Students at Thompson Rivers University will benefit from a five-year partnership between the university and Sun Peaks Resort.
The partnership was announced Tuesday morning and includes a $75,000 donation from Sun Peaks to link students with careers in tourism, hospitality, trades and even early childhood education (ECE).
Part of the donation will go towards the university's Tourism Innovation Lab Fund to help students develop tourism business ideas.
Funds will also go towards the TRU Trails to Reconciliation Fund which supports a 12-day field course where students travel to Indigenous communities to build mountain biking trails.
Sun Peaks Resort’s student familiarization tours will also receive funding. The program gives tourism students a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a major mountain resort.
Helen Davies, Sun Peaks human resources director of employee experience, said the resort was looking forward to working with students from all types of backgrounds and disciplines.
“When people think of jobs at Sun Peaks, they naturally think of tourism and hospitality,” said Davies.
“Sun Peaks is also a community and, like any community, we need workers in many different industries — including early childhood education and trades.”
Additional money will go towards TRU undergraduate students in tourism, events and conventions management, culinary arts, trades and technology and ECE programs.
The funding will provide students with mentorships and potential work placements at businesses at Sun Peaks.
“The tourism, adventure and hospitality industries are rebounding from the pandemic and clamouring for staff,” said Doug Booth, dean of the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism.
“Especially for those who can demonstrate creativity, initiative and leadership — traits and skills that TRU develops and fosters.”
