DAWSON CREEK, B.C. - Residents across Northeast B.C. will soon have a new way to hear directly from Indigenous leaders, community members and people shaping the region’s future.
Northwest Connections, a half-hour community affairs program hosted and produced by Robert Pictou, will begin airing on CJDC-TV in September.
The show has been on the air in northwestern B.C. for more than a decade and is now expanding its reach into the Peace Region.
Pictou, who entered broadcasting after a previous career in banking, said the program grew out of his work as a television videographer and reporter for CFTK TV News in Terrace.
After collecting extensive footage and stories from Indigenous and northern communities as a TV News Videographer, he was encouraged to develop a longer-format program that could explore issues in greater depth.
Unlike traditional news coverage, which often focuses on brief stories and breaking events, Pictou said Northwest Connections provides an opportunity for longer conversations with guests and community members.
“One thing that’s great about Northwest Connections is that I have a half hour of airtime that we can sit down and talk with the community,” said Pictou. “My job as a host is to get that conversation going, to find out what people want to talk about... so the community can actually see both sides of an idea.”
The show aims to highlight the people, projects and issues affecting communities across northern B.C. and beyond.
“We sit down and talk,” Pictou said, describing the program as a community-driven forum where people can share perspectives and discuss topics impacting the region.
He said the show’s role is to encourage dialogue and help viewers better understand issues from multiple viewpoints.
While the series began with a stronger focus on Indigenous topics, Pictou said it has evolved to reflect the broader Northwest, featuring stories from First Nations, industry, government and local residents.
He said viewers can expect discussions ranging from economic development and community initiatives to culture, agriculture and regional issues.
The expansion to Northeast B.C. comes as communities throughout the Peace Region continue to see growing partnerships between Indigenous Nations, industry and local governments.
Pictou said he hopes residents in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and surrounding communities will help shape future episodes by sharing story ideas and introducing guests who are making a difference in the region.
“I’m looking forward to reaching out to the community members in the Peace Region,” he said. “I need you to be my eyes and ears in your region.”
Northwest Connections premieres on CJDC-TV on September 14 at 4 p.m.