CRANBROOK Forestry extravaganza The Forest Industry Career Expo fundraising begins with a contribution
from the Columbia Basin Trust
FUNDING FORESTRY: CBT Community Liaison, Jennifer Krotz (centre) presents a cheque valued at $10,000 to the Forest Industry Career Expo Coordinator, Tracy McGuire, and Ministry of Forests District Manager, Tony Wideski.
The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) is donating $10 000 to the future of forestry. The Forest Industry Career Expo will bring forestry into the Cranbrook community limelight on June 1st and 2nd.
For two days, the Cranbrook Recreation Complex will house representatives from forestry related businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit societies. There will be a special focus on heavy equipment operations with many of the machines on site for viewing.
“We are pleased to showcase the job diversity in the forest industry in our East Kootenay Region,” says Tembec’s general manager, Kootenay Columbia Region, Lloyd Havens. “We want to emphasize that there is a great future in forestry and we want to generate interest in our youth to pursue a career in forestry or within the manufacturing side.”
On Friday, June 1st, the expo opens to a private tour for high school students that are being bussed in from all over the East Kootenay region. Exhibitors will be offering activities and games for the students. Training institutions will have simulator equipment on hand for young people to try. Outdoor demonstrations will include forest fire fighting, first aid activities, logger sports and tree felling.
On Saturday, June 2, the expo is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Career Expo will showcase family entertainment for all ages, guest speakers, special demonstration events and door prizes. Admission is free.
“The Columbia Basin Trust is proud to sponsor this exciting event and to promote the future of the forest industry in the East Kootenay”, said Jennifer Krotz, community liaison for the Columbia Basin Trust.
East Kootenay businesses are experiencing a lack of skilled workers in our region and this has inspired a number of businesses to ban together to create a “Worker Shortage Committee”. Tembec Enterprises has joined forces with the Ministry of Forests, Ktunaxa Nation and many forestry related businesses to try to readjust the workforce balance in our region.
For more information or to get involved with this event contact Tracy McGuire, expo co-ordinator at (250) 426-9274 or e-mail tracy.mcguire@tembec.com.
