Two Powell River forestry students are the recipients of scholarships.
Rachel Ewan and Allan Knapp won Powell River Community Forest Scholarships worth $2,500 to help them in forestry studies this fall.
Ewan will be entering Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) two-year Forest Technology Program in Nanaimo. Knapp is going to the University of British Columbia for the final year of his Forest Resource Management Degree.
The scholarships aim to help students further their education in the field of forestry.
“We are looking for people who are committed to studying and working in a forest-related field,” said Howie McKamey, community forest board director. “They don’t have to be a recent high-school graduate or someone with high grades, but rather someone who displays the qualities we need in the forest industry.”
Knapp has several years of summer experience in the industry and previously completed the VIU diploma program that Ewan is entering. He was a summer student with the Stillwater Division of Western Forest Products (WFP) for two summers and was working this summer with WFP in Port McNeill. “I hope to become a registered forest professional and pursue a career in forestry,” Knapp said.” If all goes well I may even get to work in my hometown of Powell River.”
Ewan was encouraged to consider forestry as a career by her neighbour, Walter Cowlard. “I always enjoyed a hands-on approach to learning and I want a career that allows me to work in close proximity to the forest,” said Ewan. “I was raised to appreciate growing things and to protect our resources. I also enjoy the recreational aspects of our forests and want to make sure they are here for generations to come.” Cowlard took Ewan on a tour of WFP’s tree farm licence where she began to appreciate the connection between the forest infrastructure and the environment. “I saw first-hand bridges that were made for logging roads and the importance of the placement of roads in proximity to streams. Road construction could contribute sediment that would affect our drinking water and the fish population. I am interested to learn how all these different aspects of our forest industry work together to protect our water quality and keep our forest sustainable.”
The scholarships will be awarded annually to Powell River people who enter or continue a post-secondary forestry related program. More information about the application process is available on the website: www.prcommunityforest.ca.
