Business View Magazine l November 2022

24 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 11 Among the strategic objectives of the Institute is to increase the scope of educational efforts to reach the next generation of forest stewards and audiences beyond the forest sector. One way they do this is by hosting Teachers’ Forestry Tours for educators, teachers, and teaching candidates to meet forest practitioners. The tours offer a very well-rounded and great introduction to forests and the forest sector, while also providing participants with resources and tools to bring back to the classroom. Pearson reports, “This past year we’ve hosted tours across Canada in collaboration with our Sections and local organizations. The feedback has been very positive, with teachers finding the presentations, hands-on-learning, and opportunities to visit forests, harvesting sites, and product mills highly beneficial.” Each year, the CIF-IFC leads National Forest Week (NFW), which encourages individuals to learn more about forests as a valuable and renewable resource. NFW 2022 took place from September 18-24th with the theme “Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate”. Pearson notes, “As part of this program, we lead the distribution of promotional materials including posters and postcards featuring the annual NFW theme. This year, with support from partners and sponsors, over 25,600 printed materials were distributed across Canada – an all-time record. We coordinated a social media campaign and hosted a number of NFW-themed activities and contests.” In addition, the CIF-IFC collaborated with Resources Works to engage with communities across Canada and bring awareness to NFW. “In 2022, approximately 57 towns, cities, municipalities, regions, provinces and territories declared National Forest Week through a proclamation, lighting of a local building, or both,” states Pearson. Another strategic objective of the CIF-IFC is to provide competency to forest practitioners (knowledge exchange, professional development and continuing education), through workshops, field tours and webinars. Pearson says, “It’s an exciting time to be a CIF- IFC member!” CFC National Office Staff (at the 2022 CIF-IFC National Conference & 114th AGM, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, September 2022). Back row (left to right): Matt Perry, John Boakye-Danquah, Sharon Yang, Natasha Machado, Isabella Boushey; Front row (left to right): Steph Robinson, Liz Elliott, Jen Dickman, Mark Pearson, Tanisha Rajput; Missing: Kerry Spencer.