The 411

If I wrote the school motto:
“Find your TRU”
Best place for a nap:
The Writing Centre has the comfiest couch, but Student Services is a hidden gem with its bean bag chairs and constantly unoccupied couch.
Best cheap lunch:
Scratch Cafe. Run by TRU’s culinary institute, the delicious menu is rotated daily and includes amazing soups for students on a budget. It is also a great place to go for coffee.
Best hangover breakfast:
Hello Toast is the local favourite.
Best campus food:
We recently started getting food trucks coming to TRU, which has drastically improved the variety and quality of food on campus.
Best bar for hanging out:
Red Collar is a student favourite because of its chill vibe, games, drink and draw, and trivia nights.
Best place to live:
If you are staying on campus, definitely hit up New Res (North Tower). Off-campus, Lower Sahali or anywhere on the No. 9 bus route.
Best pizza:
Pizza Pi, but that’s highly debated.
Best place to study:
If you want to get actual studying done, head to the main library. If you want to hang out with friends and pretend to study, House of Learning is the place for you.
Weirdest tradition:
Buildering (bouldering on buildings at night). Thanks, Adventure Studies students!
Best giveaway:
Go to the Back-to-School BBQ and load up on free swag.

PROFILE: Thompson Rivers University | Kamloops, B.C. | Founded 1970

As an open-access institution, Thompson Rivers University prides itself on inclusion and opportunity which is reflected in its diverse community of domestic and international students. The university aims at having the perfect fit for everyone, offering 140 programs from trades and technical courses to undergraduate degrees and master’s programs. TRU is also home to Open Learning, which gives students a choice of 60 online programs they can study wherever they live.

Overlooking neighbouring peaks, silt bluffs and the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers, TRU has a gorgeous campus matching the surrounding natural beauty. The university is expanding and upgrading its facilities, with the trades school cutting the ribbon on a new building in 2018 and a state-of-the-art building for the nursing school opening in September 2020. Even the first building on campus, Old Main, has had some recent major renovations.

The Adventure Studies program is one of the best in the world. The program’s gear bay houses everything from sea kayaks and canoes to diving and climbing gear. Adventure students can be found practising rescues in the snow or taking others out on hikes.

The research opportunities available to undergrads at TRU are hard to match. Faculty members from all disciplines are often on the lookout for research assistants, and there is funding for undergrads to conduct their own research.

After Class
There are a lot of fun things to do around Kamloops, although some require transportation or someone with local knowledge to show you around. This is where the LEAP (Leisure Exploration Activity Program) and AdventureU Club come in. LEAP frequently runs trips to nearby locales like Vancouver, Sun Peaks (ride plus lift ticket for only $30), the Enderby drive-in to see double features and more. The AdventureU Club organizes amazing trips like overnight hikes to Dunn Peak and a group ski date during reading break for only $35.

Local Vibe
Kamloops has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a drink, there is an emerging craft beer scene. The funky downtown area is riddled with restaurants where you can get everything from a $2 pizza slice to wallet-deflating, several-course meal. You can find DJs at CJ’s, live bands at the Blue Grotto, open mic at the Art We Are, or get a taste of the eccentric at the Office of Surrealist Investigations.

More Info
TRU’S on-campus paper, the Omega is a good way to keep informed about campus news. The student union website also keeps you informed about upcoming events.