A Warm Welcome to the North!

By: Eric Bennett
Eric is the PT Student Society (PTSS) President, a member of the Northern and Rural Cohort and a second year MPT student.

 

 

The 2018-2020 NRC Cohort taking their annual photo in the UNBC plinth lab.

This past July saw 20 students of the current MPT2 cohort head up to Prince George, British Columbia for a four week academic block. Students part of the Northern Rural Cohort (NRC) stayed in dorms provided at the University of Northern British Columbia and received the warmest of welcomes from the PT and medical community in the area. Dr. Paul Winwood invited the NRC to his lakeside house for a welcome BBQ meant for new medical residents to assimilate with the town of Prince George, which they were to now call home. However this ended up serving as a great opportunity for PT students and medical residents to network in a casual environment, with great food!

The next week we were invited to the annual “Physiotherapy Moose BBQ” held at the Jenkin’s farm, which gave all the PT students an opportunity to network with local PTs and OTs, who attested to the power of practicing in the North. No words can truly describe the hospitality felt at this event, from the moment we stepped on to the Jenkin’s farm to the moment we left, with arms full of leftovers, there was no doubt that we were well taken care of, and part of the PT family in Prince George.

Some of the NRC class at Robin Roots’ place enjoying a bonfire

During our last week in Prince George, we were invited to the home of Robin Roots, the clinical education coordinator of the NRC, where we swam down the Nechako river, had a bonfire, and played a few rounds of Spike Ball (which Robin herself joined in on!).

The experience of the NRC is something that can go unmatched. For many students it was their first experience of the North, and even for the students originally from Prince George it was a great experience. Karissa Polsom, also a NRC member and PTSS Orientation Officer, shared “It was so special to share the hometown I know and love with the NRC cohort. It’s one thing to describe the culture and the lifestyle, but it’s another thing to have them there and experience all Prince George has to offer as a cohort and friends!”