Latest news with #ThompsonRiversUniversity
Hamilton Spectator
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. Chilcotin youth speak at UN session on rights of Indigenous peoples
Two Tŝilhqot'in youth ambassadors were in Geneva, Switzerland last week to represent their nation at the international level. Sierra William and Dakota Diablo attended the United Nations' 18th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ( EMRIP ). 'I can't even describe how amazing it was to be there,' said William. At 22 years old, William already attended the UN twice before. William graduated last year with a Human Rights Diploma from Thompson Rivers University and is now pursuing a bachelor's degree in social work. She also aims to get her law degree. 'The purpose of my work for me we can lessen the number of Indigenous youth in the child welfare system,' William said. Her first experience at the UN was last April when she attended the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) which she again attended this year along with Diablo. The two are part of the Tŝilhqot'in National Government's (TNG) International Youth Ambassador Program, launched in April of 2024 to empower Tŝilhqot'in youth to understand and apply the human rights of Indigenous peoples. Read more: BC First Nations seek funding for Indigenous-led essential services Through the program William and her peers were given training to prepare for PFII. 'It gives us a rundown of what's happening in the United Nations, prepares us to write how to make connections with people,' William said about the training. As for EMRIP, held this year from July 14-18 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, William and Diablo arrived a few days ahead of time to attend training on site. EMRIP is an annual five-day session which encourages dialogue and brings forth recommendations for the UN's seven independent experts on the rights of Indigenous peoples. The experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council to help countries achieve the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Attended by Indigenous peoples, organizations and civil societies from across the world, there are many voices looking to contribute to the conversation. Diablo and William wrote speeches of their own and registered to speak, though they were unable to get their name on the list. William was aiming to talk about the importance of language revitalization, and how it ties into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. She highlighted her own nation's efforts on that front, including the community radio station which broadcasts in the Tŝilhqot'in language. 'I say it's important to me because I'm the first generation not to go to residential school,' William said, explaining how residential schools stripped many First Nations peoples in Canada from their culture, songs and language. 'They (her family) kept our language alive, our culture alive, and they're the reasons why I want to continue this work, to keep our language alive.' William added that she aspires to be a fluent speaker of the Tŝilhqot'in language. The youth ambassadors may not have had the chance to read their own speeches at the UN, but they were able to speak on behalf of Nits'ilʔin (Chief) of the community of Tl'esqox Francis Laceese, vice chief of the TNG. 'He made sure that me and Dakota were able to speak on the floor,' William said. She addressed everyone gathered at the mechanism twice, first about how Canada's Human Rights Commission falls short in meeting the principles of UNDRIP. She later spoke about enhancing the direct participation and involvement of Indigenous peoples at the UN. Both William and Diablo were also invited to provide an opening song at a side event on Tuesday, July 15. William said it was amazing to see some of her greatest idols in the field and their passion for what they do. William said she will definitely be continuing this type of work, which she was inspired to pursue by her parents who work in social work and leadership roles. When William isn't busy representing her nation's youth or working on her degree, she makes traditional clothing such as ribbon skirts and regalia through her business Chi?ela's Designs. TNG is the governing body for the Tŝilhqot'in Nation which comprises of six communities located throughout the Tŝilhqot'in (Chilcotin) territory. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
19-07-2025
- CBC
Friend mourns international student who died in Kamloops, B.C., drowning
Social Sharing Friends and colleagues are mourning the death of a 27-year-old university student who drowned in Kamloops, B.C. Anant Kaul says Jatin Garg was a humble and hard-working student who came to Canada last summer to study business at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). "He was like my family," he said of Garg. "He was like my brother." Kaul said he was shocked when he heard that his friend of 12 years was swept away when he tried to retrieve a volleyball from the Thompson River. "I couldn't accept it," Kaul said. "[All] I could think [was] how hard it would be for his parents, for his family, for his ... little brother. I couldn't even imagine what feelings they would have at that moment." Kamloops RCMP confirmed the body's discovery in a statement on Tuesday, saying it was recovered near McArthur Island Park, a few kilometres northwest of Overlander Park where the young man was playing volleyball on the evening of July 6. Kaul said Garg didn't know how to swim. He said at the time two friends went into the water to help him, but they ended up requiring the help of bystanders. "They saved those two men but they were unable to save or find Jatin," he said. Kaul described his friend as someone who always had a smile on his face. "His strength really touched everyone who ever knew him," he said. Kaul said he is working to raise funds to have his friend's body sent to India where last rites will be performed. TRU president Airini (who uses one name) says the university has been in touch with Garg's family and has offered a range of counselling services for the campus community. "When we face these times of sadness, we walk alongside the family," Airini said. "All of our community is right there in heart and in support." WATCH | Calls for more safety after TRU student's presumed drowning: Presumed drowning reignites calls for river safety in Kamloops 20 hours ago Despite calls for action following the presumed drowning of an international student last Sunday, the city of Kamloops says it has no plans to add additional safety equipment to local beaches. CBC's Jenifer Norwell explains why. She also said the university is working to improve awareness and education around water safety. She said the university has a free course for international students that is "designed to help students, who are unfamiliar with Canadian waterways or who lack prior swimming experience, have the confidence around water."
CBC
10-07-2025
- CBC
Presumed drowning death reignites calls for river safety in Kamloops — but city say it's not that simple
Social Sharing The presumed death of an international student who was swept away in the Thompson River last weekend was "entirely foreseeable [and] entirely preventable," according to a Kamloops, B.C., resident who saved two students from a similar fate last year. Robert Griffiths, who says he nearly drowned during his rescue efforts near the city's airport last summer, says the city has done nothing to increase safety in popular areas along the river, such as increasing signage or installing life rings. But a City of Kamloops official says installing safety equipment could actually increase the risk of drownings by giving the impression that dangerous areas of the river are safe to swim in — exposing the city to liability. On July 6, a Thompson Rivers University international student was playing volleyball on a popular local beach at Overlanders Park when the ball went into the water. When the man in his 20s went to retrieve it, he got swept away in the strong currents, despite attempts by two friends to rescue him. Police, firefighters and two search and rescue teams have done extensive searches of the area, but the man has not been found and the search is now considered a recovery mission, according to Kamloops Search and Rescue. WATCH | Student swept away in Thompson River: Man missing after trying to retrieve a volleyball from Kamloops river 3 days ago Duration 1:44 Search crews are still out along the Thompson River in Kamloops looking for a man who got swept away Sunday evening. A Thompson Rivers University international student was playing volleyball with friends when the ball went into the water. As Jennifer Norwell reports, when he went in to retrieve it, he ran into issues. While two of his friends tried to help, the man in his 20s was not able to be pulled from the water. The tragedy prompted Griffiths, 53, to once again call on the City of Kamloops to boost safety measures. "We should be taking a more proactive approach to communicating hazards and risks for residents and visitors and guests to our city," he told CBC News. Griffiths, who is an industrial safety manager, says he has called for these changes a number of times since his own rescue effort last year, but nothing has been done. But a city official says there are no plans to install additional signs or life rings at unsanctioned swimming areas in the city, explaining that suggested changes would be legally risky and could actually entice people into dangerous water. City of Kamloops director of protective services Ken Uzeloc says Riverside Beach — upstream from where the student was swept away on the weekend — is the only beach in the city that's considered safe for swimming, and only within roped areas when lifeguards are working. "If we start opening up other beaches and putting safety equipment along there, it does give that indication, 'OK, well, they're putting this here in case something happens, so it must be OK to swim in this area,'" Uzeloc said. Uzeloc says all of the rivers around Kamloops are deceptively dangerous. "On top, it may look calm and smooth, but underneath there's quite a current to it. It goes very fast. The water is cold and even experienced swimmers can have difficulty when they get into that current." Kamloops Search and Rescue swift water rescue lead Frank Pryce agrees. "If you're not a good swimmer, don't go in the water. It's that simple." City tried life rings in the past Uzeloc says the city has placed life rings at other beaches in the past, but they kept being stolen or vandalized. "It became an endless battle to try and ensure that those life rings were available," he said. He says the amount of time needed to check on each ring every day would end up being a huge commitment of resources — and the city could be liable if the ring was damaged or missing in an emergency. "If we're putting something like that in place as a safety feature and then it's not there when people need it, it becomes negligence on behalf of the city," Uzeloc said. While many communities don't have life rings near waterways, some like Langford, Salmon Arm, Quesnel and Ladysmith have added them at local beaches. Uzeloc says he can't speak to the decisions other cities make when it comes to river safety as he hasn't looked into cases beyond what impacts Kamloops directly. When it comes to enhanced signage, Uzeloc says there are signs at most of the entrances to popular city beaches. "We can't put signage along the whole riverbanks, the whole city limits — it's just not a feasible plan," he said. "I hate to say it, but at some point, people have to start paying attention to the warnings that people are giving them," he added. Pryce, with Kamloops SAR, says he's not sure that having increased signage or life rings would have made a difference in keeping the man from being swept away on the weekend. He says the stretch of river at Overlanders Park is particularly dangerous because there are sudden drop-offs in the soft sand that can land people in deep, swirling currents. "You could put a million signs on this river or any other river or any lake, and I don't really think that makes a big difference. The big difference is to be educated," he said. The City of Kamloops launched an education campaign earlier this summer with radio ads and updated information on its website to let people know about the risks of river swimming.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- CTV News
Crews searching for student swept away by Thompson River
Crews are seen searching for a missing man along the Thompson River on Monday, July 7. (Courtesy: Josh Dawson/Castanet) Crews were out in Kamloops Monday to search for a man who possibly drowned in the Thompson River while playing volleyball, according to authorities. The Kamloops RCMP says it first received a call from the BC Ambulance Service for help around 5:14 p.m. Sunday just east of the Overlander Bridge. 'According to the report a man entered the river to retrieve a volleyball and got caught in the undercurrent,' said spokesperson Cpl. Dana Napier, in a statement Monday. 'Two more men from the group who entered the water to assist were also caught in the current. Two of the initial three were saved while the third appeared to be pulled away and went under the water.' Search and rescue volunteers and RCMP Air Services were involved in Monday's search. The missing man has been identified as an international student at Thompson Rivers University but police are not releasing his name. Mounties asked the public to keep an eye on the shoreline and to call 250-828-3000 if they have information.
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
The CIB commits $50 million towards Creative Energy retrofit projects Français
Disponible en français CIB's $50 million partnership with Creative Energy focused on deep decarbonization First project is at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), retrofitting 12 existing buildings across campus and providing low carbon heating to the new Indigenous Education Centre Reducing emissions from heating systems in the connected buildings on campus by 95%, advancing toward zero carbon by 2030 KAMLOOPS, BC, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Creative Energy have reached financial close on a $50 million loan to support the deep decarbonization of buildings through connection to district energy systems. The partnership will enable Creative Energy's clients in British Columbia and Ontario to reduce more than 90% of their emissions through options such as switching from natural gas heating to efficient electricity-based district energy systems. The first building retrofit project under the partnership will be at Thompson Rivers University, upgrading 12 buildings and providing heating capacity to one new building across its Kamloops, British Columbia campus. The campus will transition from decentralized natural gas heating to a high-efficiency electrified heat source using a centralized air-source and water-source heat pump strategy. The technology will reduce emissions from the heating systems in the connected building by 95%, creating a more sustainable campus for students and moving the university very close to its 2030 zero carbon goal. The CIB's agreement allows Creative Energy to advance and implement retrofit projects in the near term, quickly benefitting building owners and tenants. This partnership provides a long-term, flexible investment structure to incentivize building owners to upgrade their assets. Creative Energy is the owner and operator of one of North America's largest district energy systems. With buildings accounting for around 18% of Canada's total emissions, the CIB's retrofit investments aim to enhance building sustainability while reducing energy consumption and associated capital costs. Endorsements Our partnership with Creative Energy allows their tailored turnkey retrofit solutions designed to improve the efficiency of aging buildings to be implemented quickly, and address affordability concerns. This investment is part of the CIB's Building Retrofits Initiative which we've committed more than $1.2B towards financing sustainable building upgrades. Ehre n Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank The CIB's partnership with Creative Energy provides building owners, like Thompson Rivers University, with the investments they need to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create more sustainable places for people to learn, work, and live. By unlocking capital for sustainable retrofits, we're helping to cut emissions, lower energy costs, and create good jobs—while building healthier, more resilient communities across the country. Hon. Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada Creative Energy is proud to be a part of this landmark project at Thompson Rivers University, and to partner with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, as we seek to create community energy systems today, for a better world tomorrow. This partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank marks a major step forward in our mission to decarbonize buildings at scale. By unlocking access to long-term capital, we are accelerating the transition to affordable clean, efficient community energy systems – starting here in British Columbia through our collaboration with Thompson Rivers University and BC Hydro. Kieran McConnell, President and Chief Operating Officer, Creative Energy Sustainability is a core value at Thompson Rivers University, and our Low-Carbon District Energy System (LCDES) project marks our most ambitious effort yet to minimize our climate footprint. With the invaluable support of CIB financing, institutions like TRU can undertake crucial initiatives fostering a greener future. The LCDES will function as an educational cornerstone, serving as a 'living lab' within the Sustainability Powerhouse to highlight cutting-edge energy technologies. This initiative not only promises a more sustainable campus but also invigorates sustainability initiatives that actively involve and benefit students.
