KAMLOOPS – The fourth residential construction Project Home to be constructed in Williams Lake will be on view this week when Thompson Rivers University, School District #27 and the Williams Lake Construction Association celebrate the hard work of students, faculty and association members with a tour of Project Home 2006 on Thursday, September 14th, at 1:30 pm at Boe Place, just off Broadway Avenue.

Built under the auspices of TRU’s Residential Construction Program, the Project Home represents an ideal partnership between secondary educators, the private sector and TRU, explained Dr. Martin Whittles, Dean of TRU’s Williams Lake campus.

“TRU provided the instructional component, the school district provided classroom and shop space while underwriting the cost all of tools and equipment used on site ($20,000), and the Williams Lake Construction Association operated as the project underwriter, assuring funding and access to regional sub-trade skills in order to build the house,” he said.”This is the fourth year the programme has been offered, and a total of four homes have been completed, with this year being the most complicated design to date.”

When complete, Project Home will be sold, with all profits to be used as start-up funds for the next project and for scholarships and bursaries for apprentices.

“A number of school districts across the province have reviewed the joint TRU, Williams Lake Construction Association and School District #27 model, and attempted to duplicate its success.BC Ministry of Education officials have also identified it as a model for the education of future construction trades workers,” Whittles added.

Whittles applauded the efforts of TRU’s partners in the training enterprise.

“The Residential Construction Programme was born out of the imagination, enthusiasm, and energy of Mr Gord Mireau from the Williams Lake Construction Association, Mr Gordon Armour, and TRU, to provide hands-on carpentry training in Williams Lake,” he said. “By offering an opportunity for regional high school students to begin their trades education prior to leaving school, the programme has jump-started a dozen new residential construction careers.”

Touring the home Thursday will be representatives of the Williams Lake Construction Association, School District #27, Deans Ralph Finch of TRU Trades and Technology and Martin Whittles of TRU Williams Lake, and the 12 regional high school students who have built the home from the ground up.

For more information, please contact:

Dr Martin Whittles, Dean
TRU-Williams Lake
250.392.8001

Williams Lake Construction Association
250.392.4808

School District #27
250.398.3800