As you are coming to attend the November 11 and 12 2016 IITIO conference at the law school on the Thompson Rivers University campus in Kamloops, British Columbia, we provide to you some history of the development of the state of the art design and construction of the law school building at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

Thompson Rivers University (commonly referred to as TRU) is a public teaching and research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees and vocational training. Its main campus is in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, and its name comes from the two rivers which converge in Kamloops, the North Thompson and South Thompson. The university has a satellite campus in Williams Lake, BC and a distance education division called TRU-Open Learning. It also has several international partnerships through its TRU World division.

TRU offers 140 on-campus programs and approximately 60 online or distance programs through the Open Learning division, including trades apprenticeships, vocational certificates and diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and law.

In March, 2005, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) was incorporated under the Thompson Rivers University Act. The Act amalgamated the University College of the Cariboo with the BC Open University and other aspects of the Open Learning Agency, converting UCC’s university council into a senate, and creating a planning council for Open Learning. UCC president Dr. Roger Barnsley continued at the helm of the new institution. The Province designated TRU as a special purpose university which would continue to offer undergraduate and master’s degrees, vocational training and adult basic education, undertake research and scholarly activities, and with the addition of Open Learning programs and courses, would provide an open learning educational credit bank for students.

TRU’s inaugural convocation was held March 31, 2005, along with the installation of its first chancellor, Nancy Greene Raine. Prime Minister Paul Martin was TRU’s first official visitor the following day.  The Master of Business Administration, TRU’s first autonomous master’s degree program, began that September.

TRU Faculty of Law officially opened to students on September 6, 2011 with a first year class of 75 students and 10 faculty members.  The ceremonial opening was attended by several dignitaries, including the Honourable Chief Justice Lance Finch, former BC Attorney General Wally Oppal, Q.C., and Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Chapter President Sharon Matthews, among many others.  The school has produced several notable lawyers, including Paul Bosco of Murphy Battista LLP and James Gill of Pacific Law in Vancouver, British Columbia, Nelson Selamaj of Pearce Schneiderat in Penticton, British Columbia, and Austin Paladeau of McLeod Law LLP in Calgary, Alberta.