About the Prince George Public Interest Research Group

Our Mandate

Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are non-partisan, student-driven, non-profit societies based at post-secondary campuses across North America. We believe in using grassroots organizing + direct advocacy to give students the resources to create change on campus, in their communities, and beyond!

PGPIRG was founded at UNBC in 1995, with the Compost Program being one of our first initiatives! Since then, we have established various on-going programming (i.e. Local Foods Program, Farm for Thought, The Good Store), as well as student-led Action Groups (e.g. Borrow-a-Mug, Subversive Knitting, the Pipe Up PG, Eco Fashion Show, film nights, The Food Recovery Project, and more).

As a campus-based organization, PGPIRG is proud to bring together a diverse range of people who share a commitment to values such as inclusivity + accessibility, intersectional anti-oppression, climate justice, racial justice, gender equality, Indigenous sovereignties, bodily autonomy, and accountability + integrity.

Above all, we aim to affect progressive social + environmental change with proper stewardship for the future. PGPIRG is a resource centre for students creating grassroots change and building a healthy, just, and sustainable society in the north.

Our Staff

Executive Director

Dara Campbell (she/her)

The Good Store Coordinator | vacant

Local Foods Coordinator | vacant

Our Board of Directors

Abby Dooks
Shauna Kelly (she/her)
Kristen Kieta (she/her)
Christiana Onabola
Ella Parker (she/her)

Membership FAQs

How does PGPIRG work?

We are a registered not-for-profit under the BC Societies Act, meaning we have a constitution and bylaws, and are governed by a Board of Directors as elected by our members. We're campus-based, but (like all PIRGs) we are not tied to any university, government, or corporation.

Am I a member?

All UNBC students (Prince George Campus only - as of April 2019) are voting members of the Prince George Public Interest Research Group Society! Others may become a member with payment of a community membership fee. Contact our Executive Director (pgpirg@unbc.ca) to learn more.

What does my membership include?
Society members are entitled to take part in any direct action with PGPIRG, such as running for + electing your Board of Directors, volunteering, and forming Action Groups. Indirect actions such as shopping at The Good Store and ordering a Good Food Box are open to everyone!

How much are PGPIRG's student levies?

Full-time students pay $4 per semester and part-time students pay $2 per semester (excluding the Spring + Summer sessions). From May 1995 until April 2019, these levy amounts remained the same. In April 2019, PGPIRG successfully held a referendum to have our fees adjusted annually for inflation based on the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) determined by Statistics Canada.

I don't want to be a member.

We're sad to see you go, but here's what you'll need to do:

Fill out a Membership Refund Request Form
Produce a copy of your UNBC fees receipt
Deliver the form + the receipt to the PGPIRG office
Wait patiently for your cheque