Sept. 24 to 30 is National Forestry Week, and the North Island Employment Foundations Society and the City of Campbell River Forestry Task Force are joining forces to highlight forestry careers and the many benefits of the industry at a Forestry Employment Expo Sept. 29 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Maritime Heritage Centre.
The Expo will feature a range of exhibitors, including logging contractors; natural resource consulting; value-added businesses and training institutions. Job seekers, students and community members are all welcome to attend.
“Campbell River and the North Island have a long history and connection to the forest industry and forestry continues to be a very important economic driver that builds healthy, stable communities,” says Rose Klukas, the City’s economic development officer.
Of the more than 2,600 jobs the North Island Employment Foundations Society (NIEFS) posted in 2016:
· 404 (or 15 per cent) were forestry related
· 362 were full-time
· In both cases, these statistics show an increase over the previous two years.
Forestry offers a range of career opportunities, from silviculture, production, harvesting, transportation and trades to forestry consulting, to roles as technologists and technicians, professionals in biology and natural resources as well as management and manufacturing.
“The anticipated retirements that lie ahead for people currently working in the forest industry will provide opportunities for a diverse range of people who have traditionally been under-represented in our workforce such as: youth, indigenous, women and newcomers,” says Shannon Baikie, NIEFS’ regional manager of community and labour market services
“With the demands of the global economy and technological advances, forestry has become increasingly complex and requires a range of skills and specialized knowledge needed to maintain responsible stewardship of resources,” Klukas adds.
To learn more about careers in Forestry check out http://thegreenestworkforce.ca or www.workbc.ca