I arrived at Northern Lights College on a crisp May morning when the campus still held the lingering chill of a northern spring. Students hurried between buildings with coffee cups clutched in mittened hands, a reminder that seasons here don’t follow the same rhythms as they do in Vancouver. The modest campus in Fort St. John represents something increasingly precious in British Columbia’s north: a pathway to healthcare careers that doesn’t require leaving home.
“We’ve been at capacity for five years straight,” explains Dr. Loren Mayhew, Dean of Health Sciences at Northern Lights College, gesturing toward the simulation lab where nursing students practice basic procedures. “For every student we accept, we turn away three qualified applicants. The demand is overwhelming, but our infrastructure isn’t keeping pace.”
This bottleneck in healthcare education has become a critical issue across Northern BC, where communities face chronic staffing shortages in hospitals and clinics. While southern urban centers boast multiple educational pathways into healthcare careers, northern and rural communities often rely on a single institution serving vast geographic areas.
Northern Lights College recently announced an ambitious $28 million expansion proposal focusing specifically on healthcare education programs. The plan would double the capacity for practical nursing students and add new programs in medical laboratory technology, pharmacy technology, and mental health support – all critical workforce needs identified by Northern Health Authority.
“People want to train here and work here,” says Brenda Rintoul, who has been a nursing instructor at the college for nearly 15 years. “Our graduates have deep connections to these communities. They understand the challenges of delivering healthcare across enormous distances with limited resources. When we educate students locally, retention rates skyrocket.”
The proposal represents more than just additional classroom space. It envisions advanced simulation laboratories, telehealth training facilities, and dedicated spaces for traditional Indigenous healing practices in partnership with Treaty 8 First Nations.
Provincial healthcare funding has increasingly recognized the need for place-based education strategies. A 2023 report from the Rural Evidence Review project at UBC found that healthcare professionals who complete their education in rural settings are three times more likely to practice in rural communities long-term. The same study identified Northern BC’s healthcare staffing shortages as the most severe in the province, with vacancy rates approaching 40% for certain allied health positions.
Data from Statistics Canada reinforces what northern residents already know: their communities face significant health disparities compared to urban centers. Life expectancy in Northern Health region falls nearly three years below the provincial average, while chronic disease rates trend significantly higher. These challenges are compounded by accessibility issues – many residents must travel hundreds of kilometers for specialized care.
For Indigenous communities, the stakes are particularly high. “Our people need to see themselves reflected in healthcare settings,” explains Doig River First Nation Elder Margaret Attachie, who serves as a cultural advisor to the college’s health programs. “When our youth can train here, incorporating our traditional knowledge alongside Western medicine, they become powerful bridges between worlds.”
I join a small group of current students for coffee in the campus common area. All wear the telltale scrubs of nursing students, though they represent diverse backgrounds. Several mention family responsibilities that make relocating for education impossible.
“I’m a single parent with three kids,” says second-year practical nursing student Jeremy Poitras. “There’s no way I could uproot them to study in Prince George or Vancouver. Without this program, I simply couldn’t pursue nursing.” He pauses before adding, “And I definitely plan to stay here after graduation. This is where I’m needed.”
The college’s funding request comes at a critical moment. Provincial healthcare spending reached record levels this year, with targeted allocations for rural recruitment and retention. However, educational infrastructure hasn’t seen comparable investment, creating what Northern Lights College President Dr. Tanis Webb describes as “a bottleneck in the healthcare talent pipeline.”
The Ministry of Advanced Education has signaled interest in the proposal but hasn’t yet committed funding. Officials point to competing priorities across the province’s post-secondary system.
Northern municipalities and the regional hospital foundation have pledged $5 million in matching funds, demonstrating strong local support. Business leaders emphasize that healthcare accessibility directly impacts economic development and population retention.
“Companies considering locating in the Peace Region always ask about healthcare infrastructure,” notes Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce President Nelson Stowe. “When potential employees research our communities, they want assurance that their families will have access to quality care.”
As my visit concludes, I tour the existing simulation lab where students practice on surprisingly lifelike mannequins that can be programmed to display various symptoms. The space is impressive but clearly stretched beyond capacity. Equipment is carefully scheduled with multiple cohorts sharing limited resources.
“We’re making it work,” says clinical instructor Joanne Crawford, “but imagine what we could offer with purpose-built facilities designed for today’s healthcare technologies.”
The proposed expansion represents more than bricks and mortar – it symbolizes a fundamental shift in how we approach healthcare education in rural regions. Rather than expecting northern students to relocate or northern communities to recruit from elsewhere, investments in local education create sustainable pathways that benefit the entire healthcare ecosystem.
For communities across Northern BC, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As populations age and healthcare needs grow more complex, the ability to train and retain qualified professionals locally will determine whether northern residents can access care in their home communities or face increasingly difficult choices about where to live as they age.
The spring sun finally breaks through as I leave campus, illuminating the distinctive northern landscape that shapes the identity of this region and the healthcare providers it desperately needs to nurture.
