It’s been 50 years since College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Forest Resource Technician program accepted its first intake of students, since then the program has graduated more than 1,000 students and played a significant role in the development and sustainability of Newfoundland and Labrador’s forest and natural resources sector.
Established in 1966, the program was initially delivered through the College of Trades and Technology in St. John’s, then in 1985 the program moved to the Fisher Institute in Corner Brook. As one of the longest running education curriculums in the province, the program has provided graduates with a strong foundation in the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the field of natural resources.
“Graduates of Newfoundland and Labrador's very own Forest Resource Technician program have earned the respect of employers throughout the province and, indeed, the world,” said the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour. “Over the past 50 years, College of the North Atlantic has continued to offer this nationally-accredited program to always meet the high standards required for today's forestry industry.”
Graduates can obtain employment in a variety of forestry-related fields: protection and enforcement, forest inventory and site classification, logging and engineering, forest access road construction and maintenance, and silviculture; as well as parks, wildlife and environmental assessment.
“Graduates of College of the North Atlantic’s Forest Resource Technician program have had a significant positive influence on the direction of forest resource management in Newfoundland and Labrador during the past 50 years,” said the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources. “This program is regarded for producing highly knowledgeable and skilled technicians and has created an impressive legacy which will continue to provide benefits to our province’s natural resources for many years to come.”
The long-standing program has also seen continued support from its provincial and national industry partners and organizations over the years.
“The Canadian Institute of Forestry has been a proud supporter of the Forest Resources Technician program since its inception,” said Colin Carroll, a member of the institute’s Newfoundland and Labrador Section executive. “Each year we are delighted to recognize the graduates during our Silver Ring Ceremony and Gold Medal Awards. The program has added significant expertise to our community of professional forest practitioners.”
“The Forest Resources Technician program has been a vital starting point in the careers of many of our members. The solid foundation laid out by the program has enabled them to succeed in their pursuit of becoming Registered Professional Foresters,” said Jeremy Short, President of the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland and Labrador.
For 50 years, the program has strived to deliver innovative training that reaches beyond the classroom with a strong emphasis on real-life experiences and hands-on, practical training.
CNA’s Interim President and CEO, Elizabeth Kidd, says it is this innovative approach that has allowed the program to succeed and produce graduates who are in high demand right across the country.
“You can find our Forest Resource Technician graduates working in various government departments and private operations throughout the province and across this country,” said Ms. Kidd. “Our students have come to us at various stages of their professional careers – whether it was a first step towards furthering themselves at a young age and developing a career path, or taking the opportunity to reinvent themselves in another career – they have received training that is highly regarded by employers in this sector.”
For more information on the Forest Resources Technician program visit, www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media Contacts:
Roger Hulan
Manager of Marketing and Communications
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca
Ryan Crocker
Media Relations Manager
Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
(709) 729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca
Craig Renouf
Media Relations Manager
Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
(709) 637-2284, 632-8167
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca