Thirty people in northern British Columbia have begun a five-week training program to learn the skills necessary to work as log or chip truck drivers and heavy equipment operators in the
forestry industry.
The Forest Industry Readiness Skills Training (FIRST) program is currently underway in Prince George, where there is the highest demand for this type of training. It consists of in-class training on topics like forestry operations and safety. Afterwards, students head out to various employers in the province for four weeks of workplace training in truck driving and operating heavy equipment.
Aimed at helping participants to secure permanent employment, this program is part of a new provincial government Labour Market Sector Solutions project with the Central Interior Logging Association (CILA).
