FORESTRY TRAINING CONNECTS PEOPLE TO EMPLOYMENT

An on-the-job training initiative at the Wapawekka Lumber sawmill and the intake of an additional nine students in SIAST's Natural Resources Technology Diploma Program were recognized at an event held in Prince Albert.

"I am pleased to acknowledge the contribution of forestry training and employment to our provincial economy," Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger said. "The on-going efforts of the Forestry Training Sub-Committee (FTSC) have trained in excess of 700 people. Almost 90 per cent of these people are Aboriginal and two-thirds of the participants have been from Northern Saskatchewan."

"We work with our industry partners to fulfill labour market needs by providing training and education courses," Learning Minister Andrew Thomson said. "This year the provincial government has allocated $859,000 for the FTSC to continue its good work in this area."

Financial support from Saskatchewan Learning through the Forestry Training Sub-Committee (FTSC) has assisted with staff training for the recently re-opened Wapawekka sawmill. Support has helped approximately 30 returning employees and 15 new employees successfully re-start and begin production at the Wapawekka Lumber sawmill located near Prince Albert. All of the new employees are Aboriginal people.

"The financial support from the Forestry Training Sub-Committee enabled us to train a number of new employees and re-acquaint returning employees with the mill and changes made to our operation," Wapawekka Lumber General Manager Norm Riopel said. "It was very much appreciated."

Also profiled at today's event was SIAST's Natural Resources Technology Diploma Program that has expanded the delivery of the second year of the program in Prince Albert to accommodate nine northern Aboriginal students who successfully completed the first year of the program in Buffalo Narrows.

"Northern students have demonstrated a high level of achievement in their first year and we expect them to do well in their second year," head of SIAST's Natural Resources Technology Programs Hamilton Greenwood said. "Once these students complete the program they will be well prepared for careers in the forestry sector and elsewhere."

The Forestry Training Sub-Committee financially assists with training linked to existing and emerging employment opportunities in the forestry sector. Its membership includes forest companies, First Nations stakeholders, Métis organizations, post-secondary institutions, provincial and federal representatives and other stakeholders.

"The Wapawekka initiative is a good example of training being of immediate benefit to assist a specific employer," Forestry Training Sub-Committee Chair Robin Woodward said. "When the northern students graduate from SIAST's programs their skills and abilities will be of benefit to the forestry sector as a whole."

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For More Information, Contact:

Jim Ludwig Learning Prince Albert Phone: (306)953-2744

Hamilton Greenwood SIAST Prince Albert Phone: (306)953-7114