“The vast majority of people responding to our call for input voted for one of the ABCFP nominees,” says Amanda Brittain, director of communications with the ABCFP. “However, we also received nominations for a wide variety of individuals and organizations.”
Based on popular vote, the top three most influential forestry leaders are H.R. MacMillan, Dr. Vladimir Krajina and the Sopron School of Forestry. The public also nominated individuals and organizations deserving an honourable mention, including environmentalists such as Betty Krawczyk, First Nations leaders such as Chief Davis Walkem, RPF, organizations such as Styroblock Reforestation and business leaders such as Irving Barber, RPF (Ret).
“While it was interesting to see all of the nominations, our real goal was to get the people of BC thinking about the forests and the people and organizations who care for them,” says Brittain. “Each of these nominees made a great contribution to forestry in BC.”
Information on the winners:
H.R. MacMillan (deceased) -- He was a key driver behind the establishment of the forest service in BC. He also marketed BC timber to the world and was quite progressive in his approach to forest management on his private lands on Vancouver Island. In his later years, he became a philanthropist, donating funds for the creation of the MacMillan Building at UBC for the Faculty of Forestry and for the MacMillan Planetarium in Vancouver.
Dr. Vladimir Krajina, honorary member of the ABCFP (deceased) – Dr. Krajina developed and mapped the biogeoclimatic zones of BC which are now the basis for all ecosystem management in the province. Despite initial indifference, if not opposition, from the forestry establishment of the day, he persevered and was eventually successful. His pioneering work is now fundamental to all forestry activities in BC.
Sopron School of Forestry – The entire School of Forestry at Sopron University in Hungary, including students and faculty, came to Canada following the 1956 Hungarian revolution. The school formed a partnership with UBC and re-established itself on campus. The school brought a whole new way of thinking to forestry in BC and the Faculty of Forestry at UBC.
The Association of BC Forest Professionals (est. 1947) ensures that British Columbia’s forests are in good hands. It registers and regulates professional foresters and forest technologists under authority of the Foresters Act. The association has more than 5,400 members, including registered professional foresters, registered forest technologists and those working towards registration in BC. It is the largest professional forestry association in Canada and the first to include forest technologists.
B.C. Registered Forest Technologist. Students and graduates will be prepared for work in harvesting, reforestation, silviculture, engineering, protection, research, and forest resource management.
Forester:
Qualifications - Bachelor of Science in Forestry or Natural Resource Management and three years of current (gained over the last five years) progressive and directly related forestry experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must be a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) or be eligible for registration as an RPF with the Association of BC Forest Professionals. Lesser qualified applicants such as Forester in training or participants in the Pupil program may be appointed at a lower level. Successful candidate will have working knowledge of forest resource management practices; forest management regulatory framework; strategic and operational planning processes, including timber supply review; and project and contract administration. Demonstrated ability to creatively solve problems; effectively work within and lead teams; write clear and concise reports; communicate information of complex and technical nature in a manner appropriate to the audience; and work in a highly computerized environment. Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days.