College of New Caledonia’s new diploma will fill shortage of natural resources professionals
After nearly 40 years of service to BC’s forest industry, the College of New Caledonia’s Forest Resource Technology program has been reborn in a new form. The new Natural Resources and Environmental Technology Diploma program starts in September 2009 and is currently accepting applications.
It will help fill the shortage of skilled forest professionals recently identified by Forest Minister Pat Bell’s forestry roundtable, according to Dean Don Precosky. “We have an exciting new program that prepares students for forestry and related industries,” said Precosky, CNC’s Dean of Arts, Science, and Business.
Instructor Ed Morrice stressed that in addition to forestry skills, the program gives graduates opportunities in oil and gas, mining and ecotourism. “The program really applies to any resource-based field,” he said. He added graduates will have a broad grasp of all resource issues, including wildlife, fisheries, water, bioenergy and exploration. They’ll also be able to implement and enforce environmental standards, and they’ll be able to travel to remote areas of BC, working in and leading professional teams, and applying practical solutions in the field, he said.
Program co-ordinator Angus McLeod said that because the program covers forest operations, forest measurements, forest health and silviculture, graduates from the program will also be able to qualify as Registered Forest Technologists (RFTs). McLeod recently made a presentation to the 21-member forest roundtable, which includes representatives from industry, First Nations, the United Steelworkers, forest-based communities and universities. The roundtable heard there is a shortage of skilled forest professionals, which will increase in the next few years with many retirements expected, and thus industry and the province must partner to support increased training and recruitment of forest professionals.
“Industry has shown a lot of interest in this new program – they’re constantly telling us they need more trained professionals in all of these fields,” said Morrice about the program, which was developed with input from current students, graduates and employers. “We also looked at the interests of potential students. They still need transferability and professional accreditation, but they also wanted more diversity and options. As well, it was critically important to address First Nations issues and awareness in the course content.”
Students will also be able to easily transfer to a university forestry program, if desired. Morrice noted employers like degree students to have the practical knowledge gained by technologists as well. And although there’s continued demand by employers for resource professionals, there are few programs like CNC’s in BC and across Canada.
The new two-year program starts in September 2009 and is accepting applications now. “People I talk to are excited – we’ve had a number of registrations already, even though we haven’t advertised yet,” said Morrice. Call 250-561-5867 for information or to register, or visit www.cnc.bc.ca.
Sampling of topics covered
- Bird and mammal identification
- Assessments of fish habitat and streams
- Outdoor recreation and tourism
- Native plants and their cultural uses
- Forest operations and measurements
- Forest health and silviculture
- Resource surveying, sampling and analysis
- Ecosystem management
- Habitat management
- GPS and navigation