Celebrating scholarships awarded to VIU students in the Heavy Equipment Operators program on Jan. 15 are (l-r) Adrien Byrne, Policy, Government & Public Affairs Representative, Chevron; Shane Wiersma, VIU student; Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations; Linden Feniak, VIU student; and Rolf Braun, Business Consultant, Chevron.
January 25, 2016 - 3:15pm
Two $5,000 scholarships funded by the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) and Chevron have been awarded to students in the Heavy Equipment Operator program at Vancouver Island University (VIU).
BC’s Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson presented the awards to VIU students Shane Wiersma, from Duncan, and Linden Feniak, from Sechelt at the Minister of Forests Breakfast during the TLA’s 73rd Annual Convention & Trade Show.
“I commend Shane and Linden for continuing family traditions and pursuing careers in the forest industry. Over the next few years, more jobs will continue to open up and I encourage all young people to consider working in the woods,” said Thomson.
This year’s scholarship winners both plan to work in the forest industry when they graduate. They both grew up in the industry —Wiersma’s grandfather was a logging camp medic and Feniak’s dad was a tug boat operator.
The two $5,000 scholarships, created last year, are jointly funded by The Truck Loggers Association and Chevron Canada.
“The forestry industry is an economic driver in this province,” said Adrien Byrne, Chevron’s policy, government and public affairs representative. “Chevron is proud to support the BC government’s and forest industry’s educational agenda through this scholarship.”
“The forest industry needs heavy equipment operators. So this is an excellent fit for the TLA’s Forestry Education Fund,” said David Elstone, TLA Executive Director. “The TLA believes in building the forest industry from the ground up and each year we invest $80,000+ in forestry education and scholarships through the TLA Forestry Education Fund, generously founded and supported by TLA members.”
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About the TLA (Truck Loggers Association)
The TLA (Truck Loggers Association) represents over 440 independent forest contractors and their suppliers operating on the coast of British Columbia. Our membership supports thousands of workers and, along with other independent contractors, accounts for close to 90 per cent of the trees harvested on the coast. The TLA promotes a thriving, sustainable coastal forest industry in BC.
For more information: Brenda Martin, Director of Communications, The Truck Loggers Association
Phone: 604.684.4291 ◦ Cell: 604.339.7554 ◦ Fax: 604.684.7134 ◦ Email: brenda@tla.ca
Twitter: @truckloggerBC ◦ Website: www.tla.ca
Tags: Student Success
