The College of the Rockies (COTR) has recently announced four new board members to oversee college affairs and institutional performance.

Jared Basil, Amber Drielen, Nicholas Milligan and Darlene Trach began appointments with the COTR Board of Governors, effective July 31, 2020.

Basil, who is a member of the Ktunaxa Nation, has work experience in the economic and social sectors at the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC). He also serves as the chair of education and employment sector at the KNC.

Drielen has a law background and owns the One World Law Group and serves at the Family LawLINE for Legal Aid B.C. as a lawyer. She currently resides in Golden and has volunteered with the Women’s Resource Society of Golden,

fundraised for Golden Opportunities for Refugees, and was a local lead for

Fair Vote Canada outreach.

Milligan has recently retired from his role as the manager of social responsibility with the coal business unit of Teck Resources. Previously, he held positions of manager, Aboriginal Affairs for Teck Resources and Superintendent, Human Resources of Elk Valley Coal Operation. He remains active in the Fernie community and has been a board member for Community Futures East Kootenay, the Fernie Arts Station and the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce.

Trach has served the KNC for the last 23 years in a wide variety of positions, most recently as the self-government readiness coordinator. She was also a Tobacco Plains Band councillor and acted as the chairperson with the education and employment sector for the KNC.

The board’s primary objective is to ensure strategic direction and management of COTR is successful in the Kootenay region.