Powell River Community Forest Ltd. has created two new scholarships for Powell River residents. A total of $5,000 is available for students entering post-secondary education in the field of forestry.
A selection committee from the community forest board of directors will be assessing applications for this year’s scholarship. “We are looking for people who want to study either trades programs like scaling, falling or machine operating, and also degree programs in forestry, wildlife biology and environmental studies,” said board member Janet May. “It doesn’t have to be a recent high-school graduate or someone with high grades. We are looking for people who have contributed to the community, have an outdoor interest and are committed to studying and working in a forest-related field.” Further information about application requirements is available on the website.
The scholarship would have helped Megan Laing when she embarked on three years of forest technician training in Sault-Sainte Marie, Ontario. Laing gained both forestry and fish and wildlife diplomas from Sault College, and returned to Powell River to work in silviculture. Now she works as forestry technician with BC Timber Sales.
Laing describes her job as “totally awesome. Becoming a forestry technician has allowed me to combine my love for the outdoors and a physically active lifestyle. Every day [my] work day brings me a new challenge in making decisions for the forests of the future.”
The deadline for scholarship applications is May 12 and the winners will be announced on June 6.
