Career opportunities in the forest industry were presented to local high school students at the High Prairie and Area Forestry Career Fair on Feb. 24.
Employers and industry partners presented options at the fair at Edmo Peyre Elks Rodeo Building. The fair was organized by the Lesser Slave Forest Education Society.
Prairie River Junior High, E.W. Pratt High School, Prairie View Outreach and St. Andrew’s School from High Prairie participated, along with Atikameg School and Kapawe’no First Nation Collegiate attended the event.
Students learned about career and training opportunities from fair partners Tolko Industries, High Prairie Forest Products – West Fraser, Northern Lakes College, Work Wild, NAIT, Woodland Operations Learning Foundation (WOLF) Careers (formerly Careers the Next Generation) and Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade.
Organizer and society president Cori Klassen gave students and partners high marks for their active participation.
“We’re happy with the student turnout, they were engaged with the presenters and they asked lots of questions,” Klassen says.
“It’s great to see the presenters so passionate about sharing their experience and information about their careers.”
Representatives of both local forest companies valued the event to show students career opportunities close to home and around the province.
High Prairie Forest Products lead hand Laura St. Cyr says the fair opens a career world to students.
“I think a lot of students around here don’t realize the internal growth they can have here in the forest industry,” St. Cyr says.
They have many opportunities to grow their career learning trades and gaining knowledge in forestry companies.”
Tolko High Prairie team production leader Jenny Ehman says a forestry career fair led to her career.
“For me it’s a full-circle moment,” Ehman says.
“About 20 years ago, I attended a career fair learning about the Junior Forest Rangers program.”
She worked in the program for four years.
“Now I am fortunate to be with Tolko,” Ehman says.
“I started as a production technician, said yes to many opportunities at trying different positions.
“Like many of my colleagues, we have been able to make a career at Tolko with work-life balance and home every night.
“In the years to come, I hope to see familiar faces working in the forestry industry.”
The career fair alternates between Slave Lake and High Prairie.
Richard Froese
South Peace News
Environment Canada Forecast 
Alberta 511 Road Reports 
Alberta Wildfire Status Map 
Recent Comments