I was walking through the UNBC hallway when I noticed a table set up in the Winter Garden with a banner that read “Alpha Pi Beta Sorority.” I’d heard the name before but didn’t know much about them, so I stopped to chat.
Turns out, Alpha Pi Beta is UNBC’s only sorority and one of the oldest clubs on campus. Founded in 1994, the same year the university opened, it started as a group of five women who wanted to join a sorority in Prince George and found there weren’t any. So they made their own. After petitioning the UNBC Senate, they earned official club status in 1996. Kyla mentioned the sorority is the second oldest club at UNBC only the Outdoors Club is older.
I talked with two of their current members: Kyla, the president, and Ari, the historian and secretary.
I asked Kyla what made her join. “A couple friends that I knew were already joined, so they asked me if I wanted to join,” she said. Kyla is doing a joint major in political science and women’s studies. “It’s a good way to make friends, or just hang out with the friends you do have. And because of our fundraisers, it’s for a good cause. It’s cool to be part of the only sorority on campus.”
Ari, an environmental studies major, had a simpler story. “I walked by and the two girls who were tabling at the time were super nice. I didn’t know that UNBC had a sorority that was 30 years old.”
The club does a mix of philanthropy and social events. Last year they hosted a Halloween party at Ignite with proceeds going toward Jasper wildfire recovery, and a dance fundraiser supporting AWAC.
The reason they were tabling that day was for Operation Christmas Child a toy, school supplies, and hygiene drive running November 19-21 in the Winter Garden. The donations go to Samaritan’s Purse, which sends shoeboxes to kids in need. Kyla got the idea after digging through old club archives. “About 15 years ago, we also donated to them, so it just gave me the idea.”
If you can’t stop by, e-transfers can be sent to alphapibetasorority@unbc.ca. Students interested in joining or learning more can reach out via email or follow them on Instagram @alphapibeta.
