Darwyn Koch

Western Forest Products is offering a launch pad for forestry students – on Vancouver Island and beyond – to help jumpstart their careers. Since 2020, WFP has hired 85 summer students and of those, 40 have returned for either a second term or a third term or they’re currently full-time staff. For 2027, the company is looking to hire eight forestry students and one student for its Saanich nursery. Darwyn Koch, WFP’s Senior Manager of Operations Planning, said he’s been with the company since 2016 and the summer student program has been in place a lot longer than that. …While the program’s reach extends beyond B.C., Vancouver Island plays a significant role. … Koch said they’re also looking for students from communities such as Port Alberni, Campbell River, Gold River, Woss, and Port McNeill. He added that it’s “awesome” to be helping to launch careers in forestry.