GREEN JOB YOUTH SPOTLIGHTS
Our Summer Filming B.C.’s Forest Sector: A PLT Canada Green Jobs SpotlightDecember 12, 2019By Edward Lau and Duncan MacRae, PLT Canada Green Jobs Youth  Edward Lau and Duncan MacRae, Forest videographers We knew we would be wowed by the natural beauty of our province when we got hired by the B.C. Council of Forest Industries (COFI) last summer. Our job was to produce videos for the forest sector but our actual experience once we got out there put all our expectations to shame. We were blown away by the beauty of our forests and how vibrant and diverse the sector is. At times, it was hard to believe we were getting paid to do this job.  Photo: Edward Lau Our mission was to showcase how B.C.’s forests are a sustainably managed resource that are moving our province’s economy forward. We visited forests, mills, and other forestry-related operations, and learned a great deal along the way. Did you know that you can find a path into forestry from almost any degree? For example, we met technologists managing software, as well as lawyers and health scientists, in addition to others doing more obvious jobs like forestry and environmental sciences. Getting to meet and interact with all these different people was inspiring.  Photo: Edward Lau The videos we produced covered a range of topics. Some of our videos were done to help kids in high school see themselves in forestry’s future, others tackled big issues that transcend forestry, like reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and gender diversity (see links to all our videos at the end of this article). An important fact that kept coming up is the number of career opportunities available in the forest sector. Supposedly, over 50% of its current workforce will be retiring in the coming decade, so the job opportunities are just going to keep getting better. And, because the types of jobs are so varied, there are many different pathways that people can take into these careers. Another appealing factor is that many of these jobs are in smaller communities, which means shorter commutes into work, and greater affordability, which helps for a good work-life balance. Plus, the world is just so beautiful in our own backyard. Living in Vancouver, we weren’t as connected to forestry as we are now (after finishing our work for COFI). The experience really opened our eyes. We learned just how much the industry cares about sustainable forest management, sustainable manufacturing, and sustainable building practices that are good for Canada and the wider world. Looking back, it was an incredible way to spend the summer. We got to work with everyone from students to CEOs, we learned an astounding amount about the forestry sector, and we were able to create fantastic material to add to our portfolios. We are both grateful to COFI and to PLT Canada for giving us this incredible opportunity. Hopefully, our videos will inspire other young Canadians to consider careers in the forest sector, as it really contains something interesting for everyone. Duncan is in the third year of a communications degree at Simon Fraser University and Edward completed his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of British Columbia and is now working for a marketing agency in Vancouver as a Creative Specialist. PLT Canada’s Green Jobs program is supported in large part by strong employer networks at the Canadian Parks Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Videos by Edward Lau and Duncan MacRae, produced for the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI): Want to tell your Green Job story? Contact us. PLT Canada’s Green Jobs program is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. PLT Canada is an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. | MORE SPOTLIGHTS
A NEED FOR SPEED AND BEING OUTDOORSBy Emily Prouse Designing and building mountain bike trails as part of my Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada) Green Job brought together my passion for the outdoors and my love of biking down mountains. The fact that I got paid to build trails in the beautiful forests outside my hometown of Quesnel, BC, felt like a green “dream” job. It’s the kind of dream scenario that I hope will help motivate my future students when I finish my Bachelor…
Working to Make Ottawa a Greener CityBy Emilie Grenier I’m passionate about everything relating to the outdoors and sustainability. Since my early childhood, growing up outside Montreal, I have spent most of my free time climbing, running, skiing, paddling, and camping. My travels and volunteer work have taken me to the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Asia. Spending time in different natural environments and in the communities that depend on them got me thinking about how I could have a positive impact. Today, I’m mitigating the…
Growing Trees and Helping Ontario Fight Invasive SpeciesBaker Forestry Services is growing a few hundred different species of trees and shrubs, but they all have one important thing in common—they are all native species in Ontario. According to the Government of Ontario, there are about 1,200 alien plant species in the province. These plants were introduced by people into areas beyond their natural range. I was part of a team at Baker Forestry Services that helped grow native trees and shrubs so landowners can support healthy, diverse…
Combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science to Teach YouthBy Nicole Boyde I was in high school the first time I had the privilege of learning about the environment from Indigenous Elders. Today, my Green Job gives me the opportunity to continue learning from Elders and to use the insights I’ve gained to expand understanding of the natural world among K-12 students. We work with schools in and around Fort St. John in northeastern British Columbia. My role as an Education Assistant with the Chuntoh Education Society takes me… |
