KAMLOOPS—A $75,000 donation from the Windsor Plywood Foundation has supplied Thompson Rivers University’s carpentry program with new, state-of-the-art equipment. Local Windsor Plywood Kamloops owners Bryan and Karie Ghering advocated for TRU to receive a donation from the company’s foundation.
The donation contributes to TRU’s Limitless campaign to raise $50 million in celebration of TRU’s 50th anniversary this year. To date, $44.8 million has been raised.
Karie Ghering is an alum from the School of Business and Economics and a member of the TRU Alumni Association board of directors. She worked over the course of 15 years to earn her degree as a mature student and graduated in 2017.
“I had such a good experience at TRU. I loved it, every second I was there,” Ghering said. “After I graduated, I didn’t want that relationship to end. It was an amazing experience to have this come to fruition and I think it’s so great the Windsor Plywood Foundation is giving back.”
Most significantly, the School of Trades and Technology was able to purchase a GRIZZLY 40-inch variable speed helical blade planer in addition to other equipment for the carpentry program.
“It’s probably one of the nicest thickness planers in all of Kamloops now,” said Carpentry Instructor Tim Kasten. “It’s important that our students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and, for Windsor to come on board, it just shows their commitment to our program and the level of education we offer here at TRU.”
Windsor Plywood Foundation Executive Director Cathy Brown said her organization chooses to make meaningful contributions in the communities where their stores operate and that it has a vested interest in supporting trades training.
“Trades people are Windsor customers, they’re Windsor employees, they’re our community and we view TRU as a very progressive trades university,” Brown said. “The Industrial Training and Technology Centre and the emphasis on trades is pretty unique. We’re just delighted to contribute to that.”
For more on TRU’s Limitless campaign, visit tru.ca/limitless.
Contacts
Karie Ghering, Owner, Kamloops Windsor Plywood
250-320-2168 | kghering@windsorplywood.com
Tim Kasten, Carpentry Instructor, TRU School of Trades and Technology
250-371-5655 | tkasten@tru.ca
Photo of Bryan and Karie Ghering available.
