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BC government commits $3.3M to forestry training

The B.C. Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction will provide $3.3 million for training and work experience in the forestry sector through the Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) program, reports the Journal of Commerce.

Students in Cranbrook, Kamloops and Nanaimo, B.C., will receive training from Stillwater Consulting. The students will be able to earn 11 certifications, including basic chainsaw operator, silviculture surveyor certification and occupational first aid. Through the program, students will also do a three-week job placement with local forestry employers.

“Our program gives participants knowledge, skills and certifications in different areas of forestry in just 19 weeks. Our graduates become environmental technicians, recreational trail builders, silviculture surveyors and woodland firefights. For someone looking for opportunities after a mill closure, the program provides a great way to expand on what they know and turn that into a new career,” Stillwater Consulting project manager Aaron Byng-Hall told the Journal of Commerce.

A total of 108 students can participate, 36 from each city. Students are eligible if they meet employment insurance eligibility requirements and live in the three cities or their surrounding areas.

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