Kamloops, BC: Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and Venture Kamloops will be hosting a free lunch at TRU to discuss how the community can help keep students and graduates in Kamloops. Over the course of the lunch, attendees will hear from a number of employers describing the success and benefits of hiring current students, graduates, and students in the co-operative education program.
“We’re excited to be partnering with TRU on this luncheon,” says Jim Anderson, Executive Director of Venture Kamloops. “As a result of the Labour Market Study we released at the end of last year we felt we needed to do something to alleviate the projected labour shortage. It seemed logical to start in our own backyard and with a massive talent pool available each year we want to try to keep as much of that talent in Kamloops as possible.”
“This luncheon builds on some great relationships between Kamloops businesses and TRU students and graduates,” says Shawn Read, Chairperson of the TRU Career Education Department. “TRU students already contribute greatly to the labour force in Kamloops, and every year TRU co-op students and grads are hired all over the city. We hope this lunch will help to keep even more TRU talent in Kamloops by helping employers understand what’s involved and what the benefits are in hiring TRU students.”
This event will showcase the advantages of hiring locally educated talent and feature short presentations from employers who regularly hire co-op students and recent graduates. There will also be employers and students at each table to provide context and specific examples during any table discussion. These employers include Wilf Froese from ideaLEVER, Hank Spaaij from Arrow Transportation / Streamline Technologies, Steve Earl from the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Corey Darling from CIBC, Shatha Al-Reihani from the Plaza Hotel, and Margaret Chrumka from the Kamloops Art Gallery. All of these employers have had positive experiences working with students and are eager to share their success stories with the rest of the Kamloops business community.
The TRU and Venture Kamloops Employers Forum will take place in the Mountain Room of the Campus Activity Centre on Wednesday April 20th from 11:30-1:00. This is a free event, but preregistration is required. Please RSVP by April 15 via the Eventbrite link provided. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tru-venture-kamloops-employer-forum-tickets-21534168277
