VIU forestry students well funded

Jessica Ainsworth is $1,000 richer after receiving a scholarship from the Truck Loggers Association. Ainsworth was one of six VIU forestry students awarded the scholarship for academic and professional achievements.

This isn’t the first award Ainsworth’s picked up - last year the second-year student won five scholarships and bursaries, totally about $3,000. So far this year she’s collected $1,500. “And there’s more awards at the end of the semester,” said Ainsworth. “The amount of funding per student is incredible.”

These awards are part of an approximate $23,000 in scholarships earmarked for students in the Forest Resources Technology diploma program in addition to financial awards available to all students.

 “Right now there are about 40 students in the program, so their funding opportunities are pretty good,” said Jim Wilkinson, Chair of the Forestry Department.

Ainsworth came to VIU after completing her undergraduate degree in science at UVic. She sees the program as a good opportunity for someone with a general science background to specialize and get hands on experience.

“The program covers courses on soil, biology, forests pests, disease, harvesting and building roads,” she said. “I have a hard time understanding how someone wouldn’t find something that interests them.”

According to Ainsworth, there is a real mix of interests in the classroom. “You have people with a focus in sustainable forest management, conservation, and the environment as well as people with an interest in logging, mills and that end of the industry. There’s a dichotomy of students, and I think it’s good to have that.”

The focus has shifted a lot, catering more to people in the environmental sciences, learning more about soils and how to keep things sustainable.

 “Last summer I worked for the provincial government doing a lot of stewardship and forest management,” said Ainsworth. “I got the chance to do a lot of different work.”

Wilkinson said the program generally appeals to outdoorsy people. “They like hiking, fishing and camping and are drawn to an outdoor job. It seems to be the common thread.”

He said it’s also relevant to people who care about the environment. “Our graduates will become decision makers. If you want to have a positive impact on the environment, what better position to be in?”

VIU’s forestry program aims to produce graduates who are broadly trained, said Wilkinson, a graduate of the program himself. “They could end up doing a range of different jobs, with a variety of employers, including many government positions. Our students learn a lot about planning and silvaculture.”

Although some might think the employment opportunities for the forest industry are bleak, Wilkinson said new graduates are needed.

“What’s happening right now is a short-term downturn,” he said. “People are definitely being laid off, but in the long run it doesn’t mean the jobs have disappeared.”

“Everyone says it’s cyclical and it will pick up in a year or two,” said Ainsworth. “It’s a little scary for this May, but long term the number of forestry grads in the province is well below the forecasted number of positions.”

According to Wilkinson, the forestry industry, like many others, is facing labour shortages as the current generation ages. “There’s a whole bunch of people reaching retirement. The Association of BC Forest Professionals said the province will be in need of 500 forest professionals within three years and we only have 50 grads a year in all of BC.”

“We’ve got scholarship money, we’ve got jobs, and we can’t get enough people in the door to take the program.”

VIU offers a two year Registered Forest Technologists diploma and a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resource Management transfer program.  For more information check out the website at: www.viu.ca/forestry.