC faculty and support staff, students, and Patient Partners. This visit marked a key step in expanding UBC Health’s commitment to meaningful, place-based engagement across the province.

The visit focused on outreach, recruitment, and introducing the Coordinator role to northern communities. Activities included one-on-one meetings with faculty and staff, classroom visits supporting the UBC Teaching & Learning Enhancement Fund Universal Design for Learning (UDL) initiative, student and community meet-and-greet events, and the delivery of an in-person Patient Voices Workshop titled “Voices in Serious Mental Health: Compassionate Care”, in collaboration with The Foundry and the BC Schizophrenia Society.

A visit to the Fire Pit (Positive Living North) also offered space for a powerful sharing circle with Elders and community members with lived and living experience of addiction, unhoused, mental health and stigma.

Throughout the trip, several important insights surfaced. Accessibility and transportation to the UNBC campus remain significant barriers for some community members. Students shared candid reflections about navigating both personal and professional roles in a small community, where lines between service user and provider can blur. Faculty emphasized the importance of local context and campus culture in shaping engagement strategies. And a spontaneous, cross-disciplinary student conversation about patient partnership reminded us how in-person moments can spark connection, learning, and genuine curiosity.

This trip also laid the foundation for future collaboration, with community partners generously offering introductions to expand UBC Health’s local network. Feedback from the visit is already shaping next steps, including better timing of events, improved outreach to students, and continued efforts to build long-term, trust-based relationships—particularly with Indigenous communities.

Want to get involved or learn more about partnering with UBC Health in Prince George? Reach out to Mandy (Community Engagement Coordinator) at mandy.young@ubc.ca – we’d love to hear from you!