The BC Health Minister, George Abbott, and the BC Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development, Ida Chong, visited TRIUMF on July 23, 2008. They met with a group of TRIUMF stakeholders and learned about TRIUMF’s contributions to the BC economy and its vision for the future.
The event involved a meeting of the politicians and some principals from the larger TRIUMF community. BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) president and CEO, Simon Sutcliffe, spoke about the importance of medical isotopes and the role that BCCA’s partnership with TRIUMF has played in the field thus far. From newly-founded Advanced Applied Physics Solutions (AAPS), Inc., Ed Odishaw and Don Rix, respectively AAPS Chair of the Board and Member of the Board , pointed out how the TRIUMF-AAPS partnership will be an important element of the BC technology and innovation economy. In addition, Vice Presidents of Research from three BC universities, UBC, UVic and SFU, highlighted their respective institutions’ commitment to TRIUMF and TRIUMF’s significance in BC science, technology and training as a whole.
Afterward, each Ministerial delegation headed out to see select sites around TRIUMF. During the tour, the Ministers were able to see the diverse work happening at TRIUMF. Before the Ministers departed, they were greeted by a room full of TRIUMF students - from high-school interns to undergraduates to graduate students – and learned about their backgrounds and aspirations.
The quick-paced 30-minute tour included muSR at M-15, TR-13 and life sciences, MDS Nordion, TITAN, and the ATLAS Tier-1 Data Centre. This was a successful visit and the Ministers left with a greater knowledge of TRIUMF. To everyone who made this event a success, thank you!
By Nicole Dublanko
TRIUMF's Communications Assistant