Chase’s Keegan Ashley will be living the dream this summer as one of five students to win a 2024 Green Dream Internship in forestry from the Forest Products Association of Canada. The program highlights the perspectives and experiences of students working in the forest sector for six weeks. Winners also receive a $1,000 scholarship for further education. Ashley, who is with the Interfor Adams Lake Division, will use social media to share his insights and create content that provides a unique look at his summer experiences. …”Keegan’s passion for the forest industry is rooted in his family history, which spans more than 100 years in the sector,” the company said on Instagram. “He plans to pursue a career in either manufacturing or the woodlands sector. Through the Green Dream Internship, Keegan hopes to share his journey and promote the opportunities the industry holds for young workers and students like himself.”

In this newsletter:

• Safety tip from the BC Forest Safety Council.
• FESBC announces its new Executive Director, Jason Fisher.
• City of Kimberley has made progress to mitigate wildfire risk.
• Meet our newest team member, Operations Manager, Tyler Field.
• Meet our Faces of Forestry featured person, Ben Klassen.

Don’t blame the federal government for coming too slowly to Alberta’s aid in fighting the monster fire that has destroyed a significant portion of the Jasper townsite. The problem is the reverse: Blame the feds for being to slow to ask Alberta to become part of its integrated firefighting efforts inside Jasper National Park, where Parks Canada is in charge. Parks Canada lacks the technology and experience to fight a fire a night, meaning as two wildfires approached the resort town, efforts to control or at least divert them ceased in the dark. But Alberta has night-fighting capability. Alberta also has the equipment and expertise to throw up giant walls of water in front of giant walls of flame. Parks Canada doesn’t, and didn’t ask for Alberta’s help. Mostly, though, it’s fair to blame Parks Canada for ignoring years of warnings. 

VANCOUVER ISLAND — With the dry season in full swing, and the threat of wildfires ever present, Lake Cowichan’s mayor is pleased the town’s application for a $400,000 FireSmart grant from the Union of B.C. Municipalities has been successful. Tim McGonigle said Lake Cowichan is closely surrounded by forests so the town initiated a FireSmart program a few years ago. He said the $400,000 in funding for the town’s Community Resiliency Project – Phase 1 from the UBCM’s 2024 FireSmart Community Funding program will be used, in part, to hire a person to oversee Lake Cowichan’s ongoing FireSmart program on a two-year contract. …McGonigle said the town has been undertaking remediation projects in its neighbourhoods for several years, largely funded through grants from the UBCM’s FireSmart program, and the plan is to expand the town’s program with the latest grant.