In response to the forest industry's need for highly skilled employees, Thunder Bay's Confederation College and Negahneewin College of Indigenous Studies are launching a forestry worker/operator program and forestry technician program for this fall.
A unique feature of both programs is the integration of Aboriginal approaches to forest and land resource development and entrepreneurship.
Since a number of First Nations communities are entering into forestry agreements, there will be job opportunities for a highly skilled and knowledgeable work force.
New state-of-the-art labs at Confederation's new College Forestry Centre will deliver training in Geographic Information and Global Positioning Systems. Some of the most technologically advanced equipment and machinery on the market will also be made available to students for careers in forestry.
Forestry worker operator graduates will possess skills to work safely as entry-level forestry workers with emphasis on equipment operation from small to medium-sized operations up to large forestry companies.
In the two-year forestry technician program, graduates will be armed with the theoretical and technical skills needed to work in forest harvesting, forest maintenance, applied research and forest management.
Confederation's College Forestry Centre intends to establish the institution as a leader in applied research and development, entrepreneurship in forestry and provide value-added training.
