Recruiting young forestry operators.

A new timber-operations technician program at Northern College in Kirkland Lake may help alleviate some of the demand for forestry workers in the coming years.

The first group of graduates from the twoyear co-op diploma program will enter the workforce in just over a year.

Program co-ordinator Jane Blackwell says it's still to soon to predict whether or not the new program, offered for the first time in September 2000, will sufficiently address the needs of the forestry industry, but she is confident the graduates will have some impact in filling the needs in the area.

The timber operations technician program was developed for employers, by employers currently involved in woodland operations in northeastern Ontario.

It combines practical, hands-on skills with a theoretical base in technology and natural sciences. The program is different from other forestry programs offered throughout the province because it combines traditional harvesting with a solid grounding in environmental technologies, Blackwell says. The program draws upon forest and wildlife management theory to enable graduates to meet environmental regulations as front-line workers in the forest while providing graduates with practical, hands-on experience in the use of equipment, supported by an extensive technical background in electronics, hydraulics, mechanics, soil mechanics, hydrology and welding.

"We expect (our graduates will) be prepared to operate a variety of forestry equipment, we expect them to be prepared to work for someone else, and then we expect that they'll quickly move into a supervisory position," Blackwell says. "We also expect they'll be prepared to start their own business because, although we're focusing on operations, we're also preparing them to function in an environmentally-conscious way so that they know some of the precautions that need to be followed and they also know enough about trees and wildlife and the whole environment.

"We're also integrating Native issues as we go along. We're trying to prepare the students with a broad enough background that they can function in a wide variety of jobs."

Based on the average annual harvest, there are not enough qualified operators to sustain woodlands operations or to support growth in the forestry industry, Blackwell points out. The Timiskaming Independent Forest Operators group (TIFO), a coalition of local contractors, were aware of the need for future operators, and with the help of funding from FedNor, helped initiate a feasibility study for a timber operations technician program at Northern College.

Following a feasibility study, a proposal for the program was developed then approved by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, with funding provided through the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade's Strategic Skills Initiative.

TIFO, the Timiskaming Forest Alliance and Elk Lake Eco-Resource Centre are now the key partners supporting the timber operations technician program.

The program emphasizes the fact that the face of forestry is changing. Traditionally, forest operators were trained on the job. They had experience, but not a lot of formal education. They were hired, usually on a temporary and seasonal basis, because they could easily transfer their knowledge from one piece of equipment to another.

These workers are no longer able to meet the needs of forestry operations, she adds. The timber operations technician program is designed to develop the new type of "technology worker" needed in the changing forestry industry, she adds.

The program has attracted students of all ages. More information on the program is available at www.northernc.on.ca.