Recent mill shut downs, the indefinite suspension of operations at the Mount Polley mine and Safeway closures all have major impacts on small, rural communities. The BC government has approached TRU to provide training opportunities for displaced workers.

School of Trades and Technology Dean Baldev Pooni, who also oversees the Williams Lake campus and regional centres, is at a conference but available by phone for interviews on Monday and Tuesday, June 17 and 18, at 250-574-8977 (after 8 a.m.). He can be reached later in the week at his office at 250-828-5110 or bpooni@tru.ca.

Associate Professor of Economics Laura Lamb is available for media interviews. Her expertise includes community economic development, policy economics, environmental economics, aboriginal economic issues and behavioural economics. She can be reached at 250-852-6277 or llamb@tru.ca.