University village taking shape

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The next public step on the path to creation of a possible university village will come in April, when a more-structured presentation will be given on the idea.

Cliff Neufeld, Thompson Rivers University’s vice-president of administration and finance, who is overseeing the project, said a preliminary public open house held earlier this month was not a highly structured event deliberately, “to avoid pre-conceived ideas.”

Neufeld, who is due to retire on March 1, said the April session will have more structure and more opportunity for discussion.

The proposed university village is part of the institution’s long-term strategic plan.

The project involves looking at the campus open space and finding ways to use it to enhance campus life, teaching and research.

The first session, attended by about 50 people, featured large display boards with some concepts.

Participants were encouraged to discuss the ideas and their own visions for a village concept with the three representatives of consulting firm Stantec, who mingled with the group.

Behind the public side is a committee guiding the process, Neufeld said, with representatives from the student body, faculty, administration, the board of governors and the City of Kamloops.

A broad-based committee was created, Neufeld said, because any village created needs to reflect and fit in with the surrounding community.

The April meeting will move the project forward after the committee considers the ideas provided at the first session.

Another meeting is anticipated in the fall, which will come close to a final proposal but still provide input before a draft is presented to the board of governors, Neufeld said.