Weytkp. Bonjour. Hello everyone,
The days are getting longer, and I’ve started running again. There is something about being back out on the land, moving next to the water, that brings a different kind of clarity. I am looking forward to exploring more places in the weeks ahead.
Since my last update
Ministry visit
We welcomed the Honourable Rick Glumac, Minister of State for AI and New Technologies, to campus alongside Bell AI Fabric and the Central Interior Business Accelerator (CIBA). This visit highlighted the growing collaboration across key partners in the ecosystem.
Pictured above: Minister Glumac is third from left (front row), between President Airini and CIBA Executive Director Sachin Singh.
President Airini, Matt Milovick, Mike Henry and I shared TRU’s AI Vision and how, unlike many AI strategies, ours will always be human-led, values-first. We went deep on two areas in particular: TRU’s leadership in sustainability and how AI can amplify rather than compromise that commitment; and our goal of world-class student success, and the role technology can play in getting us there. They left with a clear picture of TRU’s contribution to the Interior and to BC, and genuine enthusiasm to support the work.
In the afternoon, we dove into two of TRU horaizon’s Game Changer pillars: health and education. Thank you to Vivek Kumar, Quan Nguyen, Ghazanfar Latif and Yasin Maimaitijaing and their students for the demos and discussions. The room was full of questions and energy, and we left inspired by the innovation and the possibilities ahead. The “TRU advantage” we often talk about shone through in every conversation: practical, innovative, values-driven people who are passionate about making the world a better place.
Virtual lunch ‘n’ learns – Safe Start Framework
We held our first virtual lunch ‘n’ learn for the Safe Start Framework rollout. Thank you to the ~25 attendees who joined. These sessions are an opportunity to walk through the framework and ask questions. I encourage you to sign up for one of the upcoming sessions presented by AVP, Digital Strategies and CIO, Information Technology Services Matt Norton and AI and Automation Manager Shikha Vats. They will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:
- Session 2: Escalation and Incidents Reporting – April 1
- Session 3: Suggested Tools – April 8
- Session 4: FAQs and Myths – April 15
We heard the feedback on timing. This round will be recorded and posted (location TBD) and going forward we’ll rotate days so more people can join.
AI Avatar Series
We invited John Zubak (HeyGen Expert) to host three hands-on labs on using AI Avatars in the classroom. Over 25 attendees learned to build their own virtual avatars for use cases like student outreach, teaching and beyond. The conversation moved quickly from concept to application — participants saw potential in everything from answering prospective student questions in real time to supporting applied, role-based learning. We’ll share examples by faculty as they develop their work.
What’s happening beyond TRU?
A report released this week by MNP found that while 91% of Canadian business leaders are satisfied with their AI progress, only 4% say it is delivering transformational strategic value, with skills and knowledge gaps cited by 78% as the critical barrier. Adoption is happening. Meaningful adoption is harder.
A piece in the Hill Times this week argued that what is holding Canada back is not a lack of infrastructure or R&D — it is the absence of broad AI literacy. Technology is measured not by the excellence of a few, but by how deeply it is woven into the life of a country.
That resonates. And we are reminded that the work we are doing through TRU horaizon — getting our community confident and capable with AI, grounded in shared values — is the kind of foundation that makes adoption meaningful. The team is actively planning, together with colleagues and students across the university, how to best support that learning and upskilling. We aim to share more soon.
Til next time
Over the coming weeks, you will continue to see more TRU horaizon and Safe Start content across campus. We encourage you to take part and share your perspective. Related, the TRU horaizon team and I have heard strong interest in more opportunities to learn and upskill, and we’re actively working to build that out that across the university.
Xyemstwécw. We respect each other, the land, knowledge and the peoples of our region. That commitment continues to guide how we approach new technologies and their impact on our community.
Please continue sharing your questions or suggestions at horaizon@tru.ca.
Kukwstsétselp. Merci. Thank you,
Andrea Li
Special Advisor to the President on AI
Questions: horaizon+andrea@tru.ca