The largest professional association in Canada's forest industry is coming to Prince George for its AGM.

The Association of B.C. Forest Professionals (ABCFP) is holding its 65th annual general meeting and convention starting on Wednesday. An array of keynote speakers has been arranged, including the contrasting policy views of B.C. Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson and NDP opposition forestry critic Norm Macdonald. Radio talk show host Bill Good will also broadcast his CKNW program live to the province from the convention floor.

The ABCFP is the registering and regulatory body for forest professionals in BC, covering more than 5,300 members who work in every corner of the province.

"There are two types of forest professionals in B.C. - Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) and Registered Forest Technologists (RFTs)," said the association's spokeswoman Amanda Brittain. "RPFs are involved in managing the forest and planning how it will be used and cared for. RFTs have a narrower scope of practice and are involved in many technical forestry activities such as forest health, forest engineering, silviculture and many more. Both RPFs and RFTs can work for government, academia or industry."

Part of the conference is dedicated to an awards show celebrating forest professionals' accomplishments, and inductions of new professionals who have gained certification.

"We have a very large number of members from the Prince George area," Brittain said. "Of the current council - our volunteer board - Ken Hodges, RPF, is from Prince George. We also have several other councillors from the north including Carl vanderMark, RPF, from Houston; Carolyn Stevens, RFT, from Burns Lake and Sue Price, RFT, from Williams Lake. Newly elected council member Mike Sandvoss, RFT, is also from Prince George. He takes office at the conference.

"Another Prince George connection is that one of our valedictorians, Megan Tandy, is from your fine city. She will be speaking at the Inductees’ Recognition Luncheon on Thursday at noon."

Other Prince George inductees include:

Jillian Affleck,

Ivan Andersen,

Colin Chisholm,

Daniel Stanyer,

Brent Thiessen,

Anyone interested in registering to attend the conference can still do so online at www.abcfp.ca.