[updated with additional context and comments from Mayor Surinderpal Rathor]
The Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) Board of Governors unanimously agreed to delay the potential closure of the university’s Williams Lake Campus.
In its Board of Governors’ Meeting held today, March 27, in Kamloops, it was agreed that the Board will wait for further consultation due for the June 2026 board meeting before making a decision.
A three-part recommendation to “reimagine post-secondary education in the Williams Lake region” and include the “full closure and disposal of the facilities” in Williams Lake was split into three parts.
The first and second parts of the recommendation were amended to include further consultation with TRU’s administration and senate to explore options to keep programming in the community. Another amendment was to include communications and an engagement plan to be reported to the Board. The first and second parts were directed to be reported back to the Board in June 2026.
“What we are looking at is how we can support the enduring contribution of Thompson Rivers University to the programming in the Williams Lake region, and establish a lengthy consultation process for that,” said Board of Governors President, Dr. Airini.
Dr. Airini said the consultation process would look “intentionally, purposefully, and explicitly” at the closure of the facilities and land at Williams Lake, not the programming.
“TRU is committed to continuing those contributions and doing that within our means,” she said. “We regret any sense that the technical language might be inferring anything other than respect for the considerable effort, and the deep and wide passion that is held for the work that Thompson Rivers University does within and for the Williams Lake community.”
Dr. Airini says the board intends to “proceed with caution and to proceed responsibly” to address the “unprecedented challenges” the university is facing financially.
These amendments were passed unanimously.
The Final part of the recommendation, which would look into the full closure of the campus, was delayed because of a motion put forward by TRU’s Chancellor Dede DeRose, who is from the area and taught at the Williams Lake campus for three years.
“I want to make sure that we, the Board, have all the information before us, before we make the decision,” DeRose said. “Seven members from my little community of Esk’etemc crossed the stage last year in Williams Lake. I know they wouldn’t have had they not had the opportunity of having the building there.”
DeRose continued by understanding that the third recommendation was to only close the “bricks and mortar” of the campus, and the programming would continue. However, DeRose said having a physical campus has deep roots and impacts within the community.
“When you have more people cross the stage from your community in graduation, it speaks loudly to the passion of the staff and community, and the building. So, I want our board to be very careful, and to do the right thing for the Cariboo-Chilcotin community.”
Vice-President of Administration and Finance, Matt Milovick, said the costs of maintenance alone cost $5.21 million per 3 annum. It would cost up to $21 million for the full term of the university’s agreed commitment, ending in 2034.
Williams Lake’s Mayor Surinderpal Rathor says he is “relieved” by the Board’s decision being delayed.
“They [TRU] say they’re going to open the consultations to the community, so I am asking our community, each and everybody from the community to get on board and start telling [TRU], they are not shutting down our university… I need the support from my community, They cannot shut down the university in our community.”
Mayor Rathor said he has reached out for support, and has received support and endorsements from local MLAs, other members of the Legislative Assembly, and members of Parliament.
He also said he has gotten messaged from the provincial Minister of Education, Lisa Beare, and Premier David Eby. Rathor said Eby told him that he was on holiday, but will be cutting it short and coming back to help on the issue.
TRU’s Board of Governors will make its final decision in its meeting held on June 19, 2026.
The initial recommendation would have the “closure” of the Williams Lake Campus and its programming transitioned within TRU over two years, and finalized by Spring 2028.
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