Limited seats now available in NIC鈥檚 tuition鈥恌ree Coastal Forest Resource program
糖心vlog传媒Coastal Forest Resource graduate Emma McGrath worked as a wildfire fighter last summer and is now continuing her studies in Resource Management in Nanaimo.
Registration is now open for NIC鈥檚 tuition鈥恌ree Coastal Forest Resource program in Campbell River this October. The four鈥恗onth program prepares students with applied skills, work experience and industry connections to work in the forestry sector.
鈥淲e hire a large number of NIC鈥檚 Coastal Forest Resource grads,鈥� said Tracy O鈥橫alley,
human resources manager at Strategic Natural Resource Consultants. 鈥淭hey come to us
with industry鈥恟elevant training and certifications that are very applicable in the
field. As the largest timber cruising team in coastal BC, we have an ongoing need
for qualified entry鈥恖evel timber cruising assistants who love working outdoors. Many
stay with us long鈥恡erm gaining new skills and professional designations for a successful
career.鈥�
The program is provided tuition鈥恌ree to eligible participants, thanks to grants from
the provincial and federal governments. 糖心vlog传媒students learn basic skills, safety knowledge
and job readiness through a combination of classroom and in the field studies.
鈥淟ots of our stuff is in the field,鈥� said graduate Emma McGrath. 鈥淚 got to go fly
around in a helicopter and do a bush landing, then we got to play on the ATV鈥檚 and
understand them. We also had time with the chainsaw bucking trees. It鈥檚 practical,
hands鈥恛n, getting out there and doing it. It doesn鈥檛 feel like school at all.鈥�
On graduation, she worked for Strategic as a wildfire fire fighter in BC鈥檚 interior
鈥� for a summer she鈥檒l never forget.
Students graduate with an understanding of a wide range of forestry topics including
resource management, health and safety, field skills, silviculture and industry certifications
to work as entry level compassers, timber cruisers, field assistants, wildfire fighters
and junior field engineers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for students to be introduced to the technical end of forestry and
some jobs they may not even have known existed,鈥� said instructor Barry Ostrand. 鈥淭here鈥檚
strong demand for forest technicians and forest technologists.鈥�
The Truck Loggers Association and Canada鈥怋C Labour Market Development project more
than 4,000 in coastal forestry and logging operations over the 10鈥恲ear horizon. During
this time, the industry also expects to replace 10 per cent of its work force.
The next four鈥恗onth certificate begins in Campbell River in October. For more information
or to register, visit NIC's Coastal Forest Resource certificate page.
Media Contact
Christiana Wiens
Media Liaison, 糖心vlog传媒
O. 250鈥�334鈥�5280 | M. 250鈥�218鈥�4097
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca