HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A Canadian secondary-school student often starts with Grade 12 and then moves into a forestry-related college program or other post-secondary training in forestry, logging, or natural resources, depending on the school and employer. Others begin as forestry or logging workers, gain hands-on experience in outdoor operations, and later step into a lead or supervisory role. Helpful experience includes safe equipment use, crew coordination, and working on planting, harvesting, and vegetation control projects. Employers may also look for strong communication, problem-solving, and knowledge of safety and government rules, which can vary by province, employer, or specific job.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of logging and forestry workers in woodland operations, often in several work locations over several square kilometres
- Supervise silvicultural activities such as scarification, planting and vegetation control
- Schedule work crews, equipment and transportation for several work locations
- Resolve work problems and recommend measures to improve work methods
- Instruct workers in safety, recognize unsafe work conditions and modify work procedures
- Ensure that government regulations are met
- Communicate with forestry technical, professional and management personnel regarding forest harvesting and forest management plans, procedures and schedules
- Prepare production and other reports
- Hire and train new workers.