Newsletter

Introduction

BC Southern Interior Forest Educators: “A Brief History”
Forest education is not only sustainable, it is growing!! Thirteen years ago, Theresa White (ILMA Manager, Communications) started offering students an opportunity to attend the Interior Lumber Manufacturer’s Association’s annual meeting. Two years later, she asked Jeannie Steele, a former teacher, to assist her in planning Pro D Day activities for teachers. Teachers were soon visiting active logging operations, touring plywood plants, sawmills and nurseries or attending presentations given by some of forestry’s experts. It wasn’t long before Riverside Forest Products asked Jeannie to work for them as an educational liaison.

A few years later, Debbie Sluggett, a teacher, met with Jeannie and found that they shared a vision for forest education. Deb (with Jeannie’s support) approached a number of companies in the Okanagan/Shuswap region and soon had a contract position as Educational Liaison to Bell Pole Co., Tolko Industries, LP-Canada, Downie Timber Ltd. and Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation. Theresa, Jeannie and Deb worked together to try to unite a network of people interested in forest education.

Theresa moved on to other adventures and two years ago, Debbie Bazett was hired as Education Coordinator for the ILMA; now Council of Forest Industries - Southern Operations. Through the efforts of Jeannie, Deb and Debbie Bazett the southern interior of BC is now divided into 6 forest education zones, each with its’ own forest educator.

These educators include:

Norma Blissett	East Kootenays
Gail Wallin/Maureen LeBourdais	Cariboo
Nancie Dohan	West Kootenays
Susan Bondar	Thompson
Jennifer Stewart	Tolko - Riverside (Okanagan)
Debbie Sluggett	Bell Pole, Tolko, LP, Downie, RCFC (N.Okanagan to Golden)
Debbie Bazett	COFI – Southern Operations

To help the new educators get a running start, Debbie, Jeannie, and Debbie Bazett hosted a “Forest Educators Workshop” in Vernon last October. The event started with a tour of Riverside’s Plywood Plant, followed by a tour of the Interior Logging Forest Education Van (Canadian Women in Timber ladies, Ann Polson and Betty-Ann McDonald acted as guides) and the day ended with a dinner for all involved plus some local resource people.

The second day was all work!! Jeannie and Deb S. walked the educators through the resources they had built over the past 7-10 years and shared templates for setting up Pro D Day sessions, Presenters Training workshops, National Forest Week presentations and creating partnerships between industry and schools. It was a busy time but a great chance to get to know one another and talk about forest education. As Jeannie retired at the end of October, it was also a chance to introduce Jennifer Stewart – Tolko - Riverside new Educational Liaison. Educators went home with bundles of resources provided by Jeannie, Deb, and Debbie. We wish them all the best and look forward to working together to share ideas and resources in the future!!

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