PREMIER BREAKS GROUND FOR $32M TRU HOUSE OF LEARNING

KAMLOOPS – Premier Gordon Campbell was joined by Thompson Rivers University (TRU) president and vice-chancellor Kathleen Scherf and board of governors chair Ron Olynyk in a dramatic start to site preparation for a new $32-million climate-friendly library and House of Learning at the university.

“The new library and welcoming centre will encourage the exchange of ideas among students and staff, as well as support the growth of TRU,” Premier Campbell said. “It will also help ensure Kamloops’ place as a centre of educational excellence for the B.C. Interior.”

The dramatic groundbreaking was initiated with state of the art equipment that safely detonated a small portion of ground to open the way for a building that will be a leading example of green technology.

“This government is committed to ensuring that Aboriginal people have every opportunity to gain a post-secondary education,” said Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “The House of Learning at Thompson Rivers University will encourage Aboriginal students to start, stay in and succeed in higher education. Facilities like these increase access for Aboriginal students and provide them with more choices, closer to home.”

“We are working to find solutions that help all learners in our province succeed in their educational goals and this new facility is a great example of how our government is achieving this,” said Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond. “Using environmentally sustainable construction and innovative design, we are creating a space in which our students will thrive.”

“The House of Learning will give First Nations students a place of their own on campus to study, share ideas and support each other in their academic pursuits,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. “We are committed to finding ways to foster student excellence and the features incorporated in this new building show how we are working to achieve that goal.”

“This initiative enables TRU to increase its capacity to serve Aboriginal students,” said Nathan Matthew, TRU executive director Aboriginal education. “It is further evidence of the Province’s continued support for the well-being of Aboriginal people.”

The Province is investing $18 million towards the $32-million building – first announced in April 2008. The project will provide a significant addition to library and learning space for all students on campus, and also incorporate features and facilities to enhance the learning needs of Aboriginal students.

Within the House of Learning, the concept of a learning commons will allow for more student group work and social interaction. The new building will have space for the library information and learning commons, a tiered lecture theatre and space for First Nations business, technology and leadership programs.

“Today we begin construction on another signature building that will grace our campus,” said Scherf. “As the House of Learning takes shape, we will see the actualization of many of our strategic goals. This will help us be the university of choice for student success, environmental sustainability, and for Aboriginal and First Nations.”

“This project will showcase the amazing potential of our university and will let us build on Kamloops’ outstanding reputation for LEED certified public buildings,” added Olynyk.

Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $1.5 billion in campus capital expansion, opened six new universities, added 32,000 seats, and increased operating funding to post-secondary institutions by 40 per cent.

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Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Richard Chambers Communications Director Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 952-6508 250 361-7241 cell

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