July 2026 Newsletter

Alumni Feature

Lisanna Lewis (UCC ‘94) never planned to have a career in mining, but 22 years in, she is grateful she swallowed her fear and said yes to a new opportunity.

In 2004, Lewis was employed full-time and working to complete her accounting degree. She was busy but feeling uninspired in her role, so when a recruiter encouraged her to explore jobs in the mining sector, she was curious. An interview with Borealis Mining Company Ltd. followed, and after they offered her a job, Lewis had a decision to make.

“I had been at my job for 12 years and in a lot of ways they were like family,” she says. “But I made a leap of faith and I’m glad that I did. I’ve travelled the world and I have a very unique job for an accountant.”

Alumni in the Lead

In this segment we feature alumni who were recently promoted to senior leadership positions or are celebrating other major accomplishments. Let us know if you or a classmate are celebrating by emailing alumni@tru.ca.

Ugochi Nwangwu

GDBA & MBA '24

Congratulations to Ugochi, who started a new position as intermediate marketing specialist at Hatch.

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Claire McLoughlin

MScEEM '23

Congratulations to Claire, who was promoted to director at Paradigm Solar.

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Gabriela Harms

BBA '22

Congratulations to Gabriela, who started a new position as marketing and special projects coordinator at Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce.

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Reunion Recap

The Cariboo College Nursing Class of 1986 gathered in Kamloops for their 40th reunion.

Q&A: Carole Watts, Diploma in Nursing '86

What did you enjoy the most about the reunion?

Seeing my fellow classmates! They are the very same people who shared my triumphs and my failures; who stood by my side to get me to the finish line. Of course the tour of the new to me campus was a plus!

What keeps you connected to TRU?

TRU was for me Cariboo College. It holds very dear memories of my early adulthood, learning so many things, like being away from home for the first time. Going to college is an experience I think everyone should have. The camaraderie I formed with my classmates in the nursing program is FOREVER. Being an alum of TRU is special and very dear to me.

Upcoming event!

Be part of a special screening of EMERGENCE: Women in the Storm, the powerful new documentary from award-winning Canadian directors Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper.

Female frontline responders, community leaders and disaster survivors demonstrate new ways to live and support one another in a time of climate disaster, facing heat domes, wildfire and flooding in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

Post-film Q&A with film directors and subjects with panel moderated by Dr. Will Garrett-Petts and Dr. Cheryl Gladu of TRU.

This Saturday, July 4, 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre in Kamloops.

Buy Tickets

Career Corner

Job Board

Looking for your next career move? Check out these TRU Alumni Job Board highlights:

Transload Operator - Power Engineer, Kamloops
Workforce Development Coordinator - Vancouver
Senior Manager, Inventory and Logistics - Chicago
Coordinator, Events & Special Initiatives - Vancouver
Environmental and Archaeological Project Manager - Barriere

Sign up for your free TRU Alumni Network account to view the job board

Monthly Poll

Are you watching the FIFA World Cup?

⚽ Yes, I’ve planned my days around it

🍿 Sort of, I'm watching the big matches when I can

😎 Not really, I'm in vacation mode

Last Month's Poll

Two-thirds of respondents said they spent their summers as a TRU student building work experience.

News

TRU among global leaders in Impact Rankings debut

Thompson Rivers University’s first appearance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings has placed the university among the world’s top institutions advancing sustainable development.

In its inaugural submission to the THE Sustainability Impact Rankings, TRU ranked in the top 10 per cent worldwide for SDG 13 Climate Action and earned strong results across five additional United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting the university’s commitment to building stronger communities, advancing sustainability and creating positive change through partnership and collaboration.

Graduates and guests celebrate Spring Convocation 2026

TRU's class of 2026 celebrated Spring Convocation, cheered on by family members, friends, classmates, instructors, mentors and supporters.

Minister tours TRU sustainability project

B.C. Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Jessie Sunner was on campus recently to meet with university leadership.

TRU celebrates graduates and expands partnerships in China

Convocations in China recognized graduates in joint programs at Tianjin University of Technology and Shanghai Institute of Technology.

Students experience Indigenous tourism in Haida Gwaii

A 12-day Adventure field school immersed Bachelor of Tourism students in learning through place, conversation and community.

New discounts!

Thompson Rivers University | 805 TRU Way Kamloops, BC | Canada V2C 0C8

Thompson Rivers University campuses are on the ancestral lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwépemc'ulucw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. The region TRU serves also extends into the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Nuxalk, Tŝilhqot'in, Dakelh, and Syilx peoples.