Bridges TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine A story for Elder care pg 10 Take a walk at TRU A World of Students to Celebrate FALL 2011 ISSUE #6 pg 4 pg 18 Future home of the TRU Faculty of Law Getting to know TRU Law pg 14 Contents 18 4 Campus Commons 4 Take a walk at TRU 6 The path of most resistance Inside TRU 8 Honeybees: A buzz on campus 17 Interested in receiving Bridges online? Update your information www.tru.ca/alumni/bridges Research Review 10 A story for Elder care 12 Toolkit for a Changing World Cover Story 14 Getting to know TRU Law Open Learning 17 Breaking Borders On the cover: 10 TRU World 18 A World of Students to Celebrate Student Street 21 Tulo students among first graduating class of new program Alma Matters 26 Class Notes 28 Let's Remember Track the 'Pack 29 WolfPack Rookies Sieze the Season Community Report 31 Report Section (I-VII) From the University and the TRU Foundation An artist’s rendering of the atrium, which will be in the new home of TRU’s Faculty of Law. Designed by Diamond and Schmitt, architects of the Brown Family House of Learning, the two storey 40,000 square foot addition is a landscape-inspired vision to re-energize Old Main. Student & Alumni Contributors Sadie Cox is a graduate student in the MSc Environmental Science program. She also holds BSc and B Journalism degrees from TRU. She has lived in Kamloops for 12 years, having grown up in Northern BC and Squamish. Aside from being a student, Sadie is also a mom and somewhat of a gym rat—she’s a certified weight trainer working towards her personal trainer certification. Publisher > Christopher Séguin, Office of University Advancement > Arlene Olynyk, TRU Alumni & Friends Assoc Managing Editor > Diana Skoglund Allison Gibbard is a freelance journalist and photographer, in her last year of Journalism at TRU. Born and raised in Kamloops, Gibbard has enjoyed her time in the community and as a student. Her work can be seen in a number of local publications. Gibbard looks forward to stepping out into the world of journalism to begin her career. Assistant Editor > Anita Rathje Contributing Editors > Bart Cummins > Tina Pelletier > Will Garrett-Petts > TRU Faculty of Law > Lindsey Norris > Larry Read Photography > Bart Cummins Michael Potestio is a fourth-year Journalism student at TRU. Born and raised in Kamloops, his interests include writing, history, sports and movies. After years of experience in the food industry he has gained an appreciation for fine cuisine. He tackled his Accolades assignment with gusto. Graphic Design > Amanda Blyth Advertising Sales > Karen Gamracy A graduate of TRU's journalism program, Sherry Bennett's fondness for the written word has guided her towards a career as a freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in a number of Interior publications and her affinity for local history has lured her to local libraries and archives, where she has spent many a pleasant hour. Alumni Board of Directors: • Susan McIntyre, Chair Committee Directors • Rob Williamson, Vice- Chair • Christine Anderson • Hoberly Hove Contact us: • Rob Wycherley, Treasurer • Melissa Baker • Bill Jaswal TRU Alumni & Friends Association • Christopher Séguin, • Jennifer Billingsley • Janice MacDonald 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8 • Ray Sanders, • Ryan Dunn • Dean Paravantes • Mike Finch • Niki Remesz • Wendy Heshka • Lindsay Wilk MC115338 Phone: 1.250.828.5264 Email: alumni@tru.ca Ex-Officio Ex-Officio Williams Lake • Arlene Olynyk, Alumni Officer TRU Alumni & Friends Association Welcome Friends From the editor From the Chair Some of my best friends are TRU Alumni and so are most of my colleagues. Whether it’s my dentist’s sons, my husband’s boss or the hundreds of folks I keep in touch with on Facebook and Twitter, we all have a TRU connection. Community is a topic this magazine revisits often, as part of the vision and mission of the TRU Alumni & Friends Association as well as a focus for much of TRU’s teaching and research. If you want to see the power of this connectivity in action do what you can to attend Networking 411. We are all busy these days but taking two hours out to “speed network” last month with a few students that were looking for some career insight was rewarding. It wasn’t just rewarding because some young people were asking for, and raptly listening to, the same great advice that I dole out unheeded to my university-attending sons. But because the room was full of TRU Alumni, who like me, wanted to see these 250 or so students succeed. We care, I think, because someone at a point along the way in our own paths at TRU took a few minutes to impart some of their wisdom. I am lucky, I see those caring faculty from Arts, Journalism and Horticulture in the halls and gardens of TRU weekly. We re-connect in the line for soup in the Food Training building or at the new Tim Hortons in the Brown Family House of Learning. We are genuinely happy to see each other, and for me, each time I see my poli-sci prof I remember how he imparted confidence to my inner academic. That’s why I went to Networking 411, because I remember that feeling of OMG (no we didn’t use that acronym then) I have invested 4 (or 5 or 6) years in this degree, now what? I’ll bet you remember too, so if you can become a mentor, trust me it’s worth the time. Managing Editor In this issue we feature a look at Dr. Wendy Hulko’s culturally safe dementia care research project, a unique collaboration between TRU, the Interior Health Authority, and First Nation Elders on the best practices for looking after our aging First Nations populations. You’ll find more community connected projects by Hulko’s colleagues in the Faculty of Human, Social, and Educational Development, Dr. Julie Drolet and Dr. Diane Purvey, and a story about Matt Osborne, a Social Work student with a passion for affecting change for the homeless by sleeping under the stars. This summer we were able to connect with Culinary Arts Alumni at the Farm2Chef grazing event at Thistle Farms. Our photo essay by Bart Cummins captures these vibrant, passionate chefs spreading the gospel of good local food. Beyond our people and programs, TRU connects to the community by its geography. You will read about how our Campus Master Plans and land use strategies are continuing to evolve. We have come a long way from our origins as a naval munitions base. You’ll find a community report, news on the women’s soccer division win, an introduction to the Law Class of 2014 and much more. In response to our reader survey we’ve also included Class Notes again; so let’s hear from you too. We offer many opportunities to participate with TRU. You can be a mentor at Networking 411, volunteer on our many TRU & Friends committees or help out at other University events. Contact us at www.tru.ca/alumni. As always, we look forward to your ideas and opinions. TRU Alumni & Friends Association Chair Campus Commons Take a Walk at TRU Campus development & sustainability By Sadie Cox & Anita Rathje F or over forty years, TRU’s campus has been constantly growing and strategically evolving. TRU has become more that the sum of its buildings, green spaces and pathways; it has become a community, a place to learn, live and play. On November 14th, TRU announced that a new corporate trustee, TRU Community Corporation, will manage development on TRU property. Building on the 2003 Campus Plan, which recommended greater density and sustainability, TRU is taking steps towards a “university village” model for new development. Additional on-campus housing in particular will enrich campus life for TRU students and add vibrancy to the campus. Mixed use development that includes grocery and drugstores, retail stores and other services below residences means greater walkability – encouraging students, staff and visitors to stay and enjoy their time on campus. “Having more housing and services right on campus will help with student engagement,” said Peter Hilton, Vice-Provost, Students who regularly cycles or walks to work in Old Main. “The village concept will make the campus more alive, especially when classes aren’t on. Students will stay on campus more during the weekdays before, between, and after their classes, and come to campus more on the weekends.” “I’m all for higher density,” said TRU staff member Linda Komori, whose commute to campus is a 20 minute walk. “Kamloops has tended towards urban sprawl. Even walking distances across campus have been increasing.” Komori hopes to see expanded bus service, pedestrian malls, and a greater number of services close by. “TRU needs to find a balance between urban density and preservation of our natural setting.” “TRU and the City of Kamloops are working together to make alternatives to car transit attractive to people, and increase the walkability of the campus,” said Tom Owen, director of environment and sustainability at TRU. The Transportation Demand Study, being conducted by Urban Systems, is looking for creative ways to encourage the 55 percent of staff and students living within one bus route of TRU to use alternative modes of transportation more frequently. A proposed pedestrian overpass on Summit Drive, part of the study and the city’s Bicycle Master Plan, would reduce the walk between Upper College Heights and Old Main by 500 metres, and provide a safer, more direct cycling route to the campus and areas like the Tournament Capital Centre. “TRU can become a leader in that regard,” said Dylan Houlihan, transportation planner with Urban Systems, “reducing the number of people Owen said other plans being considered include constructing a secure bike facility by the Brown Family House of Learning. “It will have cameras and I think we’ll also put in a minor bike repair facility right on campus.” The House of Learning is a new hub for students, staff, and visitors, with its learning commons, full service Tim Horton’s, and the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Centre theatre venue. Green spaces created beside it and the addition of over 500 metres of new sidewalk also contribute to the walkability of campus. Warren Asuchak, associate director of Facilities Services, said the sidewalks provide shorter and safer routes connecting buildings, parking lots and bus stops. “The additional sidewalk between Facilities and the House of Learning is an easier access from the core of campus to the bus stops,” said Asuchak. “The village concept will make the campus more alive, especially when classes aren’t on. Students will stay on campus more during the weekdays before, between, and after their classes, and come to campus more on the weekends.” Peter Hilton, Vice-Provost, Students driving to the campus and increasing the adoption of other modes of transportation.” The study recommends a target of 40 per cent of people taking transit to campus, and suggests incentives to make alternatives more attractive than driving, such as the pedestrian overpass, improvements to transit, and more residence space on campus. Hilton believes Canadians need to work harder to reduce our carbon footprint, particularly reliance on cars. “As a cyclist, I like the idea of having services nearby. When students or staff need to run errands – shopping, banking – they won’t have to head off campus, so there’s no reason to bring a car. That’s making the planet better for future generations.” TCC and TRU play well together By Allison Gibbard T he Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) has successfully partnered with TRU as the stage for events such as the World Master's Indoor Athletics Championships, the BC Lions Training Camp, and the Western Canada Summer Games. But for students, faculty and staff, it also represents a campus lifestyle that isn’t all work and no play. It’s the convenience of the TCC to TRU that’s appealing to students. “The food and everything is in walking distance,” said Ken Olynyk, director of athletics and recreation at TRU. “It’s awesome.” “Students are really great because they are a big part of our business here,” said Jeff Putnam, the parks recreation facilities and business operations manager for the City of Kamloops. He values the symbiotic relationship with TRU. “Part of the reason the TCC gets the opportunity to host events like the Western Canada Summer Games and the BC Lions training camp is because the TCC is packaged with the university.” “It’s great to have everything in close proximity,” said Wally Buono, BC Lions head coach. For training camp, the players stay at the residence on campus so they are in walking distance of the TCC facility. “This allows for more efficient use of time and (the team has) a better chance to stay healthy and repower.” The relationship between TCC and TRU is a great draw for recruiting athletes, and attracts other students, staff, and faculty that want to train there. “Our partnership allows TRU students to use one of the prime facilities in the country,” said Olynyk. “We work together and people get to see the facility and the campus because of it.” BC Lions training Camp at the TCC Campus Commons The path of most resistance By Bart Cummins L ife is full of opportunities, and at times, it’s difficult to know when to dive in and when to hold back. Foubister recalls. “I liked the promise (of the software) and knew if I didn’t go for it, I would always ask, ‘What if?’.” A little more than a year ago, Scott Foubister (BSc Physics 2010) was faced with a choice between two paths, though one held a lot more prestige and promise than the other. What if Foubister hadn't left Waterloo two weeks into the fall 2010 semester to return home? And what if he hadn’t signed up for a one-month intensive Spanish field school in Mexico in May 2010, where the story begins? Wanting more than a tourist’s understanding of Spanish, he created a list of words and phrases in an Excel spreadsheet. He wrote macros to turn the spreadsheet in a program that could quiz him and track his progress. When he shared the program with Annette Dominik, modern languages coordinator at TRU, Foubister saw great possibilities to help others as well as himself. On the one side, a lucrative master’s scholarship at the Institute of Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. On the other, a return to his hometown of Kamloops to further develop language-learning software he had created in his last year at TRU. One opportunity was loaded with certainty and a long career in science. The other held a lot of unknowns, and no financial resources to work with. Easy decision, right? Yep. “I quickly realized I was more passionate about the language program I was leaving behind than I was about the research career I was starting,” 6 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 If he hadn’t signed up for that field school and if he hadn’t left Waterloo, Foubister’s language software, which is now called Vocaba, may never have been born. It’s taken Foubister many revisions and more than 15,000 lines of code to get to his current success: giving TRU students access to a sleek, customizable and easy-to-use web application that looks nothing like the original Excel spreadsheet that started it all. Last fall approximately 150 Spanish students at TRU beta-tested a downloadable version of the program. That number has tripled this fall and it includes students in Spanish, French, Japanese, English as a Second Language, botany and linguistics. In most of these classes students receive a portion of their course mark based on their usage of Vocaba. Students pay $10 per semester to get access to the website. Foubister would like to see 1,000 TRU students using Vocaba by January 2012 as he continues to expand coverage to more courses and programs. Vocaba is suitable for any course involving vocabularyor terminology – from languages to sciences to business Support for Innovation “ Every time you solve a problem, or say to yourself ‘I wish this existed’ there is the potential for an entrepreneurial enterprise. Lincoln Smith, Industry University Liaison, TRU and more. Sometime soon, he’d like to see Vocaba used at other universities, high schools and even in workplaces. Foubister’s passion has taken him far, but he’s the first to tell you he’s done a lot of listening along the way and heeded a lot of advice. Among those he owes a world of gratitude: Lincoln Smith, Industry University Liaison in the Research, Innovation, and Graduate Studies Office (RIGS) at TRU; the entrepreneur incubator Kamloops Innovation Centre; and the Interior Innovation Science Council. It was Smith who helped identify the distribution problem that would prevent Foubister from scaling up his business. Requiring users to download his application meant people didn’t always have the latest and greatest, leading Foubister to spend more time on maintenance than on growing his business. Being web-based now means he can continue to improve his software and distribute it to customers ” with ease. He can respond much more quickly to suggestions, often able to implement them in a matter of minutes or hours. Smith has also shown Foubister how to be critical of Vocaba and to adopt an entrepreneur’s mindset. Innovation and technology development in the Thompson region got a boost this summer when TRU received nearly $890,000 in Western Diversification Program funding. TRU will purchase equipment which until now had not been available regionally, to help local organizations and industry commercialize new bioproducts, value-added food products and analytical techniques. Equipment includes a low-temperature incubating facility, a highly complex mass spectrometer, and meat research and development equipment. It will support the many local small- and medium-sized businesses linked to the agriculture, bio-product and natural resource sectors. “The new analytical tools enabled by Western Economic Diversification have expanded the capacity and potential of TRU and our region for discovery and innovation,” said Dean of Science, Dr. Tom Dickinson. “Just as importantly, we are now able to broaden the opportunities for our students to do applied research that leads to immediate and direct outcomes.” “As a result, our grads have gained a national reputation for their skills and competence on some of the most technically sophisticated analytical equipment in the world.” “Scott is an example of what you can do when you follow your passion, and remain open to opportunities it can provide,” Smith says. “Everyone has an idea for an innovative product or service. Every time you solve a problem, or say to yourself ‘I wish this existed’ there is the potential for an entrepreneurial enterprise. If you remain open to this potential, and seek the support to evaluate it, great things can happen.” He goes on to say, “It takes only ten minutes to sit down with a mentor to investigate a business idea, to save a life time of wondering ‘What if?’.” Dr. Don Noakes, TRU AVP Research and Graduate Studies; Dr. Tom Dickinson, Dean Faculty of Science; Christopher Séguin, TRU Advancement; and Cathy McLeod, MP Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo during the funding announcement inside tru Honeybees A buzz on campus By Bart Cummins T here's a quiet buzzing atop the roof of the Food Training Building and it has nothing to do with electricity or the solar panels located nearby. Rather, it’s a honey of a project created last spring by Culinary Arts instructor Ron Rosentreter. What started out in the spring as an interesting experiment with two hives and a few thousand bees has turned into a world of spin-off possibilities that could eventually touch every faculty and school on campus. Plans are to incorporate honey into menu items at Accolades, TRU’s fine-dining restaurant staffed by students in the Culinary Arts and Tourism Management programs. As well, VIPs could soon be receiving small jars of the stuff as a memento of their visit to campus. Rosentreter envisions public sales, with the money coming back to Culinary 8 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 Arts. There could even be workshops, seminars, and a clothing line. For students and faculty, the hives serve as another on-campus source for teaching and learning where they can incorporate any aspect of the production process into their coursework, whether in Arts, Business, Science, or Trades. Rosentreter’s hobby offers an abundance of learning opportunities that includes hands-on, theoretical, and research. So what got Rosentreter on this path in the first place? “I’ve always been interested in bugs and even as a kid I kept a few black widows in the house,” says Rosentreter, who on this blue-sky day is dressed from head to toe in a white beekeeper’s suit. “Recently, a friend of mine got into bees. I started watching them and got interested in what they were doing. When you start showing an interest in something, you get a little curious and then it grabs hold of you.” That got him thinking TRU would be a good location for an apiary, and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Not only does the roof offer plenty of space and protection, the bees have plenty of food opportunities on campus thanks to the abundant and diverse plant life. So, armed with suggestions from local apiaries, enthusiasts, the Internet, and wherever else he could glean information, Rosentreter set out on the adventure. Wisely, he started small so he could learn and adapt as he went along. In late August, he squeezed 50 pounds from the honeycombs while leaving enough honey for the bees to feed on during the cold winter months. If there’s one thing that stands out as most important about this initiative, Rosentreter says, it’s knowing the university is playing a role in aiding a struggling bee population, which has been hit hard in recent years from the effects of climate change, pests, and disease. “The bee population isn’t doing very well and the future of it may be backyard beekeepers that keep it going. I’m happy to be playing a role in their survival.” Watch in the new year for a fund-raising dinner, with money going towards production costs and the purchase of more hives. Where are YOU now? Send us your update in 160 characters or less. Your classmates are asking for you! It's simple. Go to www.tru.ca/ alumni/updates and fill out our form. What's New? Have a new job? Married? Children? Moved? Academic Plan Photos are welcome and must be 300dpi. It's great to hear from you. By Bart Cummins T RU will soon have a new Academic Plan, a roadmap of sorts outlining how the university will continue to attract students and prepare them to compete in a rapidly changing world. At its core, the document addresses the need for graduates to be innovative and creative problem solvers. This will be accomplished in part by educating students from all walks of life, and providing an array of intercultural experiences, flexible course delivery, field study opportunities, applied learning, research opportunities, and programs blending two or more areas of study. The Academic Plan is the product of more than a year of consultation, including town hall meetings this fall—one in Kamloops and another in Williams Lake. TRU Senate members are scheduled to vote Dec. 19 to officially endorse the Academic Plan. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 9 Research Review A story for Elder care By Anita Rathje E veryone loves listening to a good story. Whether it’s family history or shared mythology, our elders have a wealth of tales to tell. But for First Nation Elders, storytelling is a means of preserving the knowledge and culture of a people and a place, and may be the key to ensuring that Elders with dementia are cared for by health practitioners in a culturally safe manner. Researchers from TRU and the Interior Health Authority (IHA) are collaborating with Secwepemc Nation Elders on a community-based project called “Culturally safe dementia care: building nursing capacity to care for First Nation Elders with memory loss.” Back row left to right: Star Mahara (Co-investigator), Jean William (Elder advisor), James Shawana (Research assistant), Elisabeth Antifeau (Practitioner co-lead). Front row left to right: Brad Anderson (Co-investigator), Cecilia DeRose (Elder advisor), Evelyn Camille (Elder advisor), Wendy Hulko (Researcher co-lead), Estella Patrick Moller (Elder advisor) Not pictured: Colleen Varcoe (Co-investigator) “First Nation Elders have been an overlooked population in dementia research,” said researcher co-lead Dr. Wendy Hulko of TRU’s School of Social Work and Human Service. “Yet, dementia appears to be increasing among this group due to the aging demographic and the high rates of risk factors that are a consequence of colonization, such as diabetes, low socio-economic status, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and lower levels of formal education.” Hulko and practitioner co-lead Elisabeth Antifeau of IHA were awarded a $213,700 grant from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research for the project, which builds on the results of their previous exploratory research, “First Nations perspectives on dementia.” Estella Patrick Moller is one of several Elders at TRU available through the ‘Elders in the House Program.’ The Elders provide personal consultation, conversation, guidance, and mentorship to aboriginal students 10 Photo by Diana Skoglund “Health care providers and First Nation communities expressed the need for specialized training for nurses on cultural safety and dementia care, so that nurses can better care for First Nation Elders with memory loss,” said Antifeau. Their exploratory research with Secwepemc Elders suggested storytelling could be used with the Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 current Indigenous Cultural Competency training to increase nurses’ knowledge and understanding of First Nation cultural safety. Starting in January, in a process called knowledge translation and exchange, Secwepemc Elders in Kamloops, Williams Lake, and Chase will share stories and experiences in sharing circles with three groups of nurses employed by Interior Health and First Nations and Inuit Health, so that knowledge translation can occur between the nurses and Elders. “Through the stories being told to the nurses they will gain insight in how to look after Elders, whether in their home or a residential care home off reserve, and an understanding of the cultural ways of First Nations, such as sharing food,” said Heather Morin, a community-based researcher working with the team. “It’s a collaborative research project with Elders on our advisory board and we will work together until the end of the project.” This exciting collaboration continues through 2012. TRU joins the Research Universities' Council of British Columbia D r. George Iwama, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia and Chair of the Research Universities’ Council of British Columbia (RUCBC) announced on October 4th that TRU and Royal Roads University (RRU) joined the Council. Current members include the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria and University of Northern British Columbia. RUCBC represents the collective interests of its members in support of common issues. RUCBC provides leadership in the development of relevant public policy and also provides a coordinating forum for its member universities. www.rucbc.ca Roadside Shrines By Anita Rathje I f you ask Diane Purvey for a definition of “shrine”, she won’t describe a temple in a Chinese gorge or a niche carved into a cave in India. She might show you a photo from one of many road trips she’s made over the past few years, pilgrimages to seek out a recent phenomenon that is particularly prevalent in British Columbia: the roadside memorial. Purvey is an international expert on the subject. An associate professor in Education at TRU, Purvey and her partner John Belshaw, former TRU professor of history and current Dean of Social Sciences and Management at Langara College in Vancouver, co-authored Private Grief, Public Mourning: The Rise of the Roadside Shrine in British Columbia (Anvil Press, 2009) after several years of documenting roadside death memorials all over BC. Building on the book, their recent research focuses on youth, exploring other sites of mourning like high school locker shrines, and changes in grieving practices in schools. In “Deathscapes in the west: road warriors and teen angels”, presented at the 10th Death, Dying and Disposal Conference at Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands, in September, Purvey and Belshaw explore the history of public mourning in BC and the impact of the province’s diversity of cultural traditions on memorials and mourning practices among teens. They interviewed students, teachers, principals, and counselors about teen responses to death, and how school culture and practices around grief have evolved. On Highway 97B south of Salmon Arm, two hockey referees killed on their way home from a game are remembered with these unique markers “Teens feel a strong need – and right – them than are the adults. The public – to memorialize their fellows in some and youth in particular – is reclaiming manner,” notes Purvey. Locker shrines death and reappropriating ritual. and roadside memorials are spontaneous, Despite much debate and great variation personal, idiosyncratic, and imaginative, in legislation due to the very public nature in contrast to more traditional, of these memorials, roadside shrines less transitory, designated sites of continue to spring up in BC, in other remembrance like cemeteries. parts of Canada, and around the world. “Public grieving in schools is used as a kind of temporary, workplace therapy.” “Death is the great litmus test of any civilization: how we choose to remember Purvey and Belshaw also found that defines and reveals us,” said Purvey. although benches and other more permanent memorials are not Purvey and Belshaw’s most recent book, established by the students, over time Vancouver Noir, 1930–1960 (Anvil Press), the students are more likely to reference will be available in December 2011. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 11 Research Review Toolkit for a Changing World By Anita Rathje F rom fires and floods to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, the effects of climate change in British Columbia can have devastating consequences for small cities and rural communities. “Climate change is the most significant environmental, social, cultural and economic threat facing humankind,” states Dr. Julie Drolet in her Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) public outreach project, “Community level adaptation to climate risk”. The project aims to improve the resiliency of BC communities to the impacts of climate change by sharing knowledge, increasing awareness, and developing a toolkit of strategies to help communities adapt. The experiences of affected communities in the BC Interior – Kamloops, Quesnel, Prince George, Clearwater, 100 Mile House and Merritt – are being shared as part of a knowledge mobilization plan. “Outreach activities will network affected communities in BC, providing a community-level forum to share the innovative ways that small cities and rural communities are adapting to climate change,” said Drolet, inaugural director of the Centre for International Social Work and Research at TRU and faculty member in the School of Social Work and Human Service. “This research will lead to support to build their capacity and deal with the challenges that lie ahead.” Average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average, according to the multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report compiled between 2000 and 2004. Kelowna wildfires in 2003. 12 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 According to the BC provincial government’s Climate Action Plan, parts of the province have been warming at a rate more than double the global average. The effects are well documented. Warmer winters, for example, have contributed to the spread of the mountain pine beetle, which has destroyed more than 16 million hectares of pine forest. Community narratives from Drolet’s original study discussed the impacts of the mountain pine beetle on smaller communities: “I think that our community has definitely been affected by climate change. When I moved here in the '50s we used to have -40˚C to -45˚C weather and now because we do not have that cooling weather we had a huge pine beetle infestation…that has hugely impacted our community because we’ve had saw mills that have closed down and many people are now unemployed,” said one focus group participant. Allysa Gredling, a community researcher from the Kamloops Women’s Resource Group Society, and Yasir Ali, an undergraduate student research assistant, assisted Drolet with the analysis of data collected from 121 participants through interviews, focus group discussions, and a survey, Sea level could rise 18 to 59 centimeters by century's end, reports the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A rise of just 10 centimeters could flood many South Seas islands and swamp large parts of Southeast Asia. Flooding in Bella Coola, BC in 2010, Ministry of Transportation New book offers Canadian context for field education By Bikram Bathh Drolet and Natalie Clark of Social J ulie Work and Human Service, along with former Social Work dean Helen Allen (not shown), recently published Shifting Sites of Practice: Field Education in Canada. The book offers a variety of perspectives, theory, case scenarios, exercises and to learn about community members’ responses and adaptations to the impacts of climate change. Participants such as community leaders, activists, disaster managers, and women leaders offered opinions and positions on different subjects, as well as personal insights. Localization, food security, community and sustainable development issues were among the topics raised in focus groups and interviews in regards to purchasing and gathering food, participating in community gardens, giving preference to local produce, developing new skills and accessing resources to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change at the local level. “Another impact…is that people are quite interested in local food production knowing that it’s healthier and it has a smaller carbon footprint, too…there is a lot of interest in that issue and people are trying to eat more local,” said one participant. Changing food growing practices is just one way people are adapting at a community level to a changing climate. By understanding the various ways in which communities are affected and discussion questions to help students of social work, human service, and child and youth care get the most out of their practicum placement. It is the first text in its field to provide examples of practice in a Canadian context. sharing adaptations, Drolet hopes communities can identify what kind of capacity and support is needed. The knowledge gained from the project, developed into a toolkit to share among stakeholders and presented by Drolet at international conferences, will inform emergency service volunteers, policy makers, planners and managers, health professionals, community members, educators, public and private sector executives, emergency responders, the academic community, and the general public. Over the next 10 years 80% of BC's mature pine forest is expected to be lost due to the infestation of the mountain pine beetle. Aerial view of extensive attack by mountain pine beetle TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 13 Getting to Know TRU Law As submitted by the Faculty of Law I and supports comparable to those in law n May, 2010 the Faculty of Law at schools across Canada. “The demand Thompson Rivers University was still for the best faculty and law students is just an idea. Just 16 months later, increasingly competitive”, Axworthy said, on September 6th, 2011 the Faculty of “this will be a major challenge as we Law and TRU marked an historic day – move to the next critical stages of the the opening of Canada’s first new Law Law School’s development. We have School in over 30 years. “This was a great foundation on which to build – a remarkable achievement”, great faculty and students and noted Dr. Alan Shaver, President of TRU, “especially since the Founding Dean of Law, a commitment to the very best education we can provide.” Chris Axworthy QC and Anne Pappas comprised the Faculty of Law for almost TRU Law offers its students a unique a year. Seeing everyone in the room on opportunity to contribute to building Opening Day was, indeed, special as the new Faculty and developing its the Law Faculty had suddenly grown curriculum. The Faculty of Law will offer from 2 to 85.” students a unique legal education, blending knowledge of the Law, Dean Axworthy, appointed in May, 2010, requisite professional skills to use set about establishing the Faculty of that knowledge, together with Law. After all of the necessary university, a sophisticated understanding of the professional and government approvals ethical and professional responsibilities were obtained, there began the rightly expected of lawyers. Axworthy said, establishment of the best Faculty of Law “Our graduates will be particularly possible. This involved hiring the best well-suited to take on the challenges faculty members, recruiting the best presented by the complex and varied students and providing student services careers they will undertake in the Law. In addition, they will be ready to accept leadership roles in their communities.” This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all involved. This fresh approach, enthusiasm, and confidence was a deal-maker for Stephan Salo of Timmins, Ontario. He turned down an offer in Ontario, packed his bags, and headed west. “The experience of being in the first class wasn’t something I could turn down,” said Salo. “I applied to a lot of places, and was accepted here and at the University of Windsor. I decided to come here.” Likewise, Chrystie Stewart, from Kamloops, said, “I was excited when I heard there was a law school opening here, I was accepted to UVIC, as well but I thought it was important to stay and be part of the first class.” So, what have these 75 new law students been up to in the last few months? Many note the heavy workload and they are adjusting to twelve hour days, with hours of preparation nightly. They have discussed, debated and voted in their brand new Society of Law Students (“SLS”). This was a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other and decide how they should organize themselves to pursue their best interests. Calgarian James Michi, the recently elected SLS President, says, “I made a strategic decision to apply to TRU Law because I was inspired by the idea of being part of a program from the ground up, or being an academic pioneer of sorts. That was something that captivated me. We (my partner Charlotte and I) also discussed the idea and were both in agreement that a smaller city would do us some good. So far, that choice SLS President 2011 James Michi 14 SLS Vice President 2011 Chrystie Stewart Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 Photo by Kamloops Camera House of TRU Law's inaugural class, Sept. 6th. has proven to be a very good one. We love Kamloops and the surrounding area. And I am obviously loving my experience at TRU Law”. Heavy workload aside, the group is taking time to set up resources for themselves and future students. Without the wisdom of second or third year students to draw on, the law class of 2014 is blazing its own trail. core courses. They include Professors Ken Cooper-Stephenson (Tort Law), Margaret Hall (Tort Law), Mary Hemmings (Fundamental Legal Skills), Dr. Richard Oppong (Contract Law), Sharon Mascher (Property Law), Debra McKenzie (Legislation, Administration and Policy), Janna Promislow (Constitutional Law), and Micah Rankin (Criminal Law). and faculty members expected to join the Faculty in the summer of 2012 and, of course, the next group of 80 first year students who, once admitted, will start in September 2012. Axworthy is excited at the prospect of being part of the first new law faculty in Canada in over three decades, and also, to have the opportunity to re-define a law library that is designed for the digital age. “Three decades ago law libraries were focused on buying books. Today with so many advances in technology, law libraries are focused on acquiring e-books and on-line resources”. Louis Mirando, the Chief Law Librarian at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, and Neil Dr. Cooper-Stephenson, fondly called “Coop” by students, is known for his All agreed there is an expectation that they are always prepared and professional. research in personal injury damages and “This isn’t just about the books, it’s about couldn’t resist the opportunity of being a founding faculty member for the the core education,” said Stewart. second time in his career! “They’re training us to become different people—socially responsible, Professor Sharon Mascher, a native of professional and accountable.” Calgary, joins TRU to be part of the newest law faculty in Canada. Stewart and Salo are not alone in their Sharon moved to choice. Many of the 75 students had Kamloops, having taught other options but chose to attend TRU. in the Faculties of Law in With the intense competition to secure Western Australia (most admission to law schools in Canada, recently), Assistant Dean, Anne Pappas said, in Saskatchewan and in “I am not surprised at the high quality of New Zealand. “We are students accepted to the Program”. all thrilled to be part of On Opening Day Dean Axworthy this ‘ground-breaking remarked that the journey upon which experience’,” these 75 students were embarking says Professor Micah (L–R): Hon. Dr. Terry Lake, Minister of the Environment and MLA “is a special one”, one in which they will Rankin, who teaches Kamloops-North Thompson; Dr. Alan Shaver, TRU President and become members of the legal profession, Criminal Law. Vice-Chancellor; Hon. Wally Oppal, QC, TRU Chancellor; John Hunter, a profession that Axworthy describes as: QC, Vice President, Federation Law Societies; Hon. Mr. Justice Richard The Faculty of Law is “Noble and proud. A caring profession Blair, Supreme Court of BC; Sharon Matthews, President, The Canadian temporarily located on the Law Association, BC Branch; Hon. Lance Finch, Chief Justice of BC; charged with protecting society’s most second floor in the recently Chris Axworthy, QC, TRU Founding Dean of Law; Cathy McLeod, precious rights and freedoms. It is MP Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo; Mayor Peter Milobar and Gavin a profession committed to justice, humanity, dedicated Brown Family Hume, QC, President Law Society of BC. House of Learning. respect and dignity. It is a calling, more than just a job. This is a great “We have already filled the privilege and a great responsibility”. Campbell, the Chief Law Librarian at the available space in the building, with the University of Victoria, agree. Like Axworthy and Pappas, the opportunity current compliment of faculty and staff” says Axworthy. He is optimistic that the to open the first new Canadian Law Campbell and Mirando were consulted Faculty of Law’s new location in the Old Faculty in over three decades could not and provided recommendations for Main Building will be completed soon, be passed up by the founding faculty TRU’s new law library thanks to a grant making space for the additional staff members who are teaching first year from the Law Foundation of British >> TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 15 continued Columbia. “Law libraries are more proactive environments, they are a place where people go for information and to engage with one another,” says Mirando. TRU’s new Chief Law Librarian Mary Hemmings, who joins TRU from the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary, agrees and will be implementing the recommendations of Mirando’s report. Diamond and Schmitt Architects in Toronto are certainly keenly aware of this too, as they commence the design of the new Law Faculty space in the Old Main Building. Donald Schmitt sees the new law library as a space “that creates a great environment for thinking and reading”. Reading and thinking is something that all TRU Law students expect to do in abundance. In her message to the inaugural class, The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada, wrote, “TRU Law has a special mission as the only Canadian law faculty not located in a major urban centre. By bringing legal education to a broader community, Thompson Rivers University will make an important contribution to tackling the (L–R): Micah B. Rankin, Margaret Isabel Hall, Chris Axworthy, access to justice problem”. Dr. Richard Frimpong Oppong, Dr. Ken Cooper-Stephenson, On that day, The Honourable Debra McKenzie, Anne Pappas, Mary Hemmings, Janna Promislow and Sharon Mascher. Lance Finch, Chief Justice of British Columbia, told the students, “You have begun an adventure, a life-altering opportunity”. The Honourable Thomas Crabtree, Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, said, “forever you will be known as the first graduating class – an honour you will carry the rest of www.tru.ca/law your career”. A TRU Start to TRU Law A rts graduate Lisa Scruton knew TRU was where she wanted to study from the moment she began taking English courses here, while still a high school student in the first year of the TRU-Start program with School District 73. TRU-Start gives local secondary school students in their final year an opportunity to take first-year university courses while still in high school, tuition free, and get a sense of university student life. Lisa's choice of English became her major once she enrolled at TRU, and she then added the Political Science and Economics joint major to round out her Bachelor of Arts. beautiful and the student body is vibrant and energetic. After seeing that during TRU-Start, I knew I didn’t want to leave." Just before Convocation in June, Lisa learned she would be part of another first at TRU: she is one of the inaugural group of students in TRU's new Faculty of Law. Lisa and her fellow students will interact closely with a diverse faculty, focusing on First Nations, Natural Resources and Energy law. The next phase of Lisa's student life at TRU started this fall. "TRU has been such an incredible university to attend over the last few years," said Lisa. "I can’t imagine any other university in the country that could "I chose to attend TRU in part because have done what TRU has done for me — of location," said Lisa in an interview allowing me to be a trailblazer for two with her former professor and Associate Dean of Arts Will Garrett-Petts, "and partly incredible programs." because the TRU-Start program instantly made it my home. The TRU campus is 16 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 Lisa Scruton, BA, 2011 and member of the inaugural class of law. Read more about Lisa Scruton's experience at TRU on the blog by Will Garrett-Petts, Associate Dean of Arts. petts.blog.mytru.ca BreakingBorders Discover the story behind the winner of the most recent TRUe Story Contest By Lindsey Norris F or Lee Davidson, earning his university degree has been a journey 15 years in the making. This journey involved a health crisis, a continental move, fatherhood and a host of other life changes. Today, Davidson lives in Oslo, Norway, where he holds a full-time coaching position and raises his two children. While you might think he has enough to keep him busy, he plans to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology through Open Learning, focusing on sports psychology. “I have finally decided to finish my degree because I'm interested to blend my interest for psychology with my experiences in sport,” he explained. “I was looking for distance education; flexibility was the biggest draw and Thompson Rivers University was a natural choice.” It was a natural choice because Davidson was once an on-campus student here in 1996, when TRU was still called Cariboo College. At that time, he was a young athlete and student just beginning his university studies. Like many others, Davidson wasn't sure what he wanted out of his college experience but did know he wanted to play football. So he dabbled in a few Arts courses and joined the junior football team in Kelowna, spending half his time there and the other half in his hometown of Kamloops. But he was forced to put both his football career and his academic pursuits on hold when he was diagnosed with cancer. For two years he underwent treatment and when he was declared cancer-free, he reassessed his goals. His interests still lay with sport, but this time around, on the coaching side. He also hankered to live abroad. He did some research in Europe and knew it offered a growing fan base for American Football and thus tremendous opportunity to those who could bring their experience to a new market. Norwegian, raised a family and finally resumed pursing the university degree he started many years ago. He acknowledges the difficulty in coordinating all his obligations. He is no longer married, and while he shares parenting responsibilities with his ex-wife, it means he often juggles the role of single father alongside his job and coursework. However, unlike the young student he was 15 years ago, today he knows what he wants and where he wants to go. “No matter what the circumstances are, if you really want to do something there is always a way to make it happen if you are willing to work hard and see your goals through to completion,” he said. “I need 10 courses to finish my degree. If that takes two or three years, that's okay. The important thing is to jump in and get started.” “So it was coaching that brought me to Norway, and now I actually coach hockey,” he said. Since moving to Norway 11 years ago to coach, Davidson has learned to speak TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/assets/ ol/ebooks/truestory www.tru.ca/alumni 17 A World of Students to Celebrate By Diana Skoglund Mark February 6–10, 2012 on your calendar. W hat began 18 years ago as a one-day showcase of cultural foods and artifacts has since developed into an award-winning campus-wide festival with dozens of events spread over five days. International Days celebrates all things international at TRU and throughout Kamloops. For a week in February, the banners of International Days and the colourful flags of dozens of nations festoon the campus lamp stands to brighten up the otherwise dreary days just before reading break. “Last year we had 80 events over five days,” said Wes Koczka, associate vice-president of international and CEO global operations. “This year we are changing up the program to bring internationalization to a broader audience.” Plans include adding five guest scholars who will be making special lecture appearances throughout the campus, a panel of international education developers and two keynote talks on global issues. Gwynne Dyer, historian and independent journalist, will deliver a keynote address on Monday, Februrary 6, on the Arab Spring. On Wednesday, February 9, Capt. Charles Moore will speak on the seas of plastic that are rapidly taking over the world’s oceans. The week always kicks off with a flag parade. Last year the parade was followed by an address by Grand Chief Edward John on global indigenous issues. Then there were presentations on tax implications for international students, an exhibit on international social work, and talks on the Study Abroad program and tourism in East Africa. An international film festival featuring an Indian drama and a documentary on Islam closed what was only the first of five days full of excitement. As in past years, International Days will culminate in a showcase Friday featuring food, cultural displays, performances and an ethnic fashion show. Seeing the showcase for themselves during a campus tour sealed the deal for delegates from the BC Council for International Education (BCCIE). In April 2010 the Council recognized TRU’s International Days with the first ever Outstanding Program in International Education Award, for the high quality and highly creative programming that goes into International Days. 40 Years in the Making I t seems like everyone is getting on the internationalization bandwagon these days. While provincial trade missions give momentum to campuses, and elementary and secondary schools join the market, TRU proves international education isn't just a passing trend. Photo by Amit Chaudhary at the Diwali Celebration this past October Bright Colors Dazzle TRU began its inroads into international education shortly after it was founded. Charles Mossop, who is credited with building the foundation for TRU World, first took Cariboo College to China in 1971. Charles Brewster, Cariboo College President from 1979 to 1986, travelled to Asia with several other BC educators in 1986 to establish international connections. at the International Showcase TRU is a university with four decades of experience, and a student population that reaches every corner of the globe. continued Internationalization is celebrated throughout the year in other ways as well. Different student clubs herald their cultures with extravagant festivals and feasts of their own making. In October over 300 guests celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights at the Grand Hall. In January the TRUSU India Club will bring out pigments for Rang De Basanti (Festival of Colors). The Chinese New Year Dinner, celebrating the Year of the Dragon this year, will have its work cut out for it to surpass the festivities celebrating 2011’s Year of the Rabbit. Chinese student clubs organize the event, which is open to the whole campus. The ticket price includes a dinner buffet, performances, games, lucky draws, karaoke, and fireworks. For the last five years the Pan Africa Club has made it possible to experience the sights and sounds of Africa without leaving Kamloops. Africa Day has featured performers like Naby Camara, a Juno award winning musician and member of the Canadian group African Guitar Summit. Africa Day offers an array of drama, dance, fashion and much more. Short stay visitors have also taken the time to give back to the community with an afternoon of music and dance. In June, 135 International Islamic Education Counsel students from Jakarta called Kamloops and TRU home for three weeks. As they worked on their English and gained a better understanding of Western culture, the Indonesian students also found time to practice for their hour-long cultural performance. For more information about the celebration, visit www.tru.ca/internationaldays/schedule “We know how important having solid international relationships are to building a culturally diverse and stimulating educational experience for all our students,” said Alan Shaver, TRU President and Vice-Chancellor. Shaver is encouraged that the Province is taking a leadership role on international education, and noted that a strong partnership going forward that works towards top-quality education and good international relationships will position BC’s universities and colleges well in an increasingly competitive world. DID YOU KNOW? For the fall 2011 semester TRU has 1,572 international students on campus, representing 85 countries from all over the world, an increase of 8 per cent over last year. International students studying at TRU bring approximately $88 million to the Kamloops economy every year. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 19 Student Street Alumni Events Save the date! APR 13 Time: 6pm Pictured: Megan Perkins, Jenn Olsen, Rebecca Paliwoda, Amanda Jones, Tiffany Fransbergen, Karen Farmer, Carley MacIntyre, Garreth Bloudell, Jess Risley, Joy Umoyoh, Tim Routtu, Martha Clarke Missing: Evee Lu, Akemi Darlington, Nathan Kellock, Patrick McCaffery, Neville Obbu, Mike Reid Chemistry Biochemistry Club raises $1,200 for RIH In honour of Kieren O'Neil and family, TRU's Chemistry Biochemistry Club members raised $1,200 for Royal Inland Hospital's Pediatric Department. Money was raised through a pub night, magic show, and bake sales. Distinguished Alumni Awards Night. A night of celebration, honour, and entertainment. Place: The new Mountain Room – CAC Cost: $80 MAY 11 JUN 25 Annual General Meeting. Find out what's happening with your Aumni and Friends Association and enjoy music, wine and a captivating speaker. Time: 5pm Place: House of Learning Alumni and Friends Golf Tourney. Open the season with a round of fun, food and prizes. Time: 2pm Place: Pineridge Golf Course Cost: $75 www.tru.ca/alumni Tailor-made training to fill skill gap in Williams Lake T RU Williams Lake has been awarded a $245,000 grant to help address the literacy skills gaps of workers in the forestry, manufacturing and mining sector. The Cariboo region’s campus is one of only eight recipients in the province to receive funding from the Colleges and Skills Development Branch of the BC Ministry of Advanced Education under its SkillsPlus Phase III – Intergrating Essential Skills in the Workplace Program. Working with its partners ESP Consulting Ltd and Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy (CCPL), TRU-WL will provide continuous assessment, evaluation and reporting to ensure program success and to encourage the participants to continue the pursuit of lifelong learning. 20 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 The grant will improve the economic well-being of the region, adversely affected by a reduction in the timber industry, by providing workers with more transferable skills. The Cariboo Skills Plus grant will provide the TRU-WL catchment area, Cariboo Chilcotin, the opportunity for business and industry program partners and eligible participants to determine essential skills levels through a variety of assessment tools. Tailor-made training plans will be developed to match both the workplace and the individual participants’ needs. TRU-WL will implement the training plans through both credit and non-credit offerings. The program is designed to facilitate and support learning by building self-confidence. This grant is the first major award for the TRU Williams Lake campus. Shirley Pat Gale, Grants Officer, was the author of the proposal and will be the primary administrator of the grant. Honorable Wally Oppal, QC, presents certificate to Stella Oneita Ostrander Performances and presentations at the First Nations Tax Administration Banquet. Tulo students among first graduating class of new program Story and Photos by Tina Pelletier E said Clarke, who is currently the property tax administrator at Songhees Nation. Christina Clarke was among the first graduates of the program, which aims to provide its students with the hands-on experience to manage First Nations tax systems. Clarke’s schooling will equip her with the practical tools necessary to implement the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act (FSMA). Her education will soon contribute to the project development of a new wellness centre that is presently in the works, which will be complete with a full-size gymnasium, museum, conference facilities, health centre, community centre, and administration offices. In attendance “I am excited because of the new ways at Christina’s graduation was Chief I can contribute to Songhees Nation,” Robert Sam of the Songhees Nation, said Clarke proudly, adding, “Now that the first First Nation to convert its bylaws I finished the program, it means I can from s.83 of the Indian Act to FSMA laws. help bring new opportunities for our First He says the award ceremony marks Nation that will not only maximize the a time of rapid growth and change. benefit of the land but, ultimately, “First Nations in Canada are in transition,” help our band membership onto a future said Chief Sam. “And we will need path of prosperity.” more graduates of the Tulo programs to help lead our people down the road to self-determination.” www.tulo.ca leven graduates of the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics – in a partnership formed with the First Nation Tax Commission and Thompson Rivers University in 2008 – were awarded their certificates in First Nations Tax Administration at the 2011 TRU Fall Convocation. “I was excited to take the Tulo program because there was a lot of emphasis on understanding how to implement the FSMA for the benefit of the economic development on First Nations,” Clarke says she is looking forward to applying her new skills to contribute to the legal, administrative and technical needs of Songhees, and feels confident the First Nations Tax Administration program has equipped her with the skills to work effectively with engineers, accountants, lawyers, band members, and taxpayers. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 21 Student Street Camping Out for Youth Outreach By Anita Rathje I f you saw some young people huddled in sleeping bags on the TRU Campus Commons lawn one chilly night this fall, and wondered for a moment if they had beds to go home to, the campers made their point. TRU students, staff, and community members spent a night under the stars at the 2nd Annual Camp Out on Campus to raise awareness and funds for Kamloops youth outreach. The inaugural event started last February, with snow still on the ground, and organizers had a challenge convincing people to pledge to spend a night outdoors. This fall, 69 people registered for the event, which began at 6pm on October 18th, and of those, 27 spread out tarps and sleeping bags on the grass in front of the Brown Family House of Learning to sleep for the entire night. The student-run pledge drive raised over $5100 toward Youth @ Risk Programs through Interior Community Services (ICS), a local non-profit agency. “Youth @ Risk Programs through Interior Community Services help to keep young people in our community safe,” said Matt Osborne, the Human Service grad who started the event last winter after working with at risk youth during his practicum at ICS. “The Youth Outreach Program had 1,378 interactions with over 400 youth in the past year, and prevented the loss of housing for 134 youth. Money raised will continue to help young people learn life skills, find housing, and build confidence and self-esteem. We are essentially investing in the future of Kamloops.” Joining TRU students and staff were members from the community including staff and management from Interior Community Services, CLBC and ASK Wellness. Elder Mike Arnouse welcomed the campers to the traditional Secwepemc Territory at about 8:30pm. A late meal of chili and buns and other food and beverages for the night were donated by ICS, COBS Bread and Starbucks. The event ended at 6am with breakfast donated by Lynn Joly, Associate VP Human Resources and Planning at TRU. Various businesses also donated prizes. “I'm so proud of the organizing committee and each participant that slept out overnight. Their level of commitment is so inspiring and is the reason that we will likely see a 3rd Annual Camp Out on Campus next October,” said Osborne, now a Bachelor of Social Work student. He hopes this event will continue to support youth outreach for many years to come. “Thank you to everyone who helped to make the 2nd Annual Camp Out on Campus a success and we look forward to your support in the coming years.” City of Kamloops Thurs May 10 - Fri May 11, 2012 Thompson Rivers University 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC Photo by Keith Anderson, The Daily News. Kimberley SiWallace, BEd, unpacks her sleeping bag for a night under the stars during the second annual Camp Out on Campus, outside The Brown Family House of Learning, background. 22 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 The 3rd Annual Cities Fit for Children Provincial Summit is dedicated to increasing the knowledge of the positive impact that local partnerships, effective policies and business engagement strategies have in contributing to safe, healthy and sustainable cities. This provincial conference is dedicated to child and family development through natural play concepts, building diverse and inclusive communities as well as the healthy build environment. The event will bring together local, municipal and regional leaders involved in policy decisions and those involved in designing and building healthy safe communities for children and families. The objective of the Summit is to showcase exemplary and visionary community initiatives, strategies and practices in Kamloops and around the province. For more info, call Nicole Beauregard at 250-828-3758 or email nbeauregard@kamloops.ca www.kamloops.ca/citiesfitforchildren Alma Matters T "I like engaging Aboriginal students and developing their strengths as they learn to navigate and access services and supports. That's where I operate from. Everyone has strengths they may or may not be aware of." —Wendy Chernivchan RU grads Wendy Chernivchan (Human Service Diploma ’11) and Vernie Clement (BBA ’09) were recently hired by TRU Aboriginal Services and have roles tied directly to student success. Clement is the Aboriginal Mentor Coordinator and Chernivchan is the Aboriginal Life Skills Coach. "I like to help make change and now I’m in a position where I can help drive some of that change. If it’s helping first-year students succeed, helping the institution, helping our people—it’s all good to me." —Vernie Clement With each thrilled to be applying their skills and talents in a direct and positive manner to better the lives of Aboriginal peoples, Bridges asked, ‘What is one thing that excites you about the position?’ Alumni Journalist Wins Top BC Awards F ive years after graduating from TRU’s Bachelor of Journalism program, alumnus Tyler Olsen has won three top honours in the BC newspaper industry, for his series called “Growing Concern” for the Chilliwack Times. At an awards gala on October 24th, Olsen received the Jack Webster Award for Community Reporting, which recognizes broadcast journalists from small market broadcast organizations and print journalists from publications with less than 50,000 circulation whose work demonstrates extraordinary enterprise, talent or courage in bringing vital information to their community. Also at the Websters Olsen’s series on marijuana grow-ops in Chilliwack also won him top awards from the Canadian Community TRU alumnus Tyler Olsen at Newspaper the Jack Webster Foundation Association Awards Gala and the British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspaper Association. • Mel Rothenburger, a former journalism instructor at Cariboo College credited with working to establish the journalism program at TRU, received the Bruce Hutchinson Lifetime Achievement Award. • Jason M. Perry, received a 2011 Student Journalism Award Mel Rothenburger, Editor, Kamloops Daily News The Jack Webster Foundation, established in 1986, recognizes excellence in journalism in British Columbia. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 23 Alma Matters Alumni4Farm2Chefs Culinary grazing for a sustainable future By Diana Skoglund O n a brilliant summer Sunday afternoon, a passionate group of chefs and farmers took over Thistle Farm in Westsyde (Kamloops) at the first annual Farm2Chefs fundraiser. Eleven Culinary Arts alumni from TRU were among the 30 vendors offering one-bite celebrations of local food in support of the Thompson-Shuswap Chef-Farmer Collaborative (TSCFC). Attendees at the sold out event were treated to culinary creations by TRU alumni representing a wide variety of restaurants and food producers from the Thompson-Shuswap region, who joined the TSCFC to cultivate connections between local farmers and chefs to help bring locally-grown food 24 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 “from seed to plate”. Culinary Arts alumni and chef instructors at TRU are at the forefront of the movement towards a sustainable food system in the region. “I really wanted to showcase the agricultural bounty of our region, to serve our guests something fresh, indigenous and unique,” said Ed Walker, TSCFC’s founder and chair of the culinary arts program at TRU. As serving local food has become more important to chefs, it has also become important for the industry’s future food purchasers and preparers. “This collaborative will let us instill the passion for fresh, local, sustainable food in our students.” Nami Tamaki, '06, Adam Florence, '06, and James Robbins, '07 of Felix on Fourth hold blueberry blossom Hilltop Honey coronets with Felix-made ricotta from Blackwell Dairy farm milk, fresh blueberry compote, and candied Laughing Swan lemon thyme. Jenna Angle, '08 (Manteo’s) and Brent Pilon, '08 (Hillside Estate) of the Okanagan Chef's Association prepping Lois Lake smoked steelhead paté, Okanagan Red Spring carrot fry bread, organic cucumber apricot relish, and Okanagan Spirits cherry shortcake with honey crème fraiche. Mitchell Shafer, South Thompson Inn and Conference Centre and his one bite roast beef dinner. Vanessa Lochead, '07, Noble Pig, with pulled pork sliders. Maeghan Summer, '02, Noble Pig, Hotel & Resort Diploma with one of the fine pilsner and ales from the local brew house. Brad Plamondon, '11, of Shuswap Chefs, located in Salmon Arm. Ted’s Trout Farm trout brined in Crannog’s ale. Alison Sawyer, '11, of The Westsyde Pump in Kamloops. Beet chips and goat cheese – a new take on chips and salsa. Alamu Durand, '10, Terra with chicken salad and jalepeno and lime dressing. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 25 Alma Matters Find us on campus: The TRU Alumni and Friends office is G321 on the top floor of the TRU gymnasium complex. Stop by and say hello! online: • Upcoming events Class Notes ‘00 Kraig Montalbetti • Guest speakers • New Alumni & Friends Card • Affinity partners discounts • Updates and story ideas • Volunteer as a Career Mentor • Nominate a Distinguished Alumni Email us at alumni@tru.ca www.tru.ca/alumni ’85 Lisa Johnston, Kamloops, BC, completed University Transfer courses at Cariboo College in 1985 and received her BA with a Major in Criminology from Simon Fraser University in 1987. For 17 years Lisa worked as a probation officer, mostly in the Lower Mainland, with a year in Auckland, New Zealand. For the last three years she and her husband and two children have lived in Kamloops, where she works as a parole officer. ‘97 Andrea Laliberte, Las Cruces, New Mexico, followed her BNRS degree with an MSc in Rangeland Resources in 2000 and a PhD in Forest Resources in 2003, both at Oregon State University. At New Mexico State University, Andrea is a leader in the field of object-based image analysis (OBIA) with high spatial resolution imagery, and has made the Jornada Experimental Range a well-known presence in the application of unmanned aircraft remote sensing for natural resource applications. Her research also includes the development of remote sensing monitoring tools for the US National Resource Inventory (NRI) in support of the Conservation Effects Assessment Program. ‘00 Kraig Montalbetti, Kamloops, BC, completed his Associate of Science degree at UCC, transferred to UBC to complete his BSc, then followed that 26 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 with medical school, graduating in 2006. He has been back in Kamloops for two years now, with his wife and one-year-old son. Kraig recently took over a family practice and enjoys mentoring TRU pre-medical students. ’00 Ken Salter, Kamloops, BC, started a position at the AIDS Society of Kamloops six months after he graduated from the BSW program at TRU, and still works there eleven years later. He was the fourth employee when he started and has witnessed the agency expand to fifty-seven employees. He has had the incredible experience of designing his own position, coordinating the Street Outreach Program for the ASK Wellness Center. “I set the goals, and I get to decide how best to reach those goals. I have the best job in the world.” ’01 Cheryl Weatherhead, Kamloops, BC, a preschool provider for the past 15 years, was recently awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. The ECE grad was nominated by parents of the children attending her preschool in Kamloops. ’02 Jennifer Howatt, Kamloops, BC, worked for a year at NRI Distribution as HR Assistant after getting her BBA in Human Resources, then joined the HR department at the City of Kamloops Did You Know? You are a member of the TRU Alumni & Friends Association if you are a: • Past Student of TRU who has completed 18 credits • Mentor in our TRU Career Mentoring Program '07 Duncan Olthuis and '05 Heidi Budnaryk '09 Daniel Hall in 2003. Jennifer married Neil Howatt, fellow TRU BBA grad, in 2004 and now has two little girls, Hayley and Megan, and "Bluesy", a big black dog. She achieved her Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation in 2005. She is proud to call Kamloops home and enjoys being involved in family-friendly community events, and speaking and mentoring at TRU. '03 Dustin Oaten, Kamloops, BC, followed up his BNRS degree with an MSc from UBC in 2007, and is currently completing his PhD, also from UBC. Dustin is married with three kids and works as a biologist with Golder Associates Ltd. in Kamloops. '05 Heidi Budnaryk and '07 Duncan Olthuis, Kamloops, BC, were married on July 30, 2011. Duncan is TRU Athletics, Sport Camp and Event Coordinator and head coach for the Kamloops Broncos. Heidi is an accountant at James Western Star. ‘06 Quinn Savage, Kamloops, BC, graduated with a BBA in Marketing, and did a short stint at both the Royal Bank and KPMG. After two years in a marketing job for Tourism Kamloops, she joined the City of Kamloops as Marketing and Communications Coordinator, where she’s been for a year and a half. Quinn’s main '10 Breeanne Hollett and Jamie Simpson passion is competing in triathlons, and she sits on the Kamloops Tri Club board of directors. • Donor to the Foundation and our student scholarship program • Graduate of TRU The Alumni and Friends Association is a not-for-profit society; membership is free. The programs, benefits and student support we offer are made possible by: '09 Daniel Hall, Kamloops, BC, placed 10th at the World Skills Competition in London, England in October. He was accompanied by his trainer Mark Foan, who taught electronics at Cariboo College from 1978 to 1985, and Educator Emeritus Al Green who coordinates the Skills competitions for TRU. Hall, a graduate of the Telecommunications and Networking Technology diploma program, earned gold at Skills Canada in 2009 and 2010. His 10th place finish at the World competition was one of the highest ever achieved by a Canadian student in the category. He has completed his first year of Engineering at TRU and has been accepted into UBC’s Electronic Engineer Program. ’10 Breeanne (Hollett) Simpson, Trail, BC, completed her BBA, double majoring in HR and marketing, with a little perseverance, Open Learning opportunities, co-op experience and a lot of encouragement from her manager at Teck Metals Ltd, where she is an HR Generalist. Breeanne married Jamie Simpson, store manager of the Trail Safeway, in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico on February 24, 2011. (Convocation Photography) • Stay informed through our Bridges magazine, AGM, website and e-newsletters. • Get involved through our mentoring programs, golf tourneys and socials • Stay connected. To update your contact information, tell your story and get details on great services, visit our website. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni www.tru.ca/alumni 27 Alma Matters Let's Remember Professor Robb Fry, Department of Mathematics. Dr. Fry had an excellent research career in mathematics in part because the subject was simply part of his soul. His upper level courses in Analysis, History of Mathematics, and Measure Theory were highlights for many students. He was invited by students to be speaker to the Canadian Undergraduate Mathematics Conference (held at Carleton in 2009) a national conference for students, by students. Kathy Mitchell came to UCC in the mid 1980s and held many roles: instructor in University Prep and in Student Success, Program Coordinator, Department Chair, researcher, and Dean of the Faculty of Student Development. In 2006, she was awarded the Master Teacher award, in recognition of her skill and dedication to her students. As Dean, she led the Faculty through the challenges of transition and reorganization, all the while maintaining a focus on students and what they needed for success. Jane Powell, School of Education. Her particular specialty was drama education and she instilled a profound sense of the discipline’s importance in her students while at the same time was always ready to share light hearted moments and laughs with colleagues. As a graduate supervisor she was encouraging and patient. Charles Brewster served as President of Cariboo College from 1979 to 1986 and led in the establishment of the first permanent campus in Williams Lake. He, along with several other BC educators, travelled to Asia in 1986 and made a difference as a builder of TRU. Bradley Munro, a student in his last semester of his degree in Theatre, was a very active student on campus with involvement on numerous committees, groups and anything theatre related, including assisting in strengthening TRU Pride and Student Representative on the Comprehensive University Enhancement Fund Committee. Bradley was also involved in many community theatre related activities. TRU will be awarding his degree posthumously. Professor Robb Fry John Janke, Department of Economics began working for TRU in September 1971. He was one of the longest serving faculty members at TRU, recently receiving his long-term, 40-year service award. He taught in the Department of Economics and had also worked in the Departments of Math and Commerce. TRU community passings since August 2011 We’re here for you, TRU Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Friends. Let’s talk. Our experienced CIBC advisors are dedicated to providing you with the advice you need to achieve your goals. Please call me at 250 314-3106 ext. 222 so that I can put you in touch with the right member of my team. ASK ABOUT OUR CURRENT OFFERS CIBC Sahali Banking Centre 565 Notre Dame Drive in Kamloops I 250 314-3106 THURSDAY – FRIDAY 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM SATURDAY 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Columbia Street W. MONDAY – WEDNESDAY 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM N Notre Dame Drive al Lav Notre Dame nt sce Cre 97 Trans-Canada Hwy Drive Corey Darling Branch Manager 28 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 “CIBC For what matters.” is a trademark of CIBC. Track the 'Pack WolfPack Rookies Sieze the Season Tom McManus Coach of the Year Photo by Douglas Sage By Larry Read R iding a 13-match unbeaten streak this season, the WolfPack women’s soccer team fought their way to the provincial title and a trip to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships in Quebec, despite losing three regulars to season-ending injuries. The injury bug hit before the first regular season match when PACWEST first team all-star sweeper Sarah Gomes went up for a ball in an exhibition match and suffered a severe concussion that scrapped her sophomore season. Fourth year defender Maddy Reid hadn’t even suited up for training when she was injured playing U-21 summer soccer. As a result, head coach Tom McManus, formerly assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team and head coach of the Winnipeg Fury, was forced to move one of his strongest offensive threats to the sweeper position. Relying on top scorer Laura Smylie’s versatility, McManus slotted her into Gomes’ spot in the starting roster. Reid took the sweeper position when she recovered, allowing Smylie to have a turn up front, but the injury bug continued to plague the ‘Pack. During a match on Thanksgiving weekend against UNBC, fourth year stopper Blair MacKay, who was later named a PACWEST first team all-star, broke her nose in two places when she went up for a header between two opposing players, and missed the last four regular season matches as well as the playoffs. In the same match, third year outside midfielder Chianne Smith suffer ACL damage. Smith was one of two players responsible for taking corner kicks. McManus looked at his rookie-laden roster and knew he had to make some adjustments in order to make a run at a playoff spot. Reid went to the stopper position, Smylie back to sweeper. Rookies Vanessa Zilkie and Madison Wells, both outside midfielders, were moved to outside back, where they performed like veterans. And third year midfielder Alanna Bekkering, who had sat out the previous year, emerged as one of the top players in the league and was named a PACWEST first team all-star for a strong performance. In the playoffs, Bekkering was taken off the field with a scratched retina in the semi-final against Langara, but came back Guiding his team to the playoffs despite losing four regulars to serious injuries has resulted in Tom McManus of the TRU WolfPack being named the PACWEST women’s soccer coach of the year for 2011. “I am very honoured to have been recognized by my peers as Coach of the Year,” he says. “ It has been a tough season with all of the injuries, but all of the players and coaching staff bought into what I have been trying to do and without them supporting my decisions it could have been disastrous. I have been very lucky to have excellent coaching staff and excellent support staff from the WolfPack office and my thanks goes out to all of them.” to score the winning goal. In the final against host UBCO, Bekkering scored the first goal of the match, and broke a tie in overtime for a 2-1 victory. McManus’ philosophy of "possession all" was the key to the WolfPack’s success. Bekkering was named the championships’ Most Valuable Player, and McManus was voted PACWEST Coach of the Year for getting the most out of his inexperienced roster, from regular season victories to the provincial title and a spot in the Nationals. The WolfPack placed 4th in the CCAA National Championships and were chosen Most Sportsmanlike Team of the tournament. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 29 Accolades Goes Local By Michael Potestio 80 percent of the menu at Accolades Restaurant now comes directly from local suppliers, thanks to the work of the Thompson-Shuswap Chef Farmer Collaborative (TSCFC). The push to feature more local ingredients in Accolades' menu began in April 2010, when Chef Instructor Ed Walker of TRU’s Culinary Arts program founded the TSCFC to connect chefs to local farmers. Walker said that although buying organic vegetables or a whole lamb may cost more, his culinary students will learn to use every part of the product. “You’re getting a better product at the end of the day. Initially it will cost a little bit more, but in the long run you’re actually going to see a savings, I think,” said Walker. “We want a good product to put on the plate and a good product for our students to work with,” said Chef Instructor Jeff Jordan. He wants his students to understand where their food is coming from and how it gets from the farm to the plate, and to see the potential of BC food. TRU Foundation Board Member 30 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 Distinguished Alumni '09 A Report to the Community Key founding principles guide the continued growth and development of TRU. Learner-centeredness, accessibility and quality of education and service are the principles that steer program development that meets the needs of the region's communities, and responds to many unique educational, cultural and social needs. TRU prides itself on being the University of Choice, making student engagement, research, environmental sustainability and international opportunities a primary focus. To this end, TRU offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree and post-baccalaureate diploma options and diploma and certificate programs that allow access to flexible degree completion through laddering, and distance education through the BC Centre for Open Learning. Program options are further augmented by opportunities for co-op education, internships or practicum placements and a Study Abroad program offering exchanges to over 40 countries via either direct exchanges with a partner institution or the International Student Exchange Program. TRU Connects to the Community by: Supplying skill Nearly 70% of new job openings in BC in the next eight years will require a post-secondary credential; almost 38% a college or trades certificate and 30% a university degree. TRU’s unique combination of program options facilitates the ability to educate students for the majority of occupational openings across BC. Inciting conversation The Brown Family House of Learning is a 78,000 square foot facility containing a library, learning commons, space for Aboriginal programs and services and the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Centre. This in-the-round lecture theatre is designed after a Salish pit house and is the largest in the province. The theatre features state of the art technology to support lectures, meetings, symposia and conferences in a setting that will encourage and facilitate interactive dialogue in the tradition of Aboriginal culture. Providing financial support The 2010 United Way campaign at TRU raised $58,510, a 20% increase over 2009. Another campaign goal was met with the addition of 38 new donors. During the 28th Annual Foundation Awards Ceremony last November $448,178 was given to 530 students through 280 donor-sponsored awards. It is expected almost $1.6 million will be given to students throughout the year in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and awards from the TRU Foundation and internal university funding. Offering expertise Students in the School of Business and Economics leant their expertise in human resource management, marketing and strategic planning to projects focused on non-profits and small businesses. Students worked on 12 projects in 2010, contributing to the community while gaining experience with organizations such as Simpcw First Nations, Big Little Science Centre, Open Door Group, Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association, The United Way, Interior Health and Kamloops Immigration Services. In May 2011, the United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo presented TRU’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE TRU) with the 2011 “Youth Inspired Spirit Award” for their generous contribution to the community. The SIFE TRU team also won multiple awards at the 2011 Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) National Exposition in Toronto. SIFE provides university and college students access to real world experience, through the implementation of economic outreach projects that complement in-class studies. Improving health Faculty and students in the School of Nursing in partnership with the CONAYT Native Friendship Centre in Merritt, BC, provided Aboriginal people and Elders with health care, screening, and education. Students also worked with the clients and staff of New Life Mission to develop a health street fair that was attended by over 150 people. The fair addressed needs identified as significant by those living in poverty and with mental health and/or addiction issues. Other projects include the development of a series of 12 free public lectures on issues relevant to chronic back pain, its prevention and treatment. Inspiring ideas Through the TRU President’s Lecture Series and the TRU Student Union Common Voices Lecture Series, the community is invited to hear the thoughts and ideas of world renowned speakers free of charge. Past guests include Stephen Lewis, Dr. David Suzuki and Phil Fontaine. These highly regarded presentations have generated local and international responses and motivate many TRU students to become actively involved in a variety of developing world projects. Both the Science Seminar series and the Environmental Science Seminar series run on Thursdays throughout the year. A wide range of topics are covered with representations from an array of disciplines such as biology, natural resource sciences, geography, politics, history, philosophy, economics, mathematics, geology, tourism, sociology, anthropology, journalism, chemistry, physics, and education. Bringing game TRU has 11 teams competing in eight different sports and the cheerleading team is entering its fifth season of enlivening audiences. WolfPack basketball and volleyball compete in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), soccer and badminton Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), and baseball now competes in the newly formed Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC). In May 2010 the WolfPack became official members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. WolfPack community activities include McDonalds/TRU WolfPack Sports Camps and Kids Club. The Athletics and Recreation department also offers a wide range of intramural sports and recreation programs. Accommodating activity As a venue, the University hosts dozens of events each year that range from academic conferences to secondary school performing arts and science competitions, from political caucuses to professional association conventions. In August, the TRU residence housed 2200 young athletes for the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games. Ceremonies was Richard Van Camp, an internationally renowned storyteller. This event highlighted TRU’s diversity of research, linkages to community-based and applied research, new funding for research labs and analytical facilities, excellence in student research, research mentorship and support from the business community. Sarah White (left) and Emily Oliver (right) of Women’s Soccer help out at McHappy Day During 2010–11 TRU received $989,692 in funding from Western Economic Diversification and other sources to purchase a suite of analytical tools for Bioproducts Discovery and Development. In October 2011, TRU was accepted into the Research University Council of BC (RUCBC). This council provides leadership in the development of public policy and a forum for member universities. Current research includes: • Understanding and preserving threatened ecosystems TRU joins RUCBC. Dr. Alan Shaver with Allan Cahoon, (middle), President and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Roads, and Dr. George Iwama, (right), President and Vice-Chancellor of UNBC and Chair of RUCBC, at the announcement Oct. 4th • Global climate change and rural communities • Maintaining healthy forests • Sustainable and innovative changes to the BC cattle industry • Utilizing microbes to break down environmental pollutants • Developing and understanding lantibiotics • Devising mathematical solutions to real-world problems • Tools for sustainable and diverse urban planning for small cities James Charbonneau, TRU Science alumnus (’04), gives a lecture titled 'Parity Violation and Topological Currents' on Nov. 17, 2011 as part of the Science Seminar Series. • Endangered species • Chronic illness management • Creating a safer workplace by treating sleep disorders • E-learning practises and opportunities Developing discovery TRU held its first university-wide celebration of research on April 2, 2011. The honourary Master of WolfPack Men's Basketball helps launch TRU's United Way campaign. TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni III TRU Foundation Faculty Giving back to make a difference I t has been more that forty years since Ron and Glenda drove down the Yellowhead Highway, heading to Kamloops and a faculty position for Ron in the Arts department of a brand new Cariboo College. Running low on fuel and high on anticipation, Ron and Glenda were unsure of what awaited them at the dusty little campus made up of portable classrooms on borrowed land. Decades later, Ron finished his career as the Dean of Arts, Education and Social Work when he took medical leave in 1998. He retired in 2009 after running the Cultural Events program at TRU for 30 years. At this year’s Foundation Breakfast, Ron and Glenda announced a $100,000 donation to start an endowment to fund a large bursary for a Bachelor of Arts student. This is the largest contribution ever by a TRU faculty member. the Arts have been added,” said Glenda, speaking for Ron who has difficulties due to Parkinson’s disease. “One thing that has not changed, though, is the need to support arts students. “However people make their living, physicians, accountants or lawyers, all of us benefit from the works of students educated in the arts. These are the people that become our playwrights, our curators and the many other careers that are based on an arts degree.” The wisdom he imparted in 1997, for Striving Ahead; 25 Years at Cariboo, holds true today. Reflecting on his career he said, “Our single most exciting opportunity for the future? This is going to sound hokey, but: the opportunity for people to become more interdisciplinary in their teaching…these things lead to a greater understanding of people and their environment.” “The college has certainly grown over the years and more programs and courses in Ron and Glenda Miles donated $100,000 to start an endowment fund for TRU Bachelor of Arts students. TRU Foundation Board of Directors Foundation hits $3 million mark in annual funds raised $3,500,000 11.3% $3,000,000 25.0% $2,500,000 62.7% $2,000,000 $1,500,000 16.4% $1,000,000 31.9% 15.3% 17.5% -14.6% $500,000 $0 Fiscal Year FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 Fiscal Year FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 Growth % N/A -14.6% 31.9% 15.3% 17.5% 16.4% Funds Raised $759,379 $648,241 $855,004 $986,241 $1,158,442 $1,348,433 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 62.7% 25.0% 11.3% $2,193,281 $2,742,276 $3,052,840 > John O'Fee, Chair > Stella Black, Vice Chair > John Sparks, Secretary > Norman Daley, Treasurer > Cameron Gatey > Dr. G. Bas Gowd > Jeff Glaicar > Les Consenheim > Dr. Gautam Parghi > Frank Luciani > Roxanna Ferguson > David Paul > Christopher Séguin > Ken Lepin > Azzra Bardai, Student Representative > Diane Jules, BOG Appointee Dear Donors, Your generous donations in the form of scholarships, awards and bursaries make an incredible difference to TRU students. The reality most students deal with on a day-to-day basis is a challenging one; the need to funnel one's attention span into intense study in the beginning of a semester, and the constant worry and stress to keep the scholastic momentum up during the semester in order to be successful in meeting one's deadlines and educational goals. Then there’s all the ‘life’ that happens outside school that students have to keep organized in order to fulfill academic requirements. Easier said than done. A single parent, I began my university career about 6 years ago when my daughter was 9 years old, without family support or resources. I was determined to push past the limits of ‘single mom’ and living hand to mouth, and be able to sustain my family. I wanted to plow through economic barriers and most importantly present a role model for my daughter. I wanted her to understand that despite the day-to-day struggles, one can pursue academic and extracurricular achievements and set goals and dreams. I have received several awards and bursaries at TRU, which has made the difference when paying bills, buying groceries and paying rent. But your financial contributions not only give support, they also give recognition to students that may have slipped under the radar, public acknowledgement for those who have risen past limitations and reached higher. It is with a huge sigh of gratitude that I say thank you! Thank you to you, the TRU Donors, for supporting me and all TRU students by giving us the financial encouragement to continue on our educational paths, and helping to nurture socially engaged citizens. Melanie Bilodeau 4th Year BA student in Theatre Thank you Donor List Visionaries – $500,000+ Contributors – $5,000+ Accent Inns Irving K Barber Carl & Karen Abbott Edward Adams Mark & Ellen Brown ARAMARK Canada Ltd. Robert & Karen Adkin Leaders – $100,000+ Armstrong Family Foundation Advanced Electrical Systems Ltd. BDO Dunwoody LLP Advantage Travelwise BMO Bank of Montreal Connie E. Alger British Columbia Lottery Corporation Allteck Starr & Gayle Carson Dr. Donald Andrews Credit Union Central of BC Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. Tom LaFreniere & Donna Mellquist Daley & Co Chartered Accountants LLP ARC'TERYX Ambassadors – $50,000+ Kelly Dutchak Estate of Irene Margaret Wilson Evening Auxiliary Royal Inland Hospital Peter Aylen & Moira Bennedette Ron & Rae Fawcett Fulton & Company LLP KPMG Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust The Stollery Charitable Foundation Kamloops Senior Citizens Housing Society The Kamloops Daily News The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group G & T Metallurgical Services Ltd. Government of British Columbia Interior Savings Credit Union United Food & Commercial Workers Union 247 Kamloops Bar Association Partners – $10,000+ Kamloops Honda Acres Enterprises Ltd. William Lennox & Mary Cameron BC Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum Cariboo Woodlot Education Society Zofia Cisowski Donner Canadian Foundation Charles & Edith Fawcett John & Candace Galbraith Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd. Kamloops Blazers Education Society Kamloops Blazers Sports Society Legacy Fund Gwyneth Lamperson Lee's Music McDonald's Restaurant Jeanette Murray Roland & Anne Neave & Family Peterbilt Trucks Pacific Inc. RBC Royal Bank South Thompson Wildlife Stewardship Committee The Sprott Foundation Lynne Totten TRU Students' Union Vancouver Foundation Kamloops Foundation Lafarge Canada Inc. Dr. Duncan & Marie MacRae Minerva Foundation for BC Women Anchor Equipment (2005) Ltd. Artistic Signs Services Ltd. Canadian Association of Equipment Distributors Mark & Susan Dixon Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3500 Annette D. Dominik Capital City Construction Ltd. Capital Power Corporation Sonia Carmichael Gayle Carson Cates Carroll Watt Lawyers Cedar Creek Landscaping Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital Ltd. Century Glass CFDC of Cariboo - Chilcotin CFDC of Thompson Country Ayres Fencing Installations Fiona Chan Dr. Chinnama Baines Chartered Accountants Education Foundation of BC Ed & Dianne Barker Thomas G. Barley Dr. Roger & Paula Barnsley Alf Bawtree BC Northern Real Estate Board BC Society of Respiratory Therapists Michael Chinganda Shawn Chisholm Brian A. Christianson Brendalee Christie CIBC City of Kamloops BCAA Group Affinity Services Roy Click Gloria L. Beaver Troy S. Clifford John & Martha Belicka CN Jason & Sheila Bermiller Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada Co. Dino Bernardo Domtar Pulp & Paper Products Inc. Lorraine Drdul Duffy's Pub Susan M. Duncan Robbie & Calla Dunn DW Builders Larry & Cheryl Dyck Eagle Point Golf & Country Club Anthony & Lynn Eberts Elite Soccer School Elk Valley Properties Ltd. Excelsior Rebekah Lodge No. 23 Carolynne Fardy Kevin R. Fertile Fidelity Investments Canada Ltd. Rita Fincham Ken J. Finnie First Nations Tax Commission FOCUS Fort Kamloops Chapter I.O.D.E. Harvey & Barbara Comazzetto The Foundation for Education & Advancement in Technology Commodore Ventures Ltd Rob & Traci Froese Concord Security Bill & Alana Frymire Fusion Rotaract Club of Kamloops NL Broadcasting Ltd. Jagdish Bhalle Pace Group Communications Inc. Dr. James & Marie Christine Bilbey Pacific Veterinary Sales Ltd. Bill Bilton Jr. and Sr. Les Consenheim Pineridge Trailer & Equipment Ltd. Dr. Stella Black Corix West Shore Environmental Services Fearon R. Blair & Richard M. L. Blair Michele L. Dodds Stephen Gainey Council for Exceptional Children Brian G. Garland Bruce T. Cunliffe Don Garrish Cunliffe Schreurs Tupper Greg Garrish Kori Dacho Cameron Gatey Norman V. Daley Geo Grout Inc. Daniel & Catherine Dallaire Gestion 3D Ltee Michael Dalziel Dash Tools Inc Gillespie Renkema Barnett Broadway Dave's Cleaning Service Jeff & Jane Glaicar Scott Broadfoot Dawson Construction Ltd. Glover Prescriptions Ltd. Dr. Richard Brownlee & Margaret Querin Susan Dealy Golfland Entertainment Ltd. Delta Hotels & Resorts David & Aruna Gore John & Judy Brunette Delta Sun Peaks Resort Dr. Bas & Shankaramma Gowd Brian & Tara Callander Sandra L. Dever Graycon Group 12 Stones Chapel Larry Campbell Ambo Dhaliwal GVIC Communication Corp. 974668 Alberta Ltd. Canada's Mastermind Development Corp. Paramjit & Kulwinder Dhillon Dr. Rick & Susan Hallett Dr. Tom Dickinson & Nancy Flood Ted Hallman Eric & Lori Putoto - Platinum Realty Inc. BMO Investments Inc. Pronto Enterprises Ltd. BMO Nesbitt Burns Rotary Club of Kamloops Anthony Bockman Royal Canadian Legion Foundation Daniel J. Bose Kathleen Scales Paul Bradford SECWEPEMC Child & Family Services TRU Environment & Sustainability Dept. TRU Faculty Association Urban Systems Ltd. Vancouver Airport Services Supporters – $500 + Abstract Registry Services Ltd. James & Evelyn Bowersock Sharon E. Brewer British Columbia Lung Association Richard L. Garner Thank you to the following donors who made contributions this past fiscal year (April 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011). Their generosity has helped many TRU students and made TRU a better place Cathy Hall-Patch Kiwanis Club of Kamloops, BC Ron & Susan Olynyk Robert Hamaguchi Kevin & Debbie Krueger Kevin O'Neil Chris & Robin Hans Dr. Ross Outerbridge Gerard & Sharon Hayes Michael Kuromi & September Weir Charles A. Hays L.A. West Associates Inc. Dr. Terry & Lisa Lake Darren Ovington Richard & Sandra Heney Heritage Office Furnishings Ron Lamperson Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Maurice Hindle & Sydney Johnsen Andre Larouche Kirk & Andrea Panser Barbara Paterson HMZ Law Lawyers Business & Property Network Robert & Mirella Holden Dr. Maureen Leia-Stephen James & Laurie Horne Linda Turner Personal Real Estate Corporation Gordon & Mary Ellen Patterson Hot Nite in the City Society HPF Engineering Ltd. HSBC Bank Canada Dr. Anthony & Patricia Human Richard Hunter IRL Idealease Ltd Karen F. Irving Scott Janzen Ravindeep Johal Overwaitea Food Group Margaret H. Patten Leigh & Rachann Pedersen Staff from the Pattison Broadcast Group in front of the Pattison Broadcast Group classroom in the Brown Family House of Learning. London Drugs Ltd. Don Phillips Loric Industrial Insulation Inc. The Hon. Mr. Justice Tom & Elizabeth Shouldice Dr. Bruce A. Tucker Robert & Elizabeth Powers Shuswap Naturalist Club Pollard Family Foundation Patricia Sidey Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics Jeff Preymak Sikh Cultural Society Scott & Kathryn Tupper Dr. Larry & Joan Prins Dr. Gur & Manju Singh Charleen Proznick Ronald & Karen Skillings Twin River Plumbing & Heating (1985) Ltd. Dr. Barbara Prystawa The Honorable Madam Justice Daphne & Bud Smith The Frank & Shirley Luciani Families Rob MacDonald Maria A. MacIntosh Brian MacKay Dan Maher Law Corporation Mainland Sleep Diagnostics Ltd. Johnson Controls David & Penny Marr Joanne A. Jones Colin Matthews Doug Jontz & Nancy Plett Nan McBlane K & P Construction Ltd. Dr. Nancy Greene Raine & Al Raine Peter McCordic Kal Tire Pulp, Paper & Woodworkers of Canada Local 9 United Floors Upper College Heights Ken Sommerfeld & Catherine Ferguson Valhalla Pure Outfitters South Cariboo Labor Council Richard Vander Mey Spectra Energy Doreen Veale Dennis & Helen Ralph Rob Splane Nels Vollo Elspeth M. Mcdougall Kamloops & District Kennel Club Raymond James Ltd. Joanne Spooner Sean & Lynn Wallace John & Susan McIntyre RBC Wealth Management Sun Country Toyota Kamloops Blazers Hockey Club Thomas & Bonnie McInulty Sun Rivers Golf Resort Community David Hunter & Bev Wassen-Hunter Dr. Alex & Lynn McLean Regency Towers (Owen Sound) Ltd. Retired Teachers Association T G Consulting Inc. Allan & Cathy McNeely Rivershore Estates & Golf Links Gordon Tarzwell Western Canada Theatre Company Kamloops Chartered Accountants Assoc. Rod Michell Grant R. Robertson Larkin D. Taylor Westwood Fibre Ltd. Dave Mitchell Rona Revy Inc. TD Bank Canada Trust Whistler Golf Club Kamloops Council of Canadians Kathleen G. Mitchell Rotary Club of Williams Lake Daybreak TD Waterhouse Barry Wilford Dr. David & Lois Williams Kamloops Exploration Group Society Jeff Mooney RTO BC The Rotary Club of Williams Lake Dr. Neil & Ellen Russell James H. Thomson Cal Wohlford Robert & Patricia Ryan Tobiano Vera Wojna Willy Saari Gerry Toews Dr. Kitson & Miki Wong The Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of BC Dr. Wendy & Dan Sanford Tourism Sun Peaks Peter Young Philip Schettini TRU Ancillary Services Ron Young Martin Nicoll Dr. Tim Schmidt Harald & Sherry Nielsen Yukon Service Supply Company Nihal Labour Contracting Ltd. Schoening Funeral Service Ltd. TRU Assoc. of Professional Administrators Cheryl Zawaduk Al Norgaard Derek & Lynn Schreurs TRU Biology Undergraduate Society Norgaard Ready-Mix Ltd. Christopher Seguin TRU Board of Governors Glennis Zilm Kamloops West Rotary Club North Shore Repair Ray & Susan Sewell Roger Kato Northern Development Initiative Trust Kelly & Heather Shantz Kamloops Business & Professional Women's Club Kamloops Farmers Market Society Kamloops Ford Lincoln Ltd. Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre Kamloops Medical Imaging Inc. Kamloops Outdoor Club Kamloops Paddlewheelers Lions Club James & Karla Keith Kemp Concrete Products Brian & Tanja Kiloh Gordon & Cathy McLeod MJB Lawyers Morelli Chertkow Lawyers LLP Rob K. Morrison R.G. Dunn Electrical Services Pat & Evelyn O'Brien Drs. Alan Shaver & Deborah Buszard John & Daniela O'Fee John E. Sherwood TRU ESL Dept. Valley First Credit Union Christopher & Diane Wells Williams Lake Lions Club The Zawaduk Family TRU Faculty of Student Development TRU Study Abroad Department TRU Trades & Technology Department All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy in this list. If an error or omission has occurred, please call the Foundation office at 250.828.5264. Keep Your Cheques Consider donating RRSPs and RRIFs C anada’s tax incentives for charitable donations are designed to make it easier for you to support your favourite charities. Once you’ve decided which charities to donate to, and how much you can afford to give, you may want to consider alternatives to getting out your chequebook and making a cash donation. How you structure your charitable donations can be as important as the amounts you give, both to the charity and to the donation’s after-tax cost to you. Your after-tax cost for a $1,000 cash donation ranges from $500 to $600, depending on your province of residence. But your options are much broader than simply giving cash or leaving a sum of money to a charity in your will. Gifts of property (known as “gifts in kind”), such as securities, artwork, real estate, RRSP/RRIFs, TFSAs and life insurance can be tax-effective alternatives to gifts of cash. RRSP/RRIF Gifts One tax-effective way of contributing to a charity is through the donation of your RRSP or RRIF. If you wish to support the Thompson Rivers University Foundation, you may name the Foundation as the beneficiary (or alternate beneficiary). Upon your death, or that of your spouse, the Foundation would receive the balance of your Gift of RRIF RRIF to Estate RRSP/RRIF assets Value of RRIF $300,000 $300,000 directly from your financial institution. Tax Liability (43.7%) $131,100 $131,100 Because the assets Tax Credit (43.7%) $131,100 n/a are passed directly Gift to Estate n/a $168,900 to the beneficiary, no probate or executor Gift to Charity - Legacy $300,000 n/a fees will be charged, resulting in further of the proceeds of the RRIF valued savings. Your estate then receives a tax at $300,000, contrasted with the RRIF receipt from the TRU Foundation that designated to the estate for the two can be used to offset taxes owed, as the children. This example shows that by entire plan is reported as income. gifting the RRIF rather than leaving it An alternate approach is to name your to her estate, she has saved $131,000 estate as the beneficiary of your RRSP in taxes. Probate fees have not been or RRIF and include a bequest to the TRU considered for this example. Foundation that is equal to the value of Philanthropy requires a strategic the RRSP or RRIF. A donation receipt will approach and donors should be aware be issued to the estate which will offset of the tax implications taxes owed upon the collapse of your plan. and benefits of giving in However, please note that with this today’s environment. alternative, probate fees on the assets Careful planning with an passing through the estate will likely apply. informed tax adviser can help ensure Example of tax impact on death that your bequest Mrs. Smith is a widower with two adult will be made children, a $1.5 million estate and as you intend a marginal tax rate of 43.7%. The RRIF and provide is expected to be worth $300,000 on significant tax her death and represents the largest savings for tax liability in her estate. your estate. The above chart shows the tax savings associated with the direct designation Information is current to October 31, 2011. The information contained in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. © 2011 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. 38 Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 Leni Meade, TRU Career Mentor and Senior Manager, Tax–KPMG Kamloops Office President and Vice-Chancellor’s Message I t is a cliché to say that time flies but it surprises me that I have been at TRU for over a year now. In that time I have seen what a great education the university provides for its students thanks to the wonderful work of our profs and staff and the support of alumni and friends of TRU and the commitment of the students themselves. In our four Convocation ceremonies in June, nearly 2,500 students joined the ranks of those alumni, receiving diplomas, professional and trades certificates, and bachelors and masters degrees. It was a big day for our graduates; they epitomize the new face of post-secondary education, coming from all parts of the world, from all races, creeds and cultures with shared aspirations to make a difference in the world. It was also a big week for our new Chancellor the Honorable Wally Oppal Q.C. and I because we were both installed the day before those Convocations over which we presided. I was as excited as I had been when I graduated with my degree many years ago. Recently our provincial university peers welcomed TRU into the Research Universitys' Council of British Columbia (RUCBC). The RUCBC membership includes: UBC, SFU, UVic, UNBC and now TRU and Royal Roads. Each of those universities has a unique perspective on research, but they all have one thing in common: they are striving to make the world a better place by generating knowledge and understanding in our students and in our communities. TRU continues to build on its strong tradition of research and innovation. Old Main, our original building and hub of the campus, into a stunning architectural expression and state-of-the-art facility for learning that will include an exciting permanent home for the Faculty. Stay tuned for more news on this transformation in the future. Over the past year a great deal of work and excitement has gone into the development of a new Academic Plan for TRU. Our academic programs are the foundations of our mission and are critical for attracting and supporting a diverse range of excellent students. The plan reinforces social mobility of our students and access to learning for a wide variety of students; envisions flexible learning models and hands-on opportunities; and fosters excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. I invite you to read the draft plan at www.tru.ca/vpacademic/ academic_plan and to feel free to send me any feedback you might have. TRU is about to take another new step in the development of our campus. Discussions are underway about a University Village concept which will enhance campus life and activities, especially after hours and on weekends, by creating residential areas on our campus. A review of best practices at other universities has led the Board of Governors to establish the “TRU Community Corporation” which will lead the campus and community in consultations on the design and planning of this exciting project. More reasons to stay tuned to TRU! On September 6 we opened Canada’s first new Faculty of Law in over 30 years. The Brown Family House of Learning, the building in which the Faculty is temporarily housed, did not even exist a year ago. Our first class of 75 eager students now have the opportunity to obtain a TRU law degree, preparing them for a wide variety of contributions to society. Preparations are underway to transform In my first year, I have witnessed and been privileged to take part in, yet another year of transformational change for TRU. And while we continue to evolve to meet the demands of a changing world, our founding value remains the same: excellent learning for the benefit of all. Alan Shaver President and Vice-Chancellor president@tru.ca TRU Alumni & Friends Magazine www.tru.ca/alumni 39 TRU Historical Photo by Mairi Budreau Remembering the Home Base By Sherry Bennett I nconspicuously nestled in the trees on the southeastern perimeter of TRU’s Kamloops campus are a series of homey Cape Cod houses. updated to function as classrooms, offices, and communal spaces, from the Welcome Centre to the campus daycare, but maintain their historic character. Constructed in 1944 as part of the Royal Canadian Navy Ammunition Depot (RCNAD), the original 10 houses accommodated key personnel and duty officers and complimented 22 bunkers and a series of administration buildings and mess halls. For Karl deBruijn, former TRU Board of Governors Chair, one house in particular holds special significance: House No. 5 (now the Gathering Place). Not because he attended seminars in it as a Cariboo College student, but because it served as his own home for seven years. Planned after strategists deemed it advisable to store ammunition away from the West Coast, the threat of invasion was non-existent when the depot opened in 1945, but with a continued need to store ammunition, Kamloops was one of two depots selected to continue. Between 1945 and 1964, when the advanced ordnance depot was declared surplus and closed, several major improvements were made, including an aerial tramway to transport ammunition and an extensive water and power system that made the site lucrative for future development. In 1967, two years after being taken over by the Provincial Government, 12 RCNAD administration buildings were refurbished into the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, where Walmart stands today. Faced with an exploding student population and limited facilities, Cariboo College took over the officers’ quarters in 1973. Under the university’s jurisdiction, the houses have been 40 An officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force at Mt. Lolo, Karl’s father was granted housing at the former RCNAD site in 1966, when the Provincial Department of Public Works began renting out vacant quarters to RCMP and RCAF officers. While many might cringe at the thought of a neighbourhood straddling a jail, a graveyard, a city dump and ammunition bunkers, Karl recalls his childhood stomping grounds as a paradise for a child with an adventurous spirit. The deBruijn children explored the sage-dotted acres surrounding their home by foot, by go-cart, and later in dad’s 1950 Ford Prefect. With fond memories of her modest home at #5 Royal Navy Residence, Karl’s mother, Velma Schrader, was attracted to House 5 because of its lavish size, 800 square feet. “It was huge,” says Velma. “So much room for my six children.” Thompson Rivers University • Fall 2011 Photo of Karl deBruijn, former TRU Board of Governors Chair Photo by Bikram Bathh Have you checked out your WolfPack lately? A lot has changed since you went to school. The WolfPack are making big strides in the CIS, PACWEST, BC Intercollegiate Hockey League and the Canadian College Baseball Conference. Check out a game live. Can’t make the game? Follow your alma mater on their website: www.tru.ca/athletics Plan Your Future New Event Management Certificate The online and distance learning Division of Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is pleased to offer the new Event Management Certificate, which provides students with the opportunity to achieve an industry-specific credential while continuing to work. Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) introduces students to the event management and tourism industry through this new certificate program, which enables them to acquire the skills they need to successfully plan and manage conferences, festivals and other special events. The Event Management Certificate is designed for people who are new to the industry as well as current tourism professionals who wish to upgrade their skills. It may also be laddered into a Bachelor of Tourism degree at TRU. The program consists of six courses and covers a range of topics, including: marketing strategies, industry law, risk management and volunteer recruitment and management. MC#115302 To learn more, please visit the Tourism section of our website under Programs. Publication Agreement #40040090 Return Undeliverable address to: Thompson Rivers University 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8