Northern Health invitation discrepancy sparks concern at PRRD

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C – The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) board of directors has voted to send Chair Bradley Sperling to attend a Northern Health think tank event at the end of the month. 

During the October 3rd PRRD regional board meeting, the board of directors reviewed and discussed an invitation for the event, which is scheduled for October 27th in Vancouver. 

An invitation was not extended directly to the PRRD, and Sperling explained that the board only came to know this event was even occurring because they were notified by the mayor of McBride, B.C. 

To the board’s knowledge, no representatives from communities north of Prince George were initially invited to the event. 

Director Tony Zabinsky also voiced his thoughts on the situation, expressing curiosity as to why no invitations were initially extended north of Prince George.

“They know what’s going on up here. They understand the closures that are happening up here. We say we have a loud voice [but] it appears we don’t because they would have invited us. So I’m just wondering what we are missing here,” Zabinsky said. 

“I’m really concerned that they overlooked us, and what are we doing wrong that they have overlooked North of Prince George.”

Sperling stated he would bring the directors’ concerns to meetings he will attend in the coming weeks with Northern Health in Prince George ahead of the think tank event.