Campus Life - Kamloops  

Award-winning journalist offers climate solutions at public lecture

KAMLOOPS — Climate engineering may be the necessary bridge to get us through the climate crisis without a catastrophe, argues journalist Gwynne Dyer, author of Intervention Earth. Dyer discusses his new book and geoengineering at the Science Revealed Dean’s Lecture at TRU on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

In partnership with the City of Kamloops and TRU Office of Sustainability, the Faculty of Science invites the public to an engaging talk as the award-winning writer breaks down the climate crisis ahead and suggests interventions to get us through it with societies intact.

“We’re extremely proud to bring Gwynne Dyer to Kamloops. It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear a renowned, respected journalist unpack the latest climate change science for a general audience and speaks to TRU’s stature globally in sustainability,” says Dean of Science Dr. Greg Anderson.

What: Science Revealed — Dean’s Lecture Series presents Gwynne Dyer
Where: TRU Kamloops campus, Campus Activity Centre, Mountain Room (third floor)
When: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 – 9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

The event is free, but reservations are required for seating. RSVP at bit.ly/srdls-dyer.

Dyer’s talk is titled Planetary Maintenance Engineers, borrowing a phrase from 40 years ago to illustrate geoengineering — a solution he says has long scared climate scientists and engineers alike. But given that over the past ten years (2015-2024) the planet has experienced the ten warmest years on record, he believes opinion on geoengineering is swinging — reluctantly — the other way.

A former historian who served in three navies and taught at the Canadian Forces College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University, Dyer is a respected journalist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs and an officer of the Order of Canada. His first television documentary series, War, aired in 45 countries. A more recent series, The Human Race, won a Gemini Award. Dyer’s many books include Future: Tense, Climate Wars, The Shortest History of War and, most recently, Intervention Earth, published in March 2024.

In Intervention Earth, Dyer interviews the world’s top 100 climate scientists to discuss the extraordinary measures we must contemplate to counter the irreversible effects of climate change.

The Science Revealed Dean’s Lecture Series brings renowned and captivating scientists from various fields of study to the TRU Kamloops campus to present their research and the impressive ways they are affecting the world. Open to the public, these lectures make science accessible to audiences with diverse backgrounds and interests. This event is co-sponsored by the City of Kamloops, the Faculty of Science and the TRU Office of Sustainability.

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Contact:
Michele Young, Manager, Communications Content
University Relations, Thompson Rivers University
250-828-5361 | [email protected]

Building a relationship of support with TRU Trades

By Brandi Thring

For more than three decades, TRU’s School of Trades and Technology and the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior (CHBA CI) have worked in partnership to support residential construction. The CHBA CI has cemented this partnership with more than $300,000 in charitable support for TRU, and a new $50,000 endowment that will continue supporting trades students for decades to come.

From left to right: CHBA CI President Chris Crowell, past-president Tom Caine and treasurer Mario Piroddi present a $50,000 cheque to TRU Trades and Technology Dean Baldev Pooni to create an endowment in support of trades students.

Each year, TRU students construct a residential training house in partnership with the association, taking knowledge gained in the classroom and learning to apply it in the real world. It is an award-winning public-private partnership.

“It’s great to get hands-on experience,” says Keegan Fretz, a student from South Kamloops Secondary and first-year foundation carpentry student. “Then you know what you’re doing when you get on a job site.”

CHBA CI, which is celebrating 60 years of local leadership and advocacy in 2025, has provided tools to carpentry students like Fretz for well over 20 years. The value of their support since then totals $313,000. Those tools, along with skills learned working on the training house, ensure TRU’s residential construction trades students enter the industry with the knowledge, experience and tools necessary to succeed.

Recently, CHBA CI established a $50,000 endowment to fund long-term scholarships for trades students who participate in the training house project. The organization is hoping to build the CHBA CI Training House Award endowment to $100,000 so it can support trades students in perpetuity.

“We want to break down barriers that might exist for kids to get into trades,” says CHBA CI President Chris Crowell. “And we also want to reward them for putting their time forward to contribute to this project.”

Instructor has long history with industry non-profit

Carpentry students, under the guidance of instructor Tim Kasten, complete the foundation and framing of the house up to the lock-up stage. Students from other trades programs, such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC, also contribute to the construction. In 2024/25, 84 trade students received on-the job experience at the training house, the most ever.

Once the home is complete, YMCA BC – Kamloops takes ownership and kicks off the Kamloops Y Dream Home Lottery, which raises money in support of local branch’s programs and services.

“It’s going to be a stunning house,” says Kasten, who knows the evolution of the training house project well. He’s been involved almost since the beginning and started buying tickets in hopes of winning the Y Dream Home not long after.

In 1991, he worked on the second training house as an apprentice, developing valuable skills that would propel his career. With a toolkit filled with those skills as well as hard work and determination, he quickly built a successful construction business and found himself hiring young TRU tradespeople to work alongside him.

“At one point, probably my entire crew came from TRU. The advantage they had was that they had built a house. They were used to tools, so I didn’t have to take that first step with them. They were ready to hit the ground running,” says Kasten, adding that he appreciates how CHBA CI and other industry leaders are recognizing the value and importance of skilled trades workers and stepping up to support them.

Early in his career, Kasten joined CHBA CI, an advocate of the residential construction industry, and has been on the board for about 20 years, including two as president. For several years, he oversaw the completion of the training house project as a board member. Then 10 years ago, he sold his business and joined TRU as an instructor, sharing his knowledge with students in the classroom and on site.

In 35 years, Kasten has been involved with the training house from three different angles, each reinforcing just how special he believes the project is.

“Tim taught a lot of the leaders in our building community locally. So, he’s had a huge influence on the construction industry within Kamloops,” says Crowell, “He’s a big reason that this program and this partnership between CHBA CI and TRU is so successful.”

TRU launches first of new wildfire programs

KAMLOOPS — Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) are pleased to announce their shared vision for increased educational opportunities in wildfire studies has reached another milestone. Six programs in wildfire science and communication — five certificates and a diploma — have been approved by both the university’s Senate and Board of Governors and completed a 30-day public feedback process.

Three of these certificates, each a semester in length and equal to nine credits, are expected to start at TRU in September 2025. They include the Wildfire Science Certificate (Faculty of Science), a certificate in Sociocultural Dynamics of Wildfire (Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism), and a certificate in Wildfire Communications and Media (Faculty of Arts).

The Wildfire Science and Sociocultural Dynamics of Wildfire certificates also form part of the first year of a Wildfire Studies Diploma within the Faculty of Arts. The interdisciplinary certificate programs were developed in consultation with community partners and include courses in the sciences and arts.

“TRU is excited to offer these programs and be part of the solution in addressing wildfire challenges,” said TRU Provost and Vice-President Academic Gillian Balfour.

“I’d like to thank the leaders and faculty at TRU who are making this work possible, as well as BCWS for a strong forward-looking partnership.”

Two other approved certificates — Wildfire Leadership and Emergency Communications — are anticipated to start in 2026, along with the diploma in wildfire studies.

These programs mark the university’s first steps toward an independent and distinct wildfire studies discipline, which will be a first in Canada.

TRU Wildfire, in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, brings together research, education, training and innovation to offer a solutions-focused and comprehensive approach to current and future wildfire challenges. Learn more at tru.ca/wildfire.

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Contact:

Erin Breden, Senior Communications Consultant
Marketing and Communications, University Relations, TRU
250-852-6837 | [email protected]

Championing Indigenous voices and transformative education at TRU

By Kim Van Haren

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable academic environment by prioritizing decolonization and Indigenization. These transformative efforts address systemic biases, integrate Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum and foster a community that values traditional knowledge alongside contemporary scholarship.

At the forefront of this vital work is Laura Grizzlypaws, a celebrated cultural advocate and leader of St’át’imc descent. In her role as educational developer for Indigenous teaching and learning at the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), Grizzlypaws is embedding Indigenous ways of knowing into TRU’s teaching practices and curriculum.

“My role is to advance Indigenization by challenging systemic colonization and traditional Western approaches to education,” she says. “Through this work, I strive to create holistic opportunities for teaching and learning that embed Indigenous knowledge, ways of knowing and outcomes into every aspect of curriculum development.”

Achievements and metrics

Since stepping into her role as educational developer in 2021, Grizzlypaws has witnessed substantial progress on campus through workshops, consultations and engagements.

“When I first started, I engaged approximately 850 faculty and staff through consultations, one-on-one meetings, workshop delivery and curriculum development,” she says. “By 2024, this number grew significantly, with approximately 1,456 faculty and staff participating in consultations alone. These engagements fostered collaboration, provided guidance and facilitated the implementation of Indigenization initiatives.”

Grizzlypaws says that throughout the 2024 reporting period, 1,380 hours were dedicated to faculty engagements.

“These hours included consultations, workshops, one-on-one meetings, committee work and other activities aimed at supporting faculty members in implementing Indigenization practices within their roles.” 

Learning from the land

A valuable part of TRU’s Indigenization efforts is the Learning from the Land Retreat, which Grizzlypaws leads at the Wells Gray Education and Research Station. This three- to four-day immersive experience provides faculty and staff with hands-on engagement in Indigenous pedagogy, focusing on territory, language, culture and traditional practices such as story work, reflective practice, land as a teacher and hands-on Indigenous pedagogy.

“Participants walk away transformed — not just as educators but as allies and advocates for equity, diversity and inclusion,” says Grizzlypaws. “This retreat challenges participants to unlearn outdated practices and embrace new ways of teaching and learning rooted in Indigenous perspectives.”

Creating change

Grizzlypaws acknowledges that true progress takes time, but her vision for systemic change through education keeps her motivated.

“I’m always connecting with those who want to make a difference and implement Indigenous ways of knowing,” she says.

“Yes, there are challenges, but we are always learning, evolving and adapting — and that’s how real change happens, one step and one faculty member at a time.”

Faculty and staff can schedule consultations with Laura Grizzlypaws via the Lib Calendar through the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT).