TRU Williams Lake campus (Image Credit: TRU)

By Michael Reeve

TRU Williams Lake

TRU’s consultation on future of Williams Lake campus to play out over several years: president

Mar 30, 2026 | 4:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Board of Governors has signaled the start of a lengthy process exploring the possible closure of the school’s Williams Lake campus. The decision to begin consultation on the future of programming and the campus site was approved during a meeting on Friday (March 27) afternoon.

TRU is well aware of the worries and impact closing the Williams Lake campus could have on the community. But with years of consultation to come before a final decision, President Airini believes there’s reason for hope.

“I know it’s tough and what is amazing – and what is so good – is through these tough time we are making progress and this progress, I think, in the Williams Lake region could be something of a leader for the province,” Airini told CFJC News.

For those in Williams Lake or enrolled at the campus, that statement may ring slightly hollow. But TRU’s leaders stated repeatedly they remain committed to the region.

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“Maybe it’s not about one provider. Maybe it’s about a cooperative of providers that are meeting the community’s needs,” said Airini. “We flip the model and we say the community’s needs lead and then the providers respond to that. We could have, perhaps, a shared approach, but that is why we want to open up discussions and see what creative ideas come forward.”

The challenge in front of TRU is the campus is losing the university just shy of $3.5 million every year. While domestic enrollment has increased, the federal changes around international students remain a hurdle.

“We’ve made a commitment to the region. We have been there for 50 years and the situation is just not improving. It’s the same,” said VP of Finance and Administration Matt Milovick. “I think it’s a challenged demographic, but we have put our best foot forward for 50 years and when you are facing an overall $50-million deficit across the institution, something has to give.”

Part of the goal will be to increase applications from local students, currently sitting at just 34 per cent from those calling the Cariboo home. 

Every option remains on the table for the future of the campus infrastructure.

“The facility is there and it’s big enough – it’s about 80,000 square feet. Quite honestly, it’s too big for our purposes right now, but could we reimagine it for something different in that community. I hope we can,” said Milovick.

The next step in the process is a pair of reports on consultation due back to the board in June.

“I really want to see this university grow and we need to do that in a way that is respecting the means we have available,” said Airini.