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Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Williams Lake Tribune
NEWS Town Hall meeting discusses ways to advance TRU Monica Lamb-Yorski Staff Writer People shared ideas at the first of a series of town halls being hosted by Thompson Rivers University’s strategic priorities advisory committee in Williams Lake last Friday. “We deliberately hosted our first town hall in Williams Lake,” said TRU’s associate vice-president of marketing and communications Lucille Gnanasihamany. “In the interest of diversity, we wanted to say we embrace our regional centres, Williams Lake being one of them.” Participants jotted down ideas at stations around the room, responded to suggestions from others, and
shared in a large group. Some of the suggestions from the floor included more programming, diversity of students and knowledge of technology. If TRU is going to offer distance education it’s important for students and faculty to be able to work well together through the Internet, one person suggested. Williams Lake city councillor Laurie Walters said she likes what’s happening as far as growth of the university goes and connecting the community with the university is crucial to keep that growth continuing. “Having the youth stay in our community longer and having that energy of youth being resurgent in the community will help Wil-
Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
Thompson Rivers University president Dr. Alan Shaver speaks to participants during a town hall held at the TRU Williams Lake campus Friday, hosted by the Strategic Priorities Advisory Committee. liams Lake grown in so many ways,” Walters added. TRU’s president Alan Shaver said the university is trying to
offer something for everyone and it’s important to determine what are the most important programs to offer for each community.
Bylaw could give more funds Monica Lamb-Yorski Staff Writer If accepted, a new bylaw could give the Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area more funds to work with, said WLCBIA president Sheila Mortenson Thursday. “Over the past five years, we have had no money to leverage grants for things like signage directing visitors to our downtown or banners for our streets,” Mortenson said. “With the renewal the BIA will have money to put toward things like a public washroom in the downtown core and alleyway lighting.”
In the proposed new bylaw, the owners of 203 parcels of property in the downtown would be charged a slight increase in the tax levy monies collected from class five and class six assessed properties. The increase would and help grow the organization’s budget by increments during the next five years. Currently the tax levy rate is to collect no more than $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value of land and improvements or the amount of $79,650, whichever, is less. Notices have gone out to property owners and in newspaper ads and unless city
council receives a petition against the levy containing more than half of the landowners representing at least 50 per cent of the assessed value of land improvements, the bylaw will be adopted. The deadline for receiving petitions against is Dec. 13. “Most businesses are paying $400 and under,” Martenson said of the present rate. With the increase the rate would go up about 14 cents per $1,000 of assessment. Mortenson said the value of a strong vibrant downtown cannot be measured until it’s lost.
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Technology makes it possible for campuses to link up with stateof-the art facilities at other campuses, Shaver added.
Sharon Taylor works with immigrants who arrive in Canada, often with univeristy degrees, but need to gain English language skills. “The university no longer offers those bridging language courses,” Taylor said. Dr. Ray Sanders, executive director of Community U and Williams Lake Campus, said he was pleased Williams Lake was the first location for the town hall meeting. “I always enjoy seeing the strong support for our campus and the community,” Sanders said, “We had a great turnout and are pleased that so many braved the inclement weather to attend.” The next steps are to continue to host a series of town hall
meetings throughout the TRU region, continue to receive input through a variety of media, consolidate the input and begin to move forward on making recommendations, Sanders explained. Dr. Robert J. Higgins Assistant Professor sits on the committee from Williams Lake. The committee is comprised of 10 students, 10 faculty and 10 community members. “Considering we held the meeting at 9 a.m. on a day when even staff and faculty at TRU were not sure they would be able to get to work because of the heavy snow, it was a huge success,” Higgins said. “We had around 37 people in attendance with diverse interests and active feedback.”
Variety Show & Silent Auction November 23, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Ramada Overlander Convention Centre
Performers: Drum & Bell Tower • Samira Bellydance Carmen Mutschele • Troy Forseille Sage Trampleasure • Dena Baumann School District #27 Poverty Challenge Project Proceeds to the Food Bank Tickets $15 available at School District #27 Main Office 350 2nd Ave. Lake City Secondary Main Offices (Columneetza & Williams Lake Campuses) This is an adult (over 19) event