LIVABLE CITIES,
COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITIES

Sustainability Conference — February 18 – 19, 2026 at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. B.C.

Register Now

Thank you to all those who participated in LCCC 2025!

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the first two Livable Cities, Collaborative Communities conferences at TRU. Your engagement and passion for sustainability and resiliency helped make the events a success. We are excited to announce that LCCC III will be held on February 18 and 19, 2026. We look forward to continuing these vital conversations on building more resilient and sustainable communities.

Against a confluence of global and local crises, including climate change, TRU aims to identify solutions for building a better future for all people and the planet by bringing together local and international parties for this vital discussion. Stay tuned for updates, and we look forward to welcoming you to the campus.

Welcome to the Livable Cities and Collaborative Communities (LCCC) initiative at Thompson Rivers University

LCCC is a transformative program advancing sustainability, resilience and community collaboration in the face of global challenges.

Rooted in the commitment to address the pressing issues of climate change, reconciliation and social cohesion, the LCCC brings together a diverse collective of individuals — from TRU faculty and students to community leaders and Indigenous representatives — united in their pursuit of sustainable solutions for the future. Explore our ongoing journey of knowledge sharing, innovative research, and strategic initiatives aimed at fostering livable cities and collaborative communities, where the synergy of diverse perspectives fuels progress and empowerment for all.

We invite faculty, staff, students or community groups to join the LCCC community based at TRU and to contribute to this ongoing collaborative project that will make a difference to prosperity of the land and local communities whether in British Columbia or elsewhere.

View History Request registration
Campus TRU

About the next conference

Following the success of the 2025 Livable Cities, Collaborative Communities Conference (LCCC), TRU is excited to host the next edition on February 18-19, 2026. This two-day event will focus on three key sustainability themes:

  • Water governance and land use
  • TRU and Kamloops City Council policy efforts
  • Indigenous design and sustainable development

Day 1: will kick off with an inspiring keynote, setting the stage for in-depth roundtable discussions on the three core themes.

Day 2: will provide interactive, hands-on workshops, allowing participants to dive deeper into these critical topics and explore practical solutions.
The LCCC steering committee encourages undergraduate and graduate students as well as Indigenous youth to actively participate. LCCC seeks to share the widest possible range of voices and perspectives. When registering, tell us how we can raise your voice around sustainability in the region.

Contact us by email View LCCC Policy
Sustainability conference

LCCC 2024 and 2025 Keynote speakers' presentations

Kevin Loring

Kevin Loring

All My Relations: How the Global Climate Catastrophe Affects Everyone and How Indigenous Ways of Being Can Save Us All.

Watch presentation
Mike Flannigan

Mike Flannigan

BC Innovation Research Chair in Predictive Services, Emergency Management and Fire Science, TRU

Watch presentation
Suzanne Simard

Suzanne Simard

Leader of The Mother Tree Project, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, UBC

Watch presentation
Seth Klein

Seth Klein

Director of Strategy, Climate Emergency Unit; author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency (2020)

Watch presentation

Resources

Have valuable insights or resources to share?

Contribute to our Resource Page and help shape Livable Cities and Collaborative Communities!

Share resources

Welcome by Dr. Shannon WagnerInterim Provost and Vice-President Academic

I am delighted to welcome you to TRU’s Livable Cities, Collaborative Communities project.

Livable Cities, Collaborative Communities (LCCC) is an ongoing collaboration bringing together faculty and students at TRU with industry, local and provincial government, community and Indigenous organizations on matters pertaining to sustainability and resilience. These matters are paramount as the region strives for greater decolonization, truth and reconciliation in the context of the environmental threats associated with climate change. By working together, we can collectively improve the health of our natural and social environments and ensure that all communities in the central interior of British Columbia, benefit.

Whether you are faculty, staff, student, or community group, I encourage you to reach out to the LCCC III team and join us on our path to supporting Livable Cities, Collaborative Communities in the central interior of British Columbia.

Read more
Dr. Shannon Wagner

We invite you to be part of this important dialogue on sustainability and resiliency as we continue to work together toward building more livable cities and collaborative communities for all.

Register now

History of the Livable Cities and Collaborative Communities (LCCC) at TRU

The history of the Livable Cities and Collaborative Communities (LCCC) at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) reflects its dedicated commitment to sustainability and community collaboration.

Early foundations (2007 - 2015)

In 2007, TRU's first Strategic Plan recognized sustainability as a foundational value and a key priority. By 2011, TRU became the first Canadian institution to achieve a Silver STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) rating, reflecting its strong commitment to sustainable practices. This dedication deepened in 2013 when ‘Increasing Sustainability’ was prioritized among TRU's five strategic objectives, leading to a Gold STARS rating in 2015 and the integration of sustainability as a core value in the University's Vision Statement.

Early achievements (2018 - 2022)

TRU’s sustainability efforts advanced significantly, achieving a Platinum STARS rating in 2018, which underscored its leadership in sustainability within higher education. This achievement was repeated in 2022, reaffirming TRU’s enduring commitment to environmental initiatives and sustainable practices.

Establishing the LCCC initiative (2024 - 2025)

In 2024, the first conference, LCCC I, gathered a diverse array of experts, community groups and organizations at TRU to address sustainability amid challenges like extreme weather, reconciliation and decolonization. Key themes such as food security, Indigenous policies and sustainability initiatives emerged, setting the stage for future LCCC events. By 2025, LCCC II highlighted the critical roles of students and Indigenous youth in promoting sustainability and knowledge mobilization, especially in food security and policy discussions.

Current developments and future directions (2025 onwards)

TRU's commitment continued in 2025 with the launch of the TRU Bold academic plan, aligning closely with LCCC’s objectives by emphasizing themes such as environmental health and community wellness. Anticipating 2026, LCCC III is set to focus on resource compilation through research-driven workshops, aiming to establish a permanent, accessible online resource to assist both local and global communities in tackling sustainability challenges.

Register now

Personal information




Join the LCCC community


Share resources

Personal information



Have valuable insights or resources to share?




Kevin Loring presentation

Mike Flannigan presentation

Suzanne Simard presentation

Seth Klein presentation

In 2024, some 120 delegates joined keynote speakers Dr. Suzanne Simard (Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia), Dr. Mike Flannigan (BC Innovation Research Chair in Predictive Services, Emergency Management and Fire Science, TRU) and Seth Klein (Director of Strategy, Climate Emergency Unit) at LCCC I. Delegates shared their experiences and knowledge about sustainability and resiliency in central British Columbia through presentations, workshops and roundtables.

In 2025, around 90 delegates, including students and faculty from TRU, attended LCCC II. They listened to Dr. Kevin Loring (Nlaka’pamux from the Lytton First Nation in the Fraser Canyon of British Columbia) who gave the keynote address. Delegates explored together sustainability issues associated with food systems and food security, local policy initiatives, and Indigenous initiatives and began the task of building a bank of resources upon with other groups and organizations can draw in the future.

LCCC III will take place over two days in February 2026 and will comprise a keynote speaker and focused workshops with the goal of building a permanent website that hosts accessible and useful resources pertaining to sustainability and resiliency in a period of intensifying weather extremes and challenges to social cohesion. While the target audience is local communities in the interior of British Columbia, the resources will also be available to other communities, students, faculty, policy makers and advisors, and activists whether in British Columbia, Canada or around the world who might be interested in our regional initiatives, problems and successes.

FIND
YOUR
TRU
Information
Students
Community