Image Credit: TRU

By James Peters

Thompson Rivers University

‘Not in the spirit of reconciliation’: Canim Lake councillor critical of TRU business school renaming

Feb 18, 2022 | 10:59 AM

KAMLOOPS — A councillor for the Canim Lake Band is taking Thompson Rivers University to task for the renaming of its School of Business and Economics after businessman and philanthropist Bob Gaglardi.

The renaming was unveiled in a ceremony Thursday (Feb. 17) as the school accepted a $10 million donation from the Gaglardi family. The donation will largely go toward building a new home for the business school.

In an open letter addressed to TRU President Brett Fairbairn, Canim Lake Councillor Carl Archie calls the renaming a “serious misstep” that is “not in the spirit of reconciliation.”

“Naming a publicly funded school after another old white guy does nothing to promote [r]econciliation,” Archie said.

Archie goes on to state the naming of institutions after “white guys” displays ignorance toward Indigenous genocide.

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“It’s this very history which has disadvantaged Indigenous peoples including the Secwepemc and advantaged intergenerationally wealthy families like the Gaglardi family,” Archie said.

The letter goes on to call on the school to reconsider its naming and donation practices to better align with principles of reconciliation.

Image Credit: Twitter / @Tlli7sa