Thompson Rivers University has

completed its investigation into

complaints against a pair of senior
administrators, one of whom is no
longer at the school.
A sub-committee of the university
board received the report from two
independent investigators on Dec. 21,
2022. The 500-page-plus report
examined 55 allegations from eight
complainants. Twenty-two allegations
were brought against one of the
administrators, while 33 allegations
were brought against the other
administrator.
The investigation has cleared one
administrator, while noting 10
allegations from four complainants
levelled against the other
administrator were substantiated.
Seven of those allegations centred
around inappropriate comments
amounting to sexual harassment
against women in the workplace or in
social settings. One other allegation
was deemed harassment targeting a
particular age group, another involved
a comment derogatory to Indigenous
people, and another was personal
harassment.
In all, 45 of 55 allegations were not
substantiated by investigators. These
included four instances when
investigators made no finding because
the matter had been previously
reviewed, the allegations (in two
instances) were too general to be
investigated, or the parties could not
provide information to allow the
allegation to be investigated.
In addition to interviewing the two
administrators and the eight
complainants, investigators spoke with
34 witnesses and
reviewed hundreds of documents,
including TRU policies, emails, media
reports, social
media posts, text messages, TRU audit
reports and minutes of various
meetings.
Due to Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy legislation, the
university said it cannot identify
which of the administrators had all
allegations cleared and which of the
administrators had 10 allegations
against him substantiated.
TRU vice-president of finance and
administration Matt Milovick and
former associate vice-president of
people and culture Larry Phillips were
the subjects of complaints filed in
February 2021 by current and former
employees at the university.
Phillips departed from the university
in December 2021, but TRU has not
said why he left. Milovick remains
employed at the school.
While the investigation dealt with 55
allegations from eight complainants,
there were more current and former
employees who made allegations.
Some of those complainants’
allegations were not considered by the
investigators.
KTW interviewed many of the
complainants over a period of several
months in 2021.
The investigation was originally
scheduled to be wrapped up by March
31, 2022. That date was scrapped,
however, after TRU said additional
witnesses needed to be interviewed
before the report could be completed.
“There is a lot of hurt in TRU’s
community right now,” university
president Brett Fairbairn said. “I think
of those complainants who
investigators determined suffered from
improper conduct. This should not
happen. On behalf of TRU, I
apologize to them for what they have
experienced, and I commit TRU to
improve in the future.”
Fairbairn said the events will serve as
a catalyst for change at TRU, noting
the university has developed safe,
trauma-informed avenues for
employees to report concerns.
Additionally, he said, initiatives are
underway that will create safe spaces
for employees to talk about workplace
culture and discuss ways to improve it.
“TRU continually evaluates its
policies, protocols and internal
practices,” Fairbairn said. “I want
TRU to be a place that is inclusive of
everyone. I am firmly committed to
working towards a culture that
supports individuals across the full
spectrum of our workforce.”
Marilyn McLean, chair of the TRU
board and the sub-committee, said the
investigation
was thorough, trauma-informed,
respectful of fair process and fully met
the expectations of the board’s sub-
committee. She noted the investigators
reviewed complaints against a
substantive legal framework guided by
human rights tribunals, courts and
relevant statutes.
“It has taken several months — much
greater time than anyone anticipated
— to reach this end,” McLean said.
“And we know it’s been extremely
hard for many people, whether
directly or indirectly involved. This
investigation was an extraordinary
accommodation of the concerns and
interests of these complainants,
designed to ensure they had a safe
environment in which to share their
stories. The board fully accepts the
findings.”
Nathan Matthew, TRU’s chancellor
and a member of the board’s sub-
committee,
said the allegations in the complaints
have been properly investigated.
“The complainants were given every
opportunity to share their concerns,”
he said, noting that publicity in the
media of anti-Indigenous or racist
comments at TRU
caused hurt in Indigenous
communities. He noted, however, that
only one allegation of
this kind of behaviour has been
substantiated against one individual.
“Eliminating racism is a cornerstone
of TRU’s commitment to
reconciliation,” Matthew said. “I
know Indigenous people are resilient
and will carry on in our social and
cultural development using education
as a catalyst for positive change.”