SRD K9’s is a volunteer organization whose core function is the ongoing search for missing persons in BC. Their vision is to become the Provincial hub for search dog training and detection. Working K9’s come from a variety of backgrounds and training methodologies. SRD K9’s consist of Narcotics Detection K9’s, Article Search K9’s, Live Find K9’s, Tracking K9’s, and Human Remains Detection K9’s.

Do you like to talk about news stories of the week? If you do, we invite you to join moderator, Ray Pillar, and the students of this class for a lively provocative discussion and debate about local, provincial, national and world issues. Participants introduce topics of the week (or they can pass) and that is followed by general discussion led by the class host and moderator. Outside experts are occasionally invited for short presentations and questions. This is a time to learn more about issues in the world today. The sessions are respectful, welcoming and engaging. Whatever the news, we look forward to a range of views and great discussions.

This will be an outdoor class at one of the pull offs in Lac du Bois Park. Lyn will read from the prologue of her autobiographical, award-winning book, “Drawing Botany Home”. Participants will then work through some writing/drawing exercises related to plants. The point is for folks to think about the role of plants in each of our lives, some noticed, many unnoticed…

Organizing of LGBTQ+ rights in British Columbia has changed drastically from its early days in the 1960’s to the later decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. This presentation traces the history of LGBTQ+ organizations and their members throughout this time period, looking at how the goals and methods of organizing changed based on the needs of the community and their visibility in wider British Columbia society. From decriminalization of homosexuality to AIDS organizing, groups across BC have helped to change the laws and attitudes towards queer people, thereby creating more visibility, acceptance, and a strong sense of community that still has impacts today.

The Kamloops Residential School that we see across the South Thompson River today was in operation from 1923 to 1977. The original school, built in 1890, burned down shortly before. Between 1890 and 1977, hundreds of Indigenous children passed through these doors. Our guide will take us through the chapel, dining room, kitchen, boys’ dormitory, and gymnasium, sharing the history of what took place at this school. Please be aware that this walking tour does include climbing up and down very narrow stairwells. As parking is limited, please arrange carpooling with other participants. We will meet at the monument in front of the Kamloops Residential School 15 minutes before our scheduled tour at 10:00AM. Please note that this tour will include difficult subject matter.

In this class on creative writing, Gail will explore ways to incorporate personal interviews (one of the many tactics to stimulate creativity) into writing practice.

Although Russia, for the most part, is perceived negatively these days, its two main cities have much to interest travellers. In the summer of 2019, before the most recent invasion of Ukraine, Bruce and his family travelled to St. Petersburg and Moscow with a Russian friend and guide. You might be surprised by what you can learn about these two cities.

The world of cyber security is confusing, particularly with the increasing development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thelma will walk us through the critical cyber risks everyone should watch out for. Staying vigilant and informed is everyone’s best defense in this new age of digital deception.

In Riverside Park, there is a monument about Fort Kamloops, designated a historic site in 1924, in memory of the fur traders of the Pacific Fur Company, the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company, who all established trading posts in the vicinity. Ken’s presentation will provide an intimate look at the ten men honoured on the plaque and how they figured in the history of the fur trade from 1811 to 1860. Ken’s extensive research reveals that the ten men are described through colourful and pejorative language by fellow fur traders and managers as well as through the “Character Book of George Simpson” (1832). Simpson was the Hudson’s Bay Company Governor-in-chief of Rupert’s Land. The plaque itself is subject to critique by whom it leaves out and its colonial, settler language in reference to the fur traders as “pioneers”, and for “securing the country for Great Britain.”

This will be an opportunity to visit the renowned McAbee fossil beds and heritage site. We will stop twice on the way to McAbee—the Kamloops Lake overlook and the provincial park in Savona. The overlook gives us a good view of the geology and fragments of crust transported by tectonic plates during the last ice age. At Savona we will be within a Pleistocene delta and it is a chance to imagine the forces that would have been unleashed when the ice jams at Spences Bridge and Savona burst, and there was a horrendous flood of lake water into what is now the Fraser. From there we will continue on to the McAbee fossil beds. Our walk up the hill takes us through the margin of this Eocene lake. Above our head you will see hoodoos carved through the flows that entered the lake and filled it until there was no more lake. After passing through some uneven ground we come to a trail where the careful observer can find pieces of shale with fossils. The McAbee is a protected site. There is ABSOLUTELY NO collecting or digging into the outcrop. If we find a fantastic fossil lying on the ground we will report it to the Heritage Park managers. We can have a picnic at the McAbee, though there is NO shade. Or continue on to Cache Creek.
Please bring adequate food and drink, wear sturdy walking shoes, and dress for the weather.

Aging in the LGBTQ+ community is a journey marked by resilience and activism, and it requires navigating systems that were never designed with queer lives in mind. This lecture reveals how historical discrimination, the concept of chosen family, health care disparities and intergenerational disconnect have shaped the experiences of queer elders today. While acknowledging the challenges they face, we also celebrate their strength, legacy, and unwavering commitment to fighting for justice. Join us for an empowering conversation that explores the meaning of aging with dignity, pride and community.

This one-hour talk will cover a variety of topics that the TRU Sustainability Office is currently working on to retain its position as a sustainability leader in the post-secondary sector in Canada. Topics will include everything from energy, transportation, waste, and biodiversity initiatives to trying to influence everyday behaviours and decisions on academic programming and research to the biggest sustainability project the university has ever undertaken.