Canfor enhances student learning opportunities

Published on November 24, 2025

On a late August morning, 54 first-year Forest Technology students and staff packed camp supplies onto a 50-foot truck and departed on a school bus to Kidney Lake Camp for 5 weeks of intensive field training.

The transportation for this field training was made possible by a generous donation from Canfor, through the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta. The donation will continue to support similar experiential learning activities for Forest Technology students over the next 5 years. For Canfor, the investment aims to ensure that future forestry workers have access to learning experiences that prepare them for the workplace.

“Canfor is proud to support the NAIT Forest Technology program,” says Susan Yurkovich, president and CEO, Canfor. “This investment gives students the hands-on training and practical skills they need to build successful forestry careers. Many of our employees are NAIT Forest Technology graduates and their industry-ready expertise continues to strengthen our operations.”

Forest Technology graduates find meaningful career opportunities in sustainable forest management, such as environmental consulting and land management. At Kidney Lake Camp (and during other experiential learning activities), students learn the fieldwork skills needed for their careers including taking tree measurements and identifying plants while working as a team in a remote forest environment. In these non-traditional settings students foster a sense of community, build networks and develop essential soft skills.

“We are grateful for Canfor’s support which makes the Forest Technology program and the learning experiences within, more attractive and increases student’s chances for career success,” says Agatha Ojimelukwe, dean, School of Energy and Natural Resources. “Canfor’s generous contribution is an investment in the future of forestry and the people who will shape it.”