Trevor Foldy of Chemainus and Trevor Pinckney from Cassidy each accepted $5,000 Truck Loggers Association & Parkland Refining Awards at the Truck Loggers Association’s 75th Conference & Trade Show in Victoria.
Both Trevors earned the awards through their success in the Heavy Equipment Operator certificate program at Vancouver Island University.
“TLA members are struggling to find enough skilled workers to get the wood out and we are pleased to see young people choosing forestry,” noted David Elstone, TLA executive director.
“These scholarships are part of the TLA’s broader advocacy around the skilled labour shortage that is impacting our membership.”
Doug Donaldson, the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, attended to meet the scholarship winners.
“The forest sector has a bright future, but needs skilled workers, especially as the older generation retires,” offered Donaldson. “I commend the TLA and Parkland Refining for funding these scholarships and congratulate the winners.”
The TLA represents 489 independent forest contractors and their suppliers operating in B.C. The membership supports thousands of workers and, along with other independent contractors, accounts for close to 90 per cent of the trees harvested in B.C. The TLA promotes a thriving, sustainable forest industry in the province.
Foldy, 18, graduated from Chemainus Secondary School last June. Since completing the Heavy Equipment Operator course, he’s now working at Milestone Equipment Contracting Inc. in Nanaimo.
“It’s more residential stuff instead of logging,” Foldy pointed out of the job.
He specialized on the excavator for eight weeks.
Foldy praised instructor Dee Gallant for her role.
“She’s awesome,” he enthused. “She’s a great teacher.”
Gallant, who is also a forklift instructor, returned the compliment.
“He was a great student,” she praised. “He will do well.”