THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2019, Issue 16

In 2018, TRU achieved platinum, the highest ranking in the Association for
the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) global
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Sustaining success 4
14 Building a healthier future
20 Women, sustainable leadership and the road ahead
24 A Way Home is where her heart is

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Contents

2

4

14

22
2

President’s message

4

Sustaining success (cover story)

8

A TRU picture of sustainability

12 Sitting down with TRU's newest president
14 Building a healthier future
17 Transforming health research

24
20 Women, sustainable leadership and
the road ahead
22 Viewing sustainability from all angles
24 A Way Home is where her heart is
26 You Can Play
28 Rookie brings pro experience to
the court and class

CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
This issue was printed on a press that uses up to 50 percent less
energy and wastes less paper than non-LED UV presses. The press
itself was manufactured carbon-neutral in Germany where the CO2
footprint is calculated based on the production and materials needed,
as well as transportation to the printing facility in BC.
The cover paper is FSC-certified, 100% recycled using a chlorinefree process, and is one of the only coated 100% recycled papers

available worldwide. The text paper is also FSC-certified, made from
100% post-consumer waste, and is manufactured using certified
Green-e renewable energy. The carbon emissions from the paper
have been offset using Hemlock Printers’ ZERO program and in turn
benefits local BC conservation projects like the Great Bear Rainforest
Carbon Project.

tru.ca/bridges | 1

Contact Us
Sandra Webb Smith
TRU Marketing & Communications
Email bridges@tru.ca
Phone 250-371-5933
tru.ca/bridges

Throughout Bridges Magazine,
former iterations of the institution
including UCC, Cariboo College and
Open Learning Agency are assumed
in use of “TRU.”
The views and opinions expressed
in the magazine are those of the
authors and do not necessarily
represent the views of Thompson
Rivers University or the TRU Alumni
and Friends Association. All material
copyright © 2019. Bridges cannot
be held responsible for unsolicited
manuscripts or photographs.

Publisher
Lucille Gnanasihamany
Office of Marketing & Communications
Managing Editor
Sandra Webb Smith
Contributing Writers
Kim Anderson (‘15)
Danna Bach ('01)
Bart Cummins ('07)
Sam Egan ('09)
Becca Evans
Andrea Heath
Jessica Klymchuk ('14)
Tyler Lowey ('14)
Michele Young
Photography
Kim Anderson ('15)
Laureen Carruthers
Bart Cummins ('07)
Sam Egan ('09)
Kelly Funk
Julie Hall ('98)
Andrew Snucins
Michele Young
Production
Corey Wiwchar
Kendel Lavallee ('08)
Art Direction
Linda Komori (‘01)
Graphic & Layout Design
Julie Hall (‘98)
Distribution
TRU Alumni & Friends Association

2 | Thompson Rivers University

The last couple of years have
brought continued growth and
change for TRU but one thing
that remained constant was
the university’s unwavering
commitment to redefining what
it means to be a new model of
Canadian university. It is for that
reason that, as the university’s
newest president, I am excited to be
a part of the next chapter of
its journey.
While TRU is a relatively
young university, the passion and
determination of faculty and
staff to take the lead on many
fronts are impressive. One area of

leadership that has stood out for
me since I joined TRU in December
is the university’s commitment
to sustainability.
In 2018, TRU became the first
post-secondary institution in
Canada to earn a platinum rating
for its sustainability initiatives
through a comprehensive global
rating system that measures
and encourages sustainability in
all aspects of higher education.
TRU is currently one of only five
universities in the world to achieve
this rating.
A key factor in TRU’s
achievement of a platinum rating

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

was its composting and zero-waste
initiatives. Each year, through the
tireless work of our students, staff
and faculty, TRU diverts more than
600 tonnes of material from the
landfill, with most organic waste
becoming compost used in
grounds keeping.
Dedicated faculty members have
also contributed to this achievement
by developing programs and courses
centred on sustainability. Through
that work, we are now able to
offer a certificate in Leadership in
Environmental Sustainability, a
minor in environmental economics
and sustainable development

across all disciplines, as well as a
Master of Science in Environmental
Science program and two new
master’s programs in environmental
economics and management.
This achievement proves that
when individual efforts align,
profound positive change can
result. Collectively, TRU has almost
eliminated its greenhouse gas
emissions, putting the university
ahead of provincial, federal and
global reduction targets. Initiatives
such as solar power installations
on campus, sustainability themes
in curriculum, investments
guided by the UN Principles for

Responsible Investment and
sustainable transportation options
all contribute to solving one of the
greatest challenges of our time.
I am inspired by this work, and
as you read the stories within this
issue of Bridges, I hope that you
will be as well, and in turn, do your
part in contributing to a sustainable
future for generations to come.

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BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Sustaining success
THE FIRST UNIVERSITY IN CANADA TO EARN PLATINUM WITH
THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION,
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY BUILDS ON LEADING THE WAY.
BY BART CUMMINS AND MICHELE YOUNG

Thompson Rivers University aimed
for the STARS in its sustainability
performance and hit platinum.
In late 2018, the university was
awarded the highest level possible in
the comprehensive scoring system
that ranks the sustainability efforts
of hundreds of the world's colleges
and universities. STARS stands
for the Sustainability Tracking,
Assessment and Rating System,
a self-reporting measurement
overseen by the Association for the
Advancement of Sustainability in
Higher Education.
“Sustainability is not something
that happens off the corner of our
desks or by a small group of people.
While we have made strategic and
consistent investments towards our
sustainability goals over the years,
it has been our community that

4 | Thompson Rivers University

has embraced its importance and
enthusiastically participated,” said
TRU Vice-President of Finance and
Administration Matt Milovick.
The platinum status marks
a continuous improvement for
TRU since the university began
participating in 2012 when, as a
charter member, it attained silver.
The next report in 2015 yielded
gold. And in 2018, TRU accumulated
176 out of a possible 200 points—
enough to achieve platinum.
By signing up for the STARS
program, TRU demonstrates a
commitment to sustainability
going beyond buzzwords and
promises. The university has made
sustainability part of its culture.
STARS requires that institutions
scrutinize their operations in the
areas of engagement of students,

faculty and staff; day-to-day
operations (including sourcing and
disposal of supplies and materials);
planning; innovation; and more.
“Every department is doing
something to contribute to the
(platinum) recognition,” said Jim
Gudjonson, director of TRU’s
Sustainability Office. “This
report shows we're working well
together and moving toward
something great.”
Every year, more colleges and
universities turn to STARS to guide
their environmental efforts. TRU
incorporated the STARS criteria into
its strategic plans involving all four
pillars of sustainability: economic,
social, cultural and environmental.
Above: Jim Gudjonson

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

WALK THROUGH THE
CAMPUS AND YOU’LL
SOON SEE WHY TRU
SETS ITSELF APART AS A
SUSTAINABILITY LEADER.
Most obvious is recycling. Zerowaste stations that accept multiple
items separate and divert more than
600 tonnes of mixed recyclables,
organic waste, refundable bottles
and plastics from going to the
landfill each year. Organic waste is
collected, transformed on campus
into compost and used by TRU
grounds crews.
Blue boxes are present to recycle
used paper. Digital documentation is
encouraged and used when possible.
As a result, paper consumption has
dropped to seven million sheets per
year from 22 million in 2013.
More than $140,000 a year has
been saved in energy and labour
by replacing lightbulbs on campus
with longer-lasting LEDs. Older

campus buildings have also been
retrofitted to be more efficient,
while students and staff are asked
to turn off lights and computers
when they aren’t in use.
Efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions are also revved up.
Hybrid electric cars are available
for faculty and staff, free of charge,
within a specified distance. TRU
has an agreement with a ride-share
company for two vehicles to be
available for students to rent. The
facilities department uses an electric
truck and there are plug-in parking
stalls for visitors’ electric vehicles.
Faculty and staff who seek
fresh air on their daily commute
can test drive electric bikes from
the Sustainability Office. They
can also buy e-bikes at a discount
through the university—a nice
option on a campus that participates
wholeheartedly in Go By Bike Week
every year.
Of course, sustainability
goes beyond reducing, reusing

and recycling. TRU is educating
future generations to become
environmental leaders through such
specialized programs as the Master
in Environmental Economics and
Management, the Master of Science
in Environmental Economics and
Management and the Master of
Science in Environmental Science.
Law students can get hands-on
practice and serve people in need
through the Community Law Clinic.
Cplul’kw’ten, or The Gathering Place,
is a place of support for Indigenous
students and one of many cultural
sustainability initiatives.
Another important part of TRU’s
commitment to sustainability are
its Williams Lake campus and five
regional centres that offer programs
closer to where students live. Many
of the 1,200 full- and part-time
students who study in Williams Lake
each semester are older students
juggling classes with working or
parenting. Staying close to home
keeps them near their support

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BRIDGES MAGAZINE

systems while reducing travel costs,
time and gas emissions.
Williams Lake also has a unique
project involving a partnership with
School District 27. They heat some
of the campus using the district’s
Cataline school biomass exchangers.
In just one year, the campus saved
$40,000 on natural gas.
Distance and online learning
also reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Don Poirier, associate
vice-president (interim) for Open
Learning, said generally, enrolment
is over 10,000 students from coast
to coast to coast, with clusters in
BC, Alberta and Ontario.
The Open Learning option is
welcomed by students who need

6 | Thompson Rivers University

flexibility in their learning schedules.
While travel emissions are
reduced by learning online, the
downside is there is more use of
electricity and computers.
Online and distance programs
reduce the environmental impacts
of students’ travel, but there is also
a move to save trees by cutting
back on printing and making more
text books open to all. BCCampus
estimates 100,000 students use free,
online textbooks in their courses.
Between 2012 and 2018, BC students
saved more than $10 million with
online textbooks.
TRU’s biggest book source, the
library, has a collection of more
than 150,000 ebooks. Even so, it still

keeps printed publications; some
aren’t available in digital form. But
eventually, for various reasons, some
books have to go. Collection services
librarian Penny Haggarty connected
with Better World Books several
years ago to recycle discarded books.
There’s also a program with
other university libraries in Western
Canada to co-operatively share
low-use books.

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

ACHIEVING PLATINUM
IN THE STARS RANKINGS
DOESN’T MEAN
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.
Gudjonson said TRU still has room
for improvement, such as with
water use. At 50 years old, TRU still
has some of its original 18-litre toilets
and an inefficient irrigation system.
Water meters are being installed in all
buildings to pinpoint trouble spots.
Even as TRU works to improve its
STARS scores, Gudjonson is aware
that maintaining what has been done
is important, too.
“We’ve got it to a very high
standard, but we’ve got to keep
it there.”
Situated in one of the sunniest
locations in the country, TRU is
looking at going solar to generate
power. In fact, there are already some
solar projects running, such as the
solar sidewalk and solar compass. But
there’s room to expand.
“We’re looking at 1.1 million square
feet of rooftop solar panels. It could
generate 2.5 megawatts of power in

two to three years. It would help with
running air conditioning and other
things on campus,” Gudjonson said.

“We’re looking at 1.1 million
square feet of rooftop solar
panels. It could generate 2.5
megawatts of power in two to
three years. It would help with
running air conditioning and
other things on campus.”
—Jim Gudjonson

Currently, TRU pays up to $40,000
a month for demand charges. Solar
panels would cost $5 million and
could shade buildings where they
are installed, reducing the draw on
air conditioning. Down the road, the
university might cover some parking
lots with solar panels to generate
more electricity.

While TRU has reduced its
greenhouse gasses by 33 percent,
Gudjonson’s goal is to get them down
by 60 to 65 percent. Most emissions
come from heating buildings with
natural gas. He wants to get rid of
natural gas from campus entirely.
“We’ve decided we’re never using
natural gas again.”
That’s why the new Industrial
Training and Technology Centre has
a non-conventional electric boiler big
enough to heat it and the adjoining
School of Trades and Technology.
Biomass is also being explored as
an option, with discussions ongoing
with UNBC, where biomass emissions
are burned, then precipitated to
drastically reduce residual gasses. The
emissions are reduced to the daily
amount to one city bus idling.
Despite the serious concerns
espoused by some climate-change
scientists, Gudjonson is hopeful for
the future. He sees TRU doing its
part along with thousands of other
institutions making dramatic changes.
“I’ve never been as optimistic as
now,” he said.

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BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Universities are at the forefront of environmental
change; that change can be found throughout the
TRU Kamloops campus, whether it’s zero-waste
stations, fill-it forward stations, high-efficiency
hand dryers or anti-idling guidelines. All lightbulbs
have been updated to longer-lasting, more efficient
LEDs with scheduled replacements, saving $140,000
annually in energy and labour.
Environmentally-themed student clubs and a
range of academic program options are available,
and our law school provides access to justice
through a centrally located community legal clinic.
Cultural practices are also supported, through
facilities like prayer and meditation spaces, ablution
stations and Secwepemctsín language signage.

1
2

SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE
Headquarters for e-bicycle, ZipCar and
employee car-sharing fleets.
x3

3
4

COMPOSTERS
Divert organic waste from landfill
and generate soil for campus gardens.

BC CENTRE FOR OPEN LEARNING

Online programming reduces need
for transportation or relocation and
empowers busy students.
x2

COVERED TRANSIT STOPS

Co-ordinated schedules and reduced rates
encourage ridership to and from campus.

7

EM

ENERGY-MONITORING | Real-time energy monitoring: Older buildings were retrofitted in 2010 to
improve efficiency and install monitors, showing trends over time and alerting of inefficiencies.

8 | Thompson Rivers University

EM

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THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

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CPLUL’KW’TEN (THE GATHERING PLACE)

BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN

Supporting Indigenous students through
all aspects of university life.

Kamloops is BC’s first Bee City; this garden and
campus hives encourage pollination.
x2

ACTORS WORKSHOP LIGHTING
LED PAR lighting instruments upgrade
reduces electricity and bulb replacement.
CAMPUS HIKING TRAILS
Connecting TRU to Kamloops’ expansive hiking
network and surrounding neighbourhoods.

x2

LOW-CARBON ELECTRIFICATION

New buildings constructed as carbon
neutral or contributing to grid.

12

BICYCLE SHELTERS

PAPERLESS REGISTRAR’S OFFICE

Central covered rack area
complements building
entrance racks and stairwell
shelters provide security for
bicycle commuters.

Electronic filing system implemented for
campus and Open Learning student records.

EM
EM

EM

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ELECTRIC CARS
PLUG-IN STALLS

Making it convenient for
drivers to charge vehicles
on campus.

EM

EM
S

EM

EM

S
S

EM
S

EM
EM

S

SOLAR | Solar panel projects: Buildings with food services are outfitted with solar hot water collection,

and unique instalments can be found at ground-level. Our Student Union building harnesses solar power
for all lights and plugs, acting as a case study for future campus-wide solar implementation plans.

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BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Gathering support
IT’S A FLAT, GREY, WINTER DAY, WITH A CRUNCH OF SNOW ON THE GROUND AND FROST IN THE AIR. AS THE DOOR
OPENS TO CPLUL’KW’TEN, OR THE GATHERING PLACE, WARMTH SURROUNDS YOU.
BY MICHELE YOUNG

An old, refurbished house,
Cplul’kw’ten is a place of
community, safety and support
for Indigenous students at TRU’s
Kamloops campus. It’s also open
to everyone.
Alice George found
Cplul’kw’ten soon after she arrived
at university in fall of 2017. Now in
her last semester of the Human
Service program, she said the
building and the people in it are
her on-campus community.
“It helps me stay grounded
knowing there’s Indigenous support.
They understand where I’m coming
from,” she said. “It’s like a home away
from home.”
Cplul’kw’ten Supervisor Vernie
Clement came to TRU as a student
17 years ago when
the only support
for Indigenous
students was
an Aboriginal

co-ordinator with a small office
at Student Services. Cplul’kw’ten
has evolved into a place of comfort
and support that’s bursting
at the seams with services for
Indigenous students.
The offices are open from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Mentors often stay later in
the computer lab to accommodate
students’ erratic schedules. Four
days a week, between 10 a.m. and
2 p.m., an elder is available to share
insights and stories, words of
wisdom and knowledge.
As is typical of any home, people
congregate in the kitchen for hot
coffee, warm food and good company.
Wednesdays are Soup Circle days.
Students can grab a bowl of hearty
soup and gather in a circle for an
elder’s blessing
and a presentation
from a community
group or an oncampus speaker.

“It’s important to

recognize it’s a culturally
safe space, an open
space for people to
come. It’s building a
sense of belonging here.”
—Vernie Clement

10 | Thompson Rivers University

“It’s important to recognize it’s a
culturally safe space, an open space
for people to come. It’s building
a sense of belonging here,” said
Clement. “Indigenous students walk
in two or more worlds. They can
feel comfortable with who they are
in this space and not explain who
they are.”
A few years ago, Cplul’kw’ten had
600 active files for students coming
in for support, according to Clement.
Today, the count is much higher.
There’s so much demand that some
programs have borrowed space from
a neighbouring building. George,
who comes from a small community,
is considering a Bachelor of Social
Work degree after she’s done her
current program in spring. She
admitted she might not be thinking
about continuing with her studies at
TRU if not for Cplul’kw’ten.
It is home.

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Learning through
a unique lens
MEET COLTON STEPHENS AND MARIS FRASER—TWO FOURTH-YEAR STUDENTS
WHO BELIEVE EDUCATION BEGINS WHEN YOU GET HANDS-ON,
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
BY ANDREA HEATH

Research suggests that students who include work
“My advice to students
experience in their studies are well-prepared for
is to participate in
employment after graduation. TRU has made it a
priority to increase these types of opportunities.
hands-on learning.
TRU offers two experiential learning
You can learn more
certificates: Global Competency and Leadership in
about yourself and gain
Environmental Sustainability. Undergraduate or
experience that you
graduate students enrolled in any credit program at
would not get by only
TRU can apply to complete one or both certificates.
Often, students who earn the Leadership in
attending lectures.“
Environmental Sustainability certificate have
undergraduate research experience.
—Colton Stephens
One such student is Colton Stephens, whose
passion for a research-centric approach in
minimizing environmental impacts led him to apply
travel and
for the Undergraduate Research Experience Award
volunteerism.
Program (UREAP). UREAP is a $6,000 scholarship that
These experiences
helps students acquire full-time research opportunities
led Maris to write
over the summer and supports academic and
an undergraduate
professional success. Stephens’s UREAP work involved
thesis examining
a global co-operative project on climate change and
the intersection
desertification in drylands worldwide. In addition to
between spending
UREAP, Stephens was awarded a Natural Sciences and
time outdoors
Engineering Research Council of Canada grant which
and prohe is using to collect data for his honours project. His
environmental behavior.
project is investigating if a link exists between the urban
“I believe that learning goes beyond the classroom.
environment and disease-causing bacteria affecting wild
My diverse background has an important impact on
birds, specifically mountain chickadees.
my identity and the skills and talents I have today. It’s
“My advice to students is to participate in hands-on
wonderful that TRU acknowledged my background and
learning. You can learn more about yourself and gain
passions through these certificates.”
experience that you would not get by only attending
These experiential certificates give students
lectures,” said Stephens.
a competitive edge in gaining employment after
Maris Fraser is in her final year of the Bachelor
graduation. They are another avenue students at TRU
of Interdisciplinary Studies and has completed both
have for making a difference and exploring their interests
certificates. Her interest in the development of an
during their educational journey.
environmentally conscious society and sustainable
lifestyle led her to pursue a career, prior to attending
Colton Stephens (top); chickadee (middle); Maris Fraser (bottom)
TRU, in adventure tourism while combining international
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BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Sitting down with
TRU's newest president
“Universities change communities. TRU is a really important institution
in its region, and the most important contribution we make is our students
and the skills students develop.”
—Brett Fairbairn

BRETT FAIRBAIRN BECAME PRESIDENT OF THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY ON DECEMBER 1, 2018.
It was a big change. Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan had been home for more
than three decades, a place where Brett raised a family with his wife Norma and forged his academic
career—teaching, conducting research, holding increasingly senior leadership roles and volunteering.
We sat down with TRU’s newest president to find out why Kamloops, why TRU and
what he has in mind for the future.

12 | Thompson Rivers University

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Q: SASKATCHEWAN WAS HOME FOR MOST OF YOUR LIFE.
HOW ARE YOU ADJUSTING TO BC?
A:

I love having the mountains around. For so many years Norma and I, and our kids, travelled far to get to the
mountains for hiking and recreation. I find it inspiring to look out the window and see them right there.
Kamloops in a lot of ways is like a Prairie town in the mountains. People here are friendly. There’s
a community spirit, a practical orientation to getting things done and improving the community,
which is what I associate with Prairie towns.

Q: WHY THE CHANGE, NOT ONLY TO A NEW UNIVERSITY, BUT TO A NEW ROLE?
A:

It was a phone call from a search consultant that first made me aware that TRU was looking for a president.
I was looking for something to do next. I had done teaching, research, most of what I wanted to do in that
regard, and was looking for a different way to contribute to the university world, and contributing in a
leadership role. That realization and a phone call from a search consultant ultimately led me here.

Q: WHAT SOLIDIFIED YOUR DECISION TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION?
One of the first things I did was get on TRU’s website and find out everything I could about the people at
A:

TRU. What were students doing, what were they studying, what were faculty members researching, who
were the research chairs at TRU, who were distinguished teachers and, in particular, an interest of mine,
what was the connection between TRU and its regional communities.
The people I met in the interview process conveyed a lot about TRU culture. Concern for students is
an important value for TRU, there was a sense of a close university community. That, together with a
sense the university was strongly connected to its regional communities, were decisive factors.

Q: HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A UNIVERSITY
AND ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES?

A:

Universities change communities. TRU is a really important institution in its region, and the most important
contribution we make is our students and the skills students develop. The diversity of international
students, and the creative activities of faculty and staff and students alike, bring enormous enrichment
to arts, business, and research spinoffs throughout our region. The region has greater human, social and
cultural capital because of what TRU does.
The flip side of it is that the biggest strength of any university is the community it is in. What makes TRU
distinctive, what attracts people to come here, ultimately has to have some connection to the ThompsonCariboo-Nicola regions, to the natural environment, to the social environment, to Indigenous communities.
All these combined are the biggest strength of a university. Other universities are discovering that and
starting to pay attention to the partnerships between universities and cities or between universities and
regions, but a place like TRU, that’s kind of in the DNA, it’s our automatic way of doing things here.

Q: YOU’VE BEEN HIRED FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH IN THAT TIME?
A:

TRU is a young, dynamic, ambitious and evolving university. One of the things that people have
said to me, which I’ve taken to heart, is that TRU needs a renewed set of strategic priorities and
a new vision, to guide it through the next period of time. That vision wouldn’t be set just by me,
but through a process where we get advice and feedback from the people who care about the
university’s success and the region’s success. To put that vision in place, and within five years to
have our resources and efforts aligned to meet that vision, would be success.

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BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Building a healthier future
BY JESSICA KLYMCHUK

With TRU’s new Nursing and
Population Health Building taking
shape in Kamloops, supporters of the
university see it as an opportunity
to aid BC’s overworked health-care
providers. That’s one driver for
donors who have pledged more
than $3.5 million toward the project,
as well as those who have long
supported nursing and respiratory
therapy programs at TRU.
A $500,000 contribution from
the Edmonton-based Stollery
Charitable Foundation represents
that organization’s largest single
philanthropic gift in Kamloops.
“We’re familiar with the
challenges of accessing health
care in Kamloops,” said Executive
Director Jeff Bryson, whose
grandparents founded the charity
and whose parents live in Kamloops.
14 | Thompson Rivers University

“Obviously part of that is a doctor
shortage, but it’s bigger than just
doctors in terms of some of the
systemic challenges and greater
challenges anticipated with an aging
population. These challenges are
expected to grow.”
Access to health care and to
education are two pillars that guide
Stollery’s work—and TRU represents
both. Locally-based directors
Spencer and Janet Bryson spent a
combined 70 years as educators and
say it’s crucial to them that handson learning happens.
“The university is doing so much
for this town,” Spencer Bryson said.
“It’s moving the town more and
more to a knowledge-based economy
and bringing talented people and
good-paying jobs to the city.”
With the expansion of the

nursing program, TRU is directly
answering the call for better,
more sustainable health care in
the province and in rural areas
that face a shortage of qualified
health-care providers.
The Nursing and Population
Health Building, scheduled for
completion in 2020, will be a hub
for health-care teaching and
learning with state-of-the-art
patient simulation labs. It will
support collaborative learning for
interdisciplinary teams and bring
together students in respiratory
therapy and nursing.
Unlike the Bachelor of Science
in Nursing and Master of Nursing
programs, TRU’s Respiratory Therapy
program is the only one of its kind
in British Columbia. The TB Vets
Charitable Foundation has supported

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

the program and its students with
private funding since 1988.
“Respiratory therapists, they are
the unsung heroes of the medical
field,” said TB Vets Executive
Director Kandys Merola.
“When we decide where the
money’s going to go, there’s never
been a question about giving to
Thompson Rivers University. We’re
committed. It’s really important to
us that we continue to support the
university in that way.”

DAY OF GIVING
TRU’s second annual Day of Giving raised $50,655
in November 2018. The 36-hour fundraising campaign
gives TRU alumni and donors a chance to impact
current and future students by contributing to
scholarships, bursaries and programs across
the university. Day of Giving kicked off at the
2018 TRU Foundation Breakfast, showcasing
the Faculty of Science.
The TRU Foundation provides funds for the
financial support of TRU students, programs and
projects, with the endowment fund for students now
totalling $24 million. Between April 2017 and March
2018, the TRU Foundation gave out 1,254 student
awards valued at $1.6 million. On average, each
student received $1,466.

“The university is doing so
much for this town.… It’s
moving the town more and

WHERE AND HOW DONORS WANTED
THEIR DONATIONS DISTRIBUTED

more to a knowledge-based
economy and bringing
talented people and
good-paying jobs to the city.”
—Spencer Bryson

Private contributions to the
Nursing and Population Health
Building include $1.5 million from an
anonymous donor and $1.5 million
from Dr. Sherman Jen for a highfidelity simulation centre, which
will use high-fidelity mannequins
to engage students and faculty in
innovative health teaching and
research methods.
Left: Janet and Spencer Bryson

tru.ca/givingday
#trugives

tru.ca/bridges | 15

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Research reclaims
disturbed ecosystems
BY DANNA BACH

The Canadian economy depends
on resource extraction. The way
ecosystems recover from resource
extraction depends on people like
Dr. Lauchlan Fraser and his team
of researchers.
Fraser is TRU’s first Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research
Council Industrial Research Chair
(IRC) in Ecosystem Reclamation.
This federal investment of more
than $2.5 million creates a research
hub for ecosystem recovery and
environmental sustainability at TRU,
one that supports the development
of reclamation technologies, tools
and protocols that can be exported
globally. The establishment of an
IRC at TRU—announced in August
2018—provides project funding for
trainees and new researchers to
study soil amendments, biodiversity
16 | Thompson Rivers University

and climate change in the context of
ecosystem reclamation.
“We will advance and enhance
research currently taking place to
find ways to increase the speed with
which we can restore disturbed
ecosystems,” Fraser explained. “We’ll
be moving into new research areas,
pushing forward and expanding the
envelope of our understanding.”
This research ties into TRU’s
strategic priorities to ensure the
environmental sustainability
of the region. Bringing this
prestigious appointment to TRU
required significant and longterm support from community
and industry partners, including
Metro Vancouver, New Gold New
Afton mine, Teck Highland Valley
Copper mine, Genome BC, the Real
Estate Foundation of BC, Arrow

Transportation, Geoscience BC,
Kinder Morgan Canada and the BC
Cattlemen’s Association.
“Environmental disturbance
occurs naturally, and is also an
outcome of natural resource
development. Our research aims
to understand the ecosystems of
the BC Interior so that we can
quickly and properly restore them
to fully functioning and sustainable
ecosystems following a disturbance,”
Fraser said.
Reclamation solutions will be
developed in consultation with
local Indigenous communities,
incorporating their interests and
using native plant species to restore
traditional land use.
Above: Dr. Lauchlan Fraser

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Transforming
health research
DR. LISA BOURQUE BEARSKIN WANTS TO SHIFT THE DEFICIT-BASED
NARRATIVE IN HEALTH CARE FROM ILLNESS TO WELLNESS.
BY DANNA BACH

The associate professor in TRU’s School of Nursing
conducts research with diverse Indigenous nations
in BC and Alberta, community leaders, other
TRU researchers, Interior Health and the
First Nations Health Authority.
The goal of the research program
is the development of an Indigenous
community-based health research centre.

“We need to restructure
our health-care systems
so that we’re delivering
services that are client and
community centred.”
—Dr. Lisa Bourque Bearskin

“Our Indigenous
community leaders,
traditional knowledge
holders and elders want to
create a research centre
that will transform
the way we do health
research and deliver
health-care services.
Honouring protocols
of traditional ways
of knowing and
enacting this
knowledge
through
policy and
partnerships is
something the

nations have been working toward
for years,” said Bourque Bearskin.
She and Kukpi7 (Chief) Ryan
Day of the Bonaparte Indian Band
represent the research team as the
nominated principal researchers on
Nekelc: Transforming Indigenous
Health Research Environments.
The team includes primary
investigators Rod McCormick,
Natalie Clark, Darlene Sanderson
and Courtney Mason and research
assistants Robline Davey and Julie
John, as well as numerous coapplicants and collaborators.
The team received a $75,000
development grant through the
Institute of Indigenous Peoples’
Health (part of the Canadian
Institute of Health Research) to create
an operational grant for the Network
Environments for Indigenous Health
Research Program.
Within the year, Bourque Bearskin
and team will have developed a
proposal for the centre.
“There is a significant amount
of evidence to show us what the
challenges are. We need to restructure
our health-care systems so that we’re
delivering services that are client and
community centred,” she said.
“We know the health-care system
for Indigenous populations is
fractured, and with these resources
we can change how it’s structured. We
can support students to do research
with their communities.”
If their proposal is successful, the
team could potentially receive up to
$600,000 annually for 15 years.
tru.ca/bridges | 17

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Putting a social work
lens on disasters
BY ANDREA HEATH

What do earthquakes in Nepal and
wildfires in BC have in common?
Patterns. TRU social work faculty
member Dr. Bala Nikku is dedicated
to understanding disaster patterns,
community choices and ecological
changes catalyzed by natural and
political disasters. Particularly,
Nikku’s research focuses on
analysing human displacement
patterns and choices people make
when rebuilding their lives.
According to Nikku, we need
to expand our perceptions about
disasters as they relate to social
work. In his view, it is not disasters
that destroy people and properties,
but mismanagement of disasters.
Born in an Indian village and
raised in an agricultural community,

18 | Thompson Rivers University

Nikku acquired his undergraduate
social work education in India and
completed his graduate work in the
Netherlands. His early work in Nepal
focused on developing approaches
reflecting social work education and
practice, including an environmental
orientation to social work with
communities displaced by floods,
landslides and earthquakes. He
saw that social work approaches
to disasters may need to integrate
environmental justice with social,
political and cultural rights.
Nikku expanded his research on
disaster risk as a COFUND senior
research fellow at Trevelyan College,
collaborating with academics in the
School of Applied Social Sciences
and the Institute of Hazard Risk and

Resilience, Durham University, UK.
He joined TRU in 2018 as an associate
professor in the School of Social
Work and Human Service within
the Faculty of Education and Social
Work, and served as the acting
chair of the school from May to
October 2018.
Nikku is currently examining
how community choices around
wildfire disasters can include longterm effects such as permanent
displacement, lack of community
connection and other social
issues—making his research directly
relevant close to home.
Top right and below: Dr. Bala Nikku (orange
jacket) working with the Nepalese people
to rebuild.

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Sampling
trades
NESTLED IN THE FRASER CANYON, THE TRU CAMPUS IN
LILLOOET OFFERS A UNIQUE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS TO
EXPLORE THE WORLD OF TRADES.
BY BECCA EVANS

The trades sampler program was designed for students without
trades experience, giving them career-oriented skills that they can
take back to their communities.
Heather Hamilton, manager of industry and contract training
in the School of Trades and Technology, said TRU discussed
options for the Lillooet regional campus with nearby Indigenous
communities, and found that a practical, low-barrier trades program
would most benefit the community’s job and industry needs.
The trades sampler program covers a broad spectrum of trades
skills, including carpentry, electrical and plumbing. Through the
program, a special project arose involving a partnership with the
Xaxli’p First Nation near Lillooet. With community help, a group of
students and instructors built a two-bedroom house for a brother
and sister who needed a home.
The siblings were living in a condemned trailer. Gerald Carter,
Xaxli’p housing manager, led the project to mend a small part of
what is becoming a growing housing issue on Indigenous reserves.
“Gerald was absolutely instrumental in this entire project,” said
Hamilton. “We need more of these projects and are hoping to see
more of them in the future.”
Darren Arndt, an instructor on the project, worked as the
lead plumber, teaching and guiding the students throughout the
building process. He was impressed by the students’ work and
enthusiasm. “I had never worked like that with a group of students,”
said Arndt. “They were fantastic to work with.”
The house was built over a four-month period, giving the
students learning experience in a real-world setting that gave back
to two members of the community who needed it most.
“It was a very worthwhile project to be a part of. It was fun
watching the students be so eager and enthusiastic about the
work, and seeing it come full circle,” said Arndt.
Shortly after the house was completed in July 2018, there
was a ceremony to award the students with certifications, and
present the house to its new owners. The home now stands in a
community, built by members of the community, who learned their
trades in the community.

tru.ca/bridges | 19

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Women,
sustainable leadership
and the road ahead
WITH NO OUTSTANDING BUSINESS LEFT TO DISCUSS, CHRISTINE BOVIS-CNOSSEN CALLED
THE TRU SENATE MEETING TO A CLOSE AND HISTORY WAS MADE.
BY KIM ANDERSON

It was simultaneously the first time
senate was led entirely by women
and evidence of TRU’s moves toward
diversity, equity and—ultimately—
social sustainability in leadership.
These meetings have a massive
impact on all things academic at TRU.
Members vote on recommendations
provided by 12 standing senate
committees ranging from budget
to research, Indigenous affairs to
student success, and more.
President and Vice-Chancellor
(interim) Christine Bovis-Cnossen,
Manager of University Governance
Charlene Myers, Provost and VicePresident Academic (interim) Donna
Petri and Department of English
as a Second Language Chair Dian
Henderson led dozens of senators at
the September 24, 2018 session.
LONE WOMAN AT THE TABLE

TRU excels in supporting women
in leadership roles, but as BovisCnossen recalled, her experiences
20 | Thompson Rivers University

in the world of academia have not
always been so positive. Her threemonth term as interim president
was telling.
“Often it felt a little like I was in
the wrong club. If you are a woman in
leadership, there will be times when
you are the only woman in the room,”
she said. “We all have a very different
lived experience and because of
that, bring unique strengths to the
table. I don’t know how many other
presidents were asked at their very
first job interview: ‘What does your
husband think about you taking
this job?’”
Earlier in her career, while on
hiring committees in the United
Kingdom, Bovis-Cnossen was shocked
to hear fellow members question
women candidates’ eligibility
because of their age and stereotyped
assumptions about when candidates
would take maternity leave.
Looking back, she recalled two
extraordinarily supportive female

mentors whose guidance and advice
was invaluable to her professional
development. Positive female role
models and mentors are key in
getting more women into leadership
positions, according to Bovis-Cnossen.

“We need to look within
to develop our own talent.
We need to be positive and
visible role models. We need
to create the time and place
for mentorship. Showing
people all the possibilities
is important.”
—Christine Bovis-Cnossen

“We need to look within to
develop our own talent. We need to
be positive and visible role models.

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

We need to create the time and place
for mentorship. Showing people all the
possibilities is important.”
GENDER EQUITY ON PAPER
The latest human resources annual
report says TRU is flourishing when it
comes to female employees in support
staff and leadership positions. The same
trend continues with faculty members
in assistant professor and associate
professor positions. However, numbers
tell a different story with full professors.
“We really need to work on full
professors. This is the highest faculty
rank and there are only five women
compared to 32 men. When we see
something like this, it means we need
to provide more support to women in
their journey,” said Human Resources
Executive Director Larry Phillips.
On the other hand, leadership and
executive positions are balanced, with
an equal number of men and women in
vice-president, associate vice-president
and director roles. In associate director,
manager and co-ordinator positions,
women outnumber men across the board.
“Statistically, we are doing very well
in leadership positions. I think the
numbers are outstanding,” he said. “A
workplace should be representative of
the place you live. If you look at our
community, it’s very diverse, so TRU
should mirror this.”

ENTERING ITS
FOURTH YEAR
THE TRU COMMUNITY LEGAL CLINIC

(CLC) is the first student-staffed, free,
legal clinic in the BC Interior.
From its location in downtown Kamloops, students
use the law as a tool for social justice by working
with agencies and non-profit organizations to
improve citizens’ access to the justice system.
“We’re trying to make sure people get a square
deal,” said CLC Executive Director Ted Murray.
At the clinic, which is funded by the Law Foundation
of BC, law students provide basic legal representation
to clients who would otherwise be unable to afford
legal help. The students work under the guidance of a
supervising lawyer and earn credits for their work,
while developing skills that will make them better
lawyers in the future.

MOVING FORWARD
Mentorship programs, parental leave,
education leave, tuition reimbursements,
family leave, training and development,
diversity and inclusion are all ways
TRU contributes to the success of
female employees.
As many studies have argued,
in the long run there won’t be
environmental sustainability without
social and economic sustainability. This
insight makes diversity all the more
important for the long-term strength
of organizations. An equitable, diverse
workforce and leadership means people
with unique lived experiences, cultural
backgrounds, gender identity and
expertise will come together to make the
best decisions possible for TRU.
tru.ca/bridges | 21

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Viewing sustainability
from all angles
BY BART CUMMINS

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND
TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

As TRU moves further into
the 21st century, so too does
our need for buildings that spur
innovative thinking, are energy
efficient and have an eye on
future needs.
The Industrial Training
and Technology Centre (ITTC)
opened in the fall of 2018 and
addressed those concerns
with 550 more classroom seats
within 5,344 square metres at a
cost of $30 million.
The under construction Nursing and Population
Health Building (NPH) is slated to open in September
2020 and will be 4,550 square metres. Costing $37.2
million, the building will have space for classrooms,
labs, interdisciplinary health clinics, home-care space
and breakout rooms, affording the opportunity for
collaborative learning. It will allow additional student
seats in the future. Here are some sustainability features
of both buildings.
22 | Thompson Rivers University

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND
TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
ELECTRICALLY-GENERATED HEAT
TRU's first electric boiler brings us closer to being
fossil-fuel free and lowers our greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG). The boiler can tie into the Trades and
Technology Centre's heating system to offset natural gas
consumption, provide a two-direction heating system
and give both buildings a reliable back up.

NURSING AND POPULATION
HEALTH BUILDING

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

FORETHOUGHT BEFORE HINDSIGHT

Building mezzanines in shops eliminated costly retrofits,
while creating more learning and storage space. Acoustic
cellulose insulation was applied to the underside of shop
concrete flooring to dampen noise.

NURSING AND POPULATION
HEALTH BUILDING
HEAT-RECOVERY CHILLER, ELECTRIC BOILER, DALI,
RECYCLED MATERIALS

The building will have an electric boiler, demand control
ventilation, DALI, LED lighting and LEED documentation.
The acoustic tiles, gypsum wall board and insulation will
contain recycled materials. Fly ash in the cement will
strengthen concrete. A low-carbon heating system will
move heat through the building from the simulation and
IT rooms, providing up to 700 percent efficiency.

“As a leader in sustainability—and we want to
keep that position—we're trying to reduce our GHG
emissions,” says TRU's Director of Capital Projects,
Les Tabata. “An electric boiler isn't revolutionary, but
it is revolutionary for us to think outside the box by
going with an electrical source rather than a gas-fired
heat source.”
SOLAR READY
Electrical conduit and inverters are installed and panels
and materials will be purchased through anticipated
grants and TRU’s revolving sustainability fund.
SMART LIGHTING, HEATING AND COOLING
The network-based Digital Addressable Lighting
Interface (DALI) system operates and regulates lights
for maximum savings. Active chilled beam systems do
the same for cooling, and the ITTC is TRU’s first building
to have it. Other features: A low exergy cooling design,
demand control ventilation and dual-core heat recovery.

LEED 4.0
The LEED rating system has been upgraded to
version 4, meaning it will take more for NPH to reach
a gold rating achieved by ITTC and House of Learning.
“We're conscious of how we build the building, what
we build it from and the packaging of materials,” says
Tabata. “All that is measured and counted. Even during
construction—where things come from, where they
were made, the packaging—everything will be counted
because it is part of the LEED process and standard set
by (BC) government policy.”
SIMS LIKE THE REAL THING
High-tech electronic security to protect the mannequin
simulation labs and observation areas is being installed
during construction, avoiding costly retrofits and waste
material later on.
HANDS-ON LEARNING
Similar to the Sleep Centre Clinic created and operated
by Respiratory Therapy, NPH will feature hands-on
opportunities for students to apply their learning by
interacting with, and learning from, the community.

tru.ca/bridges | 23

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

A Way Home is
where her heart is
KATHERINE MCPARLAND HAS MADE IT HER MISSION
TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.
BY JESSICA KLYMCHUK

At the age of 19, she was
unceremoniously thrust into the
world after being in permanent
government care since elementary
school. After aging out of the
system, McParland ultimately found
herself on the street.
With this lived experience, the
TRU alumna has since founded the
non-profit A Way Home Kamloops,
organized Canada’s first youth
homelessness count, lobbied the BC
government to develop a provincial
plan to end youth homelessness
and launched the Safe Suites project
to follow a housing-first strategy
toward helping youth improve
24 | Thompson Rivers University

their situation in a long-term and
sustainable way.
For the former foster child, social
work was a calling long before she
earned her bachelor’s degree at TRU
in 2016.
“I’ve always had a strong sense of
social justice, even as a young kid in
care,” McParland said. “Going back
to school really opens doors because
life experience is important, but you
also need to pair that with academia
to be really effective and create policy
change and systematic change.”
Only six percent of former
youth in care achieve a postsecondary degree and only 49

percent finish high school. Thanks
to McParland’s advocacy, TRU now
offers five annual bursaries of up
to $4,000 to youth selected through
the Employment and Education
Program by A Way Home Kamloops.
“I think a big part of sustaining
youth out of homelessness is
helping them find a career and that
is through education,” she said.
“That really opens up the pathways
and the ultimate sustainability out
of homelessness because then they
are connected to community and
they find a sense of purpose.”
McParland has seen firsthand
what happens when the community

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

invests in young people—and
experienced it herself when positive
support allowed her to turn her
life around.

“There will always be barriers,
unfortunately.… What they
need is a sense of belonging
and love. And how do you
legislate that people need to
love kids?“
—Katherine McParland

“A lot of these young people, they
will try to find a sense of community
and belonging in other ways that
can sometimes lead to social issues,”
she said. “If we invest in young
people and we integrate them into
community and truly include youth,
that will benefit them but it will also
benefit our community.”
A Way Home Kamloops—which
works with 158 members to
co-ordinate and reduce gaps in
services for homeless youth—has
been in the implementation stage
of its local plan for five years.
McParland said they soon realized
that policy change and the resources
of government are ultimately
needed to truly make an impact.
In 2017, the organization set a
strategic priority to develop a
provincial plan to end youth
homelessness and is now working to
educate government on what that
should look like. McParland’s goal is to
have a provincial plan in place by 2020.
“There will always be barriers,
unfortunately,” she said. “What they
need is a sense of belonging and
love. And how do you legislate that
people need to love kids?”
Above left: Katherine McParland

Putting

care in career
TWENTY SEVEN WEEKS CAN CHANGE LIVES. THAT’S THE TIME IT
TAKES TO COMPLETE THE HEALTH-CARE ASSISTANT PROGRAM
AND BEGIN WORKING ON THE FRONTLINES WITH SOME OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BY MICHELE YOUNG

“The need for caregivers is rising,” said Dr. Tracy Christianson,
assistant professor and chair, TRU Health Care Assistant and
Practical Nursing programs.
“In Williams Lake, agencies need about 100 health-care
assistants. That’s pretty significant for a smaller community,”
she said, noting a new residential care facility just opened there.
TRU has health-care assistant programs in Williams Lake,
Kamloops and at regional centres in the Interior. Providing
training close to students’ homes where there are available jobs
is important to meet the needs of students and communities,
she said.
“And you’re done in 27 weeks. You’ve got good skills, you’re in
demand, you’re job ready, you’ll start off making a decent wage.
And making a huge difference in people’s lives,” she said.
“We have an aging population—the silver tsunami, as it’s
been described. Not only do we have an aging population with
an increasing need for care and support, but we have an aging
health-care workforce. So, the demand is high as health-care
professionals retire. It’s kind of a domino effect with what’s
happening with demographic changes.”
The on-campus program in Williams Lake takes 18 students,
while another 12 seats are available in regional centres (100 Mile
House, Ashcroft/Cache Creek, Barriere, Clearwater and Lytton/
Lillooet) through a blended option. Regional students can take
most classes in their home communities—an option that had
special ministry funding.
“It’s working really well. Students seem to like it and we
continue to improve it.”
Christianson started her own nursing career as a health-care
assistant, so she understands what the job involves.
“Personal care is a big part of the job, but equally important is
the interaction and socialization that you give to this population.
It not only enriches the client, it enriches the health-care
assistants’ lives as well. It’s amazing the relationships that you
build,” she said.
“Health-care assistants are with the clients more than other
health-care providers. They are the eyes and ears and hearts of
the health-care system.”
tru.ca/bridges | 25

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

You Can

Play
BY TYLER LOWEY

Sports haven’t always been a safe
haven for athletes, coaches and
spectators in the lesbian,
gay, bisexual, trans, queer/
questioning and two spirit
(LGBTQ2S+) community.
But thanks to a recent campaign
started by the Thompson Rivers
University WolfPack, that trend
is changing.

“Having a visible sign of
support like the You Can Play
game can go a long way in
helping LGBTQ2S+ athletes
feel comfortable.”
—Sam Numsen
Kamloops Pride president

“It’s a simple message, but an
impactful one,” said TRU Athletic
and Recreation Director Curtis
Atkinson. “People should have the
right to be their authentic selves
and should feel safe in sports.”
After Atkinson assumed his new
role in January 2018, the WolfPack
team began putting the pieces
together for the inaugural You Can
Play game. They were inspired after
a chat with LGBTQ2S+ ambassador
Chris Mosier, when he spoke in
Kamloops in February 2018 about
respect, inclusivity in sport and the
26 | Thompson Rivers University

You Can Play initiative, of which he
was the former vice-president.
Mosier, a transgender triathlete,
competed with Team USA in
world championship races after
bringing change in 2016 to the
International Olympic Committee
policy around the participation of
transgender athletes.
“I was thrilled to see the
WolfPack not only participate in
the training, but take it to the next
level by expanding this effort into
its athletic department. Student
participation spreads the message
of respect in sport to more people,
which is ultimately what we need,”
said Mosier.
In the following months, the
WolfPack began organizing their You
Can Play event in partnership
with Kamloops Pride.
“We know that the LGBTQ2S+
community can face unique
discrimination and barriers in
organized sports. Having a visible
sign of support like the You Can
Play game
can go a long
way in helping
LGBTQ2S+
athletes feel
comfortable,”
said Kamloops
Pride president
Sam Numsen.
The You
Can Play video
featuring
WolfPack
athletes and

staff was released at the annual
Athletic Scholarship Breakfast
on Sept. 27, 2018. Two days later,
women’s soccer hosted the You
Can Play game, welcoming the
Trinity Western University
Spartans to Hillside Stadium.
In recognition of the new
movement, WolfPack players
and event staff sported pridecoloured logos.
“We thought it was a really cool
showing of inclusion for all types
of people,” said Natalie Verdiel,
WolfPack co-captain. “Where you’re
from or who you are shouldn’t
matter; if you can play, then you
can play.”
The game also featured
information booths from the
TRU Student’s Union, Safe Spaces
support program and Kamloops
Pride, along with a barbecue to
get the conversation going about
inclusion in sport.
“According to an international
study on homophobia in sport,

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

77 percent of people believe an openly
gay person would be unsafe as a
spectator at a sporting event. There
are safety issues for the fans, too,”
said Numsen. “We talked with a lot of
people there and helped educate them
on everything from the acronym itself
to discussing personal observations of
homophobia or transphobia in sport.”
The final score was irrelevant on
this occasion, as the conversation was
the main takeaway.
“We don’t want this to be a onetime thing. We can move the game
around to other teams next year,
but I would really like to get more
community involvement because I
feel like that’s how we can make a
bigger impact by engaging with other
groups,” said Atkinson.
The athletic program has shown
support in other ways, gladly
participating in both the Kamloops
and TRU Pride walks.
Moving forward, the WolfPack
wants the LGBTQ2S+ community to
feel safe and welcome at TRU.

ANIMAL HEALTH
GRADS
IN HIGH DEMAND

ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY

is one of TRU’s most popular science programs.
Graduates become registered veterinary technologists
in under three years and find work in many interesting
fields such as veterinary nursing with small and large
animals, exotic animal wildlife rehabilitation, clinical
pathology and research. Employment success upon
program completion is at 100 percent.

tru.ca/bridges | 27

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

Rookie brings
pro experience
to the court and class
BY BART CUMMINS

Olga Savenchuk is anything but a rookie. Although in
her first year as a WolfPack volleyball player, she brings
15 years of elite team experience to the court—as well as
enthusiasm and a healthy desire to win.
“It's interesting that I'm a rookie, but I'm 30. I don't
feel like I'm a rookie, I feel like I'm an older person with
huge sports experience,” said Savenchuk, adding, “I feel
pretty comfortable.”
The opportunity to become comfortable came from
those 15 years playing professionally in Europe, Asia and
the Middle East. Savenchuk began playing volleyball
in her home country of Ukraine when she was 14
years old. Now in her first year of a Master of Business
Administration at TRU, she brings a sporting perspective
to her studies.
28 | Thompson Rivers University

“If you do your
job well, there will
be a benefit,” she
said. “Your effort
will always bring
a result. It might
not be right away,
it might be months
later. But there will be a result. You can also do nothing,
and there’s also a result from that—nothing.”
Volleyball has given Savenchuk more life experiences
than the average person will have. Sport has taught
her lessons that guide her: work hard, always move
forward, follow opportunities and never be afraid to try
something new. In every country she’s played in, she’s

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

made it a priority to experience the culture while getting
to know the people.
It was through current WolfPack player Yevgeniya
(Jane) Nyukhalova that Savenchuk learned about the
WolfPack and the potential to play in Kamloops. The
two met as teenagers while playing pro in Ukraine
before falling out of touch, then reconnecting years
later when Savenchuk was playing in Israel and
Nyukhalova in France.

“I haven't felt comfortable everywhere I've

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CLASS
ADVENTURE
STUDIES

played, but I feel comfortable here.”

TRU OFFERS THE FINEST AND

—Olga Savenchuk

“I like it here and I like the campus,” said Savenchuk of
TRU and Kamloops. “Everything is close by and I like the
weather. There are advantages and disadvantages, but to
me, there are more advantages. I haven't felt comfortable
everywhere I've played, but I feel comfortable here.”

MOST EXTENSIVE ADVENTURE
STUDIES TRAINING IN THE WORLD.
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preparing them for the global
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tru.ca/bridges | 29

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

How Hennelly
overhauled
VISCERAL INTENSITY AND IMMENSE POWER: ATTRIBUTES OF ONE RECRUIT
WHO CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF TRU WOLFPACK MEN’S VOLLEYBALL.
BY TYLER LOWEY

Training with the French junior
national team, Robin Schoebel
wanted to move to the US to pursue
a college education. Weeks before
starting his freshman season at
Brigham Young University in 2005,
the National Collegiate Athletic
Association deemed him ineligible
after they didn’t recognize some of
his high school credits.
Back home in Beausoleil, France,
Schoebel’s last-ditch effort to return
to North America was to bombard
Canadian coaches’ inboxes.
Meanwhile, the WolfPack went
1-19 in their inaugural year in the
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Association. Rookie Head Coach
Pat Hennelly happened to be on his
computer one summer day when he
received an email.
“I didn’t read his whole email, I
just went to the video. It only took
me seven seconds before I said,
‘Wow, I need this guy,’“ said Hennelly.
“Within minutes, I responded to him
and told him what we could offer.
That got the ball rolling.”
Hennelly’s urgency registered
with Schoebel and he came to
Canada for the 2006-07 season.

“He was a dynamic player. He’s
6-foot-7, physical and crushed balls,”
said Hennelly. “With that video, I
recruited some of the top college
players from Alberta and that turned
things around.”
Schoebel also changed the
culture. Practices were no longer
bland—the TRU Gym transformed
into the Thunderdome.
“We were competing for life
and death each practice. There
was always chirping and tempers
flaring,” said Schoebel. “It made us
better and allowed us to withstand
the pressure in big games.”
Constant adversity helped, as the
WolfPack made the playoffs that
season, but lost in the first round.
The rise to prominence helped
Hennelly recruit Gord Perrin, a
nationally heralded prospect from
Creston, BC.
“I was attracted to a smaller
campus and city,” said Perrin.”
Pat also told me about all the good
players he had and some of the
recruits he knew. I knew TRU would
be a strong team.”
Perrin trusted his hunch and
in 2007-08, when with the help of

Robin Schoebel (left); Kevin Tillie (middle); Gord Perrin (right)
30 | Thompson Rivers University

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

the volleyball program
other key veterans Colin Jaggard
and Behlul Yavasgel, TRU captured
bronze at nationals by defeating
Dalhousie University.
“It felt great to be a part of
something that had never been
done in school history before,”
said Schoebel.
The following season, Hennelly
recruited Kevin Tillie, another
fantastic Frenchman.
“My dad found out about TRU
through some of his contacts and
it worked out fine,” said Tillie, who
was considering attending Brigham
Young at the time. “I didn’t know
Robin too well beforehand, but we
messaged about coming to TRU
and he really helped me out when I
arrived on campus.”
Tillie’s dominating freshman
campaign made him the third
WolfPack player to be named
Canada West Rookie of the Year in
2010, joining Schoebel and Perrin.

They also enjoyed much personal
and team success from 2006-11.

“I didn’t read his
whole email, I just went
to the video. It only took
me seven seconds before
I said, ‘Wow, I need
this guy.‘ “
—Pat Hennelly

Schoebel’s body broke down by
2010, as he watched Perrin and Tillie
move onto the international and
professional stage, highlighted by
the two squaring off in the
2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.

“My dream was to play in the
Olympics. To achieve that alongside
a college teammate was really cool,”
said Tillie. “I was happy we beat him,
but I wish we could have advanced
like (Canada) did.”
The Games were especially
impactful for Perrin, who helped
Canada end their 24-year drought.
“That’s what I’m most proud of.
When I first joined the team, we
didn’t have a realistic chance of
getting to the Olympics. It was a
very long and difficult path to do it
and to finally achieve it, is hard to
describe,” said Perrin.
One random email turned the
TRU program into a perennial
Canada West contender and
developed nationally and
internationally recognized players.
More importantly, memories were
made and lifelong friendships were
forged because of it.

tru.ca/bridges | 31

BRIDGES MAGAZINE

FOUR

PILLARS OF
SUSTAINABILITY
When we think about sustainability we often think
about our ecological footprint—things like the
greenhouse gas emissions you produced on your
drive to work, or saved by catching public transit. But
more broadly an action is sustainable when it can be
continued indefinitely, and our actions impact much
more than our physical environment. As such, we
consider the pillars of cultural, social and economic
sustainability alongside environmental initiatives
to form a comprehensive picture of sustainability at
TRU. Because no pillar is a silo.

ECONOMIC
Economic sustainability is achieved when a defined
level of economic production can be supported
forever. Environmental measures have economic
benefits, and businesses with less overhead can
better sustain market changes.

SOCIAL
Social sustainability is about preserving and
improving social quality, and the ability for current
and future generations to create prosperous,
inclusive communities.

CULTURAL
Cultural sustainability refers to maintaining
cultural beliefs, practices and heritage for future
generations. This relates to our local Indigenous
communities, on whose land our campus is built,
and international students’ cultures.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental sustainability translates to our
ability to continue rates of pollution, renewable
resource harvesting and non-renewable resource
depletion. It considers biodiversity and the
livelihood of all species.

Written by Sam Egan. Illustrated by Julie Hall.
32 | Thompson Rivers University

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

tru.ca/bridges | 33

PLATINUM RATING FOR
SUSTAINABILITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

“Through the strategic planning process, increasing
sustainability was identified by the campus community as
one of five priorities and this recognition is proof of how
committed TRU students, faculty and staff are to backing
up those words with actions.”
­—Jim Gudjonson

Left to right: Estella Patrick Moller, Nak’azdli First Nation; Matt Milovick, vice-president of
administration and finance; Christine Bovis-Cnossen, vice-president, academic; Jim Gudjonson,
director of sustainability; Nicholas Warner, campaigns committee representative

Thompson Rivers University

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2019, Issue 16

In 2018, TRU achieved platinum, the highest ranking in the Association for
the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) global
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).

THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

Sustaining success 4
14 Building a healthier future
20 Women, sustainable leadership and the road ahead
24 A Way Home is where her heart is