John Allan

High School Students Inspired by Trades in the Forest Industry

	Students visit the metal fabrication shop at Canfor’s PG Sawmill with Gordon Burgess, Maintenance Supervisor (center).

Twenty-seven students from five high schools in School District No. 57 (Prince George) recently spent two days learning from the experts as they participated in COFI’s Northern Operations’ forest education programs ‘Trades and Technologies in the Forest Industry Career Awareness Program’. The students spent two intense days of on-the-job learning about forest product manufacturing and the many trades and technology careers available. On a tour of Canfor’s PG Sawmill, Canfor Pulp Limited Partnership’s Northwood Pulp Mill and the College of New Caledonia’s Trades Department the students gained invaluable insight and personal advice from the many trades people who took time to show and explain to the students what their trades entail. As encouraging as the all trades people were about getting into the trades, what resonated most was their advice to the students to stay in school, make sure they get their math, sciences and computer skills, and be prepared for a career of continuous learning.

“This is a great program”, noted Bruce Northrop, Career Coordinator for the Prince George school district.  “We cannot duplicate this program anywhere in our schools.  It provides an extension to what we try to teach students in school, but there is no substitute for real on-the-job learning.  Our schools need to continue to partner with COFI so that our best trades students get a chance to participate in this fabulous program.  A big thank you to all the companies and trades people who participated in the program.”

The Prince George Trades and Technologies in the Forest Industry Career Awareness Program is one of five similar programs offered in school districts across north central BC by COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Program.

For more information, contact Chris Lear, Manager of Forest Education by phone at: 250- 614-4354 or by e-mail at: lear@cofi.org.

Congratulations Haley Letchford for receiving the 2008 Sam Ketcham/Phil Bodman Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1000.00.  A resident of Prince George, Haley is currently in her second and final year of studies in the Forest Resource Technology Program at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George. In receiving her award Haley sincerely thanked COFI for their support, “this bursary is greatly appreciated, and it will be a great help in furthering my education in the forest sector.”

This bursary was set up in recognition of two of the many pioneers who helped build the forest industry in central BC.   In 1955, Sam Ketcham and his two brothers bought a small lumber planing mill in Quesnel, B.C. and Sam moved to Quesnel to run the business. During a career that spanned three decades, Sam was the driving force behind building West Fraser into one of the country’s most well respected forest industry firms.

In 1969 Phil Bodman was hired by West Fraser as their first and only RPF, later becoming their Chief Forester and Vice President of Woodlands.  His ability, enthusiasm and forward thinking contributed greatly to West Fraser’s growth – he totally enjoyed his job. 

For more information on scholarship or programs offered by COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Program, contact Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations, by phone at: 250-614-4352 or by e-mail at: lear@cofi.org or visit our new forest education website:  www.forest-education.info