Recent History – 2001
Feb. 21, 2001
DAWSON CREEK — Students at South Peace Secondary School will be able to enrol in a wood products manufacturing program, WoodLINKS, beginning in the 2001-02 school year.
Teacher Jamie Maxwell said that the program aims to give students information, skills and experience in the wood industry — and earn nationally-recognized certification in the process.
“Students may enter jobs right from school or receive preferred standing in post-secondary programs,” Maxwell said.
The program has won the endorsement of Gary Aven, owner of A.J. Industries and president of the Central Interior Wood Processors Association.
“The future of the wood industry in B.C. is in the value-added industry,” he said. “We need young people who can learn new ways of thinking and doing business because the old ways being used in the commodity lumber markets are not going to work in B.C. for very much longer.”
WoodLINKS is a non-profit society created, with the help of Forest Renewal BC, to respond to the wood industry’s need for better-qualified, entry-level employees.
Maxwell said that the school already offers a good shop program, from which several students each year move on to the carpentry-joinery program at Northern Lights College.
The WoodLINKS courses aim to give students a broad look at the wood products industry: forestry, sawmilling, wood drying, pulp and paper, panel products, cabinet-making and furniture, remanufacturing and engineered wood products.
The program features field trips to various operations throughout the B.C. and Alberta Peace.
Students who enroll are expected to take certain specific courses, including Entrepreneurship 11 for basic business skills, Drafting 11 for basic computer drafting skills and Construction 11 for basic woodworking skills.
Maxwell said the program puts students in a good position to enter the wood industry right after graduation, or take a two-year technical college wood products manufacturing program at one of eight colleges in B.C. or Alberta, or enroll in the four-year bachelor of science in advanced wood processing at the University of British Columbia.
For more information, call the school at 782-5585 or check out the WoodLINKS Web site at www.woodlinks.com.