Media Contacts

Rodney Porter

Communications Director
Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training
rodney.porter@gov.bc.ca
250 889-7494

Christiana Wiens

Media Liaison
North Island College
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca
250 334-5280
250 218-4097 (mobile)

Backgrounders

More training options increase the number of skilled workers in B.C.’s forestry sector

Just over $1 million is being invested in a range of forestry programs from developing short-term certificates at North Island College, that will give basic skills training through to a new undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia’s faculty of forestry.

The funding allocations reflect government’s awareness of the diversity of industry forestry practices, whether on the coast, in the Interior or in northern communities.

  • North Island College will receive $328,000 to support the coastal forest resources certificate and applied forest resource diplomas to enhance training options for more skilled workers in B.C.’s forestry sector. The curriculum developed through this pilot project will be available to public post-secondary institutions provincewide.
  • The University of British Columbia will receive $300,000 to support curriculum development, and launch the first cohort of a new undergraduate bio-economy degree program in the faculty of forestry with a focus on innovation.
  • Vancouver Island University (VIU) will receive $200,000 for curriculum development and delivery of a 12-week introductory forestry and innovative wood products sector pilot training program, building on the fundamentals of forestry program. The curriculum will be made available to public post-secondary institutions provincewide, with VIU working in partnership with other institutions to pilot the program in different regions.
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology, the College of New Caledonia and Selkirk College will each receive $75,000 for short-term forestry and innovative wood products sector training, while working in partnership with Vancouver Island University.