RIDE ALONG
OPINION
CONSIDER IT BASHED
Bike to Work Week gets an extension
Doubled fines wil test deterrence
Campus cleanup a success
This year’s Bike to Work Week event has a lengthy extension for TRU, and some prizes, too • Page 7
Distracted driving fines to more than double, testing the power of deterrence • Page 3
TRU Sustainability’s 2016 Trash Bash managed a hefty cleanup • Page 2
OMEGA THE
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
MONTHLY SUMMER EDITION
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ISSUE 28 NO.
VOLUME 25
Ω MAY 2016
A B Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
BUILDING A NEW VIEW AT TRU
Development planned behind Old Main
Now rezoned for development, TRU looks at next steps towards master plan, p. 5 HUNGRY?
LOOKING AHEAD
COMING DOWN THE PIPE
Food truck festival planned for mid June
New TRUSU president talks future plans
Energy board approves Trans Mountain
Local therapeutic riding charity to host food truck festival, with plans for an annual event • Page 4
Brian Chiduuro shares his thoughts on the future of TRUSU and his own future • Page 7
With pipeline expansion approval in place, the proposal still faces provincial approval • Page 2
NEWS
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MAY 25, 2016
Energy board approves pipeline expansion Pipeline approval might mean a Kinder Morgan payout for TRU and Kamloops Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω The National Energy Board has recommended that Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans Mountain pipeline be approved with conditions. The proposed pipeline is mostly an expansion of the existing pipeline that runs from Edmonton to Burnaby, including a stretch along the North Thompson River and through Kamloops city limits. Along with its approval, the National Energy Board also recommended 157 conditions, which pertain to regulatory matters, safety, environmental protection and emergency preparedness and response. But while the NEB decision signals approval at the federal level, there are still hurdles at the provincial level. “We are not yet in a position to consider support for any heavy-oil pipeline in B.C.,” said Environment Minister Mary Polak following the announcement. Polak noted that the province’s five conditions to approve the pipeline, which include Aboriginal consultation, environmental safety and economic concerns, still haven’t all been met. “Meeting all five conditions will be a challenge. We set the bar high for a reason. We need to ensure B.C.’s concerns around the
TRASH BASH 2016 The Trash Bash returned for another year and another successful campus cleanup. Prizes were awarded to teams Detritus Andronicus for best name and The Collectibles and Dirty Money for the most trash bashed. A total of 82 volunteers found and removed two pickup truck loads worth of garbage plus a couch. Photos courtesy TRU Sustainability
environment, First Nations’ participation and overall economic benefit are taken seriously,” Polak said following the decision. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson told CBC’s The House that the decision was “incredibly disappointing” and called the NEB process a “sham.” The National Energy Board has long been the target of criticism over the abundance of former industrialists on its board. In a December 2015 report out of the Auditor General of Canada’s office, auditors said that the NEB wasn’t doing enough to track company implementation of approval conditions and that it wasn’t following up with compliance and regulatory requirements. Both TRU and Kamloops stand to benefit if the pipeline is constructed. In February of 2015, Kinder Morgan made an agreement with the City of Kamloops that would land the city $700,000 if the pipeline project is approved and constructed. Kinder Morgan later struck the same deal with TRU, but for $500,000 intended for scholarships to be doled out over 20 years. The two conditional payments are part of Kinder Morgan’s $4.5 million-plus Community Benefit Agreement plan that has offered money to more than a dozen communities along the proposed pipeline route.
Kinder Morgan’s proposed route for its pipeline expansion through Kamloops. (Kinder Morgan)
OPINION & EDITORIAL
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3
Testing the power of deterrence New fines for distracted driving aim to address a growing problem on our roads Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Starting June 1, the cost of a ticket for distracted driving will be set at $368, but the violation also imposes four penalty points, which carries a $175 premium, bringing the total cost of a distracted driving ticket to $543. Tack on second offense to that and a repeat distracted driver is looking at fines of $888. It gets a lot worse from there. The need to reduce distracted driving is well established. Police in Ontario said it’s even worse than drunk driving, especially among youth. According to ICBC, distracted
driving currently ranks third (22 per cent) in causes of fatal car accidents among youth, after speeding (39 per cent) and impaired driving (27 per cent). With the new fees in place, B.C. has set itself up to test just how well big money fines work as deterrents. Along with the fines, new methods of enforcement are in place, too. According to a CBC report, the RCMP rolled out new spotting scopes for the May long weekend across B.C. that are capable of spotting device-users from as far as 1.2 kilometres away. Recent enforcement also illustrates the problem. On May 17, Kamloops RCMP set up on various locations around town
and handed out 19 tickets for use of an electronic device, which was nearly one third of all tickets they handed out that day. It won’t be a surprise if that kind of enforcement returns, especially after the fine more than doubles in June. We’re all busy. We’re all tempted by the sound of notifications, calls or messages, but it’s really not that difficult to ignore your phone while you’re driving. There is no one who will hear you say “Sorry, I was driving” and not understand why you didn’t respond to them right away. Reading that message isn’t worth $543, let alone your life or endangering the lives of others. editor@truomega.ca
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NEWS
4
MAY 25, 2016
Food truck festival will benefit local charity Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Have any dinner plans for June 17? The Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association is hosting an event that will give you some options. The non-profit will be hosting trucks from Kamloops and beyond on its Crestline Drive property in what will be one of Kamloops’ largest food truck gatherings. KTRA Executive Director Ashley Sudds said the festival has already attracted a lot of attention, with more than 1,000 people marked “going” on Facebook and another 3,000 interested. “People keep inviting friends and tagging each other. I haven’t had to do anything other than create the event,” Sudds said. As of May 22, a total of 12 food trucks had committed to attending. Sudds said they’re mostly from Kamloops and the surrounding region, but some are coming from as far away as Vancouver. Along with the trucks, Sudds also has plans for live music and entertainment
Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association Executive Director Ashley Sudds poses for a photo with Rebel. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
Therapeutic riding organization plans a feast around food trucks for mid-June for kids. The event will serve as a fundraiser for KTRA, a registered charity that provides therapeutic horse riding to children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. Therapeutic riding can provide a calming experience in interacting with the animals, and a horse’s natural walking movement can be soothing. The organization also has a program to support and rehabilitate youth at risk and takes referrals from the RCMP and the Ministry of Children and Families. The aim of the program is to help youth at risk rebuild trust, find support and remove
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fear, according to the KTRA website. The organization, which formed in 1988, is located on Crestline Drive in Brocklehurst and has 12 horses on property leased to it by the Kamloops airport. It runs sessions in the spring and fall with help from 60 volunteers. “We rely heavily on all of our volunteers, and without them we wouldn’t be able to provide our lessons. They provide side support if needed, they lead the horses, they get them tacked up for the lessons,” Sudds said. With each food truck giving back a portion of its profits and with admission by donation,
KTRA is hoping the event will help boost its fundraising efforts.
“I didn’t really expect the amount of interest we received, which I think is fantastic,” Sudds said. Sudds also mentioned that there is already talk of another event in the fall, as well as this event returning next year.
A horse on the KTRA property near the Kamloops Airport. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
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NEWS
5
Rezoned university land primed for development Housing developments first up, with academic buildings hoping for federal funding Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω
mit
Sum
Thompson Rivers University’s application for rezoning has been approved and now the university is one step closer to the next phase of development in the campus master plan – one that includes the development of a university village. Development of the village will be managed through the TRU Community Trust (TRUCT), a non-profit entity that will submit development proposals to the TRU Board of Governors for approval. Because the province doesn’t allow the sale of university land, TRU will grant the trust leasehold parcels of land with a term of 99 years instead. The rezoning moves TRU from the city’s post-secondary (P-8) zoning designation to a new designation, a comprehensive development zone (CD-11). This updated zoning will allow TRU The view from the corner of the property behind Old Main where a new housing development may be built. (Sean Brady/The Omega) to proceed with the development of the most recent iteration of things, the university has university develops in the core its Campus Master Plan. applied for a portion of the $2 of the campus, all that parking According to TRU’s VP Admin billion in federal funding made that’s close to the heart of the and Finance Matt Milovick, who available for innovation and campus is going to be lost and also sits on the TRUCT board, sustainable growth at Canadian you’re going to see parking the next step will be to speak post-secondary institutions pushed more to the fringes, and with developers and start a announced in April. The two eventually you’ll see the concompetitive process. The TRUCT struction of structured parking.” applications put forward by board’s focus for a first developthe university are for the ment is a housing developproposed Trades building ment behind Old Main, near OLD MAIN announced in March and a the thicket of trees on the “It’s going to make for a new nursing building that North Side. vibrant university and a would go across from the When asked about more vibrant Kamloops,” science building. Ground parking availability, Miwould be broken “probably lovick said that the new deMatt Milovick, TRU’s VP Admin & in January” for the two velopment would consume Finance and TRUCT board member buildings looking to receive approximately 120 of TRU’s federal funding, if they’re current parking stalls, but approved. that the parking problem In terms of development at TRU is generally one of by the trust, Milovick said perception. oad ill R those on campus will see “We actually have an G c M shovels in the ground sometime To ease the pain of less oversupply of parking, but the The blue star indicates where a new housing development may be in the next eight months to a parking, Milovick said he hopes problem is the abundance of built on campus. year. that transit and bike access will that parking is in Lot N right “Where our campus is situboth improve and that there’s behind the residence. People make for a vibrant university around it, densify the campus, ated, it’s some of the last prime less focus on the car as things don’t want to walk that far,” and a more vibrant Kamloops,” and keep people on and using buildable lots in the city and move forward. Milovick said. Milovick said. our campus 24/7, it’s going to if we can build a community On the academic side of “What you will see as the
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COMICS & PUZZLES
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YOUR COMIC HERE WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR STUDENT CARTOONISTS. WHY NOT GIVE IT A SHOT? EMAIL EDITOR@TRUOMEGA.CA
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NEWS
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New TRUSU president talks future plans Brian Chiduuro is busy preparing for the year to come, with lots still to learn Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω This year’s TRUSU election saw a new president put in place by the student body. Brian Chiduuro took nearly half the votes to beat out incumbent president Melissa Gordon. Chiduuro ran as part of a slate called the Student Advocacy Coalition, made up mostly of international students. After the dust settled, the new TRU board emerged split among the two biggest slates running, with the coalition holding the balance. But now that the campaigning is done, Chiduuro says that the path forward is in working together. “That was trying to get the seats. But now, if we have a split, there’s no success for us,” he said. Chiduuro has been in Canada for two years. Before he came here to study, he was a student in Zimbabwe and also worked for his father at a Steel Company and in real estate. He was preceded in Canada by his brother Blessing, who made his mark on TRU, as well. With Blessing’s help, he hit
the ground running at TRU. “I already knew what to do. I was already ahead. My brother helped me a lot. He was the one who made me come here,” he said. Here at TRU, Chiduuro is working towards a bachelor’s in business administration, with eyes on a master’s or possibly law school beyond that. Once he’s finished, he doesn’t know what he’ll do, but returning to Africa is a real possibility, since he sees opportunity there. “I believe Africa is actually the first world. You can make more money in Africa than here because it’s still developing. People don’t see this,” he said. “That’s why international students tend to come a long way from back home. We have to get all this knowledge and then invest it back. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. Some people find it better to stay here because it’s not hard – everything is already set up. You just work and go up the ranks.” Chiduuro, 20 now, says his goal is to become “very rich” by the time he’s 24. But with four years to go, he’s got TRUSU to worry about. The newly elected board is still
learning the ropes, and Chiduuro is trying to take it all in. He ran a campaign on reform and new ideas and against the establishment, but now that he’s on the inside, he says things look different. “It’s a whole different picture from when you’re outside complaining to when you’re now inside. Now you actually know how things go and how things are supposed to go and how things are,” he said. But he’s still got his eye on changes, and the ambition remains. Food service and entertainment are two things he’s preparing to deal with, looking to address concerns raised by students over the availability of campus food and the number of events put on by the union. “The more student engagement we have, the more students we have for campaigning, the more we have for advocacy, for everything. It all starts with entertainment.” Chiduuro doesn’t lack confidence. Although it’s early, he’s positive this will be a good year for the union. “Everything that I plan for doesn’t end up how I want it to be, it always ends up better.”
Brian Chiduuro at the podium during the campaign period of the 2016 TRUSU General Election. (Jim Elliot/The Omega)
Bike to Work Week becomes month-long event TRU’s version of event runs from May 30 to June 30 Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω
Thanks to a five-year loan from the Kamloops Art Gallery, Old Main now features the Tousignant Ovale by Canadian painter Claude Tousignant, an 8 ft. by 16 ft. installation above Starbucks. The art was installed on April 18. Below the installation is a plaque memorializing the late Jann Baily, longtime executive director of the Kamloops Art Gallery. TRU President Alan Shaver said that Bailey had asked if campus might have a spot for it, and the university was happy to accommodate. Photo courtesy TRU
This year’s Bike to Work Week has been extended to a whole month at TRU. The event will run from May 30 to June 30 this year. Some of the planned events include a bike maintenance clinic on June 2 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the TRU bike shelter, a French breakfast on May 31 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and the Bike to Work Week Celebration Station on the lawn at Summit and McGill from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on June 1. Participants who enter their name are also eligible for free stuff like bike-related tools, gadgets, bags, etc. with daily draws from May 30 to June 3 and then once a week thereafter. There will also be a grand prize draw on June 30 to wrap up the event. Riders can enter each day they commute to campus on their bikes. TRU Sustainability’s James
Gordon, a life-long biker to work, is organizing the event and shared some tips for those interested in participating. In terms of safety, Gordon said that if they can see you, they won’t hit you, and recommended wearing high-visibility clothing, using flashing lights on the front and back of your bike, using a rear-view mirror and being aware that you can take up an entire vehicle lane if you need to be seen and safe. Gordon also recommended that participants can make use of city bus bike racks to get around some of Kamloops’ hills if they feel the need to, insisting that they’re a lot easier to use than you might think. “People are reluctant to try it. Watch the video, it’s a very simple device. The hills of Kamloops can be daunting,” he said. For more information, contact James Gordon at 250-852-7153 or by email at jgordon@tru.ca.
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THE OMEGA
MAY 25, 2016