EDUCATION. The Coaticook Vocational Training Center – CRIFA will increase its number of open-air classes thanks to a partnership with the Forêt Hereford organization. From the next school year, a new program will be added to its offering, that of forest management.
The students of this course will therefore come alongside those of the sections devoted to maple production and forestry work, which have been in place for several years already. The announcement was made during a press briefing, held on Tuesday morning (June 18).
The president of Forêt Hereford, François Bouchy-Picon, says he is very proud of this collaboration with the educational institution. “Our organization first got involved with the school community by investing in transportation to bring young students to our trails,” he says. Then there was our involvement in the “Teaching the Coaticook region” program, set up by the MRC. Our long-term agreement with CRIFA was self-evident. Our forest is wide open to you. »
“No other large forest owner in Quebec does as much for the people of their community, quite simply because it is part of our mission,” he continues.
Director of the Coaticook Vocational Training Center – CRIFA, Tina Desmarais describes this partnership as “essential”. “We want to be up to date in our training programs, to be close to our partners and their reality on the ground,” she points out. The forest may be a little far from our establishment, but I think that for people who want to work in this environment, there is no path too long to get to where we offer quality training. »
Among the educational facilities initiated by the CRIFA team, students can benefit from a martelodrome, a forest area designated according to very specific criteria which has been properly inventoried. “It allows us to make observations in the forest, in the field, to see first-hand the state of health of the trees, identify defects and diseases and know their seriousness. Better understanding the ecosystem is essential for careers in the forest,” explains teacher Barbara Leblanc, who will pilot the new forest management program this fall.
Karina Lévesque will be part of the first cohort, she who worked within the DEP of silvicultural work during the last session. “We are really lucky to have access to such a forest with varied species. This field work is very valuable,” she confirms.
The partnership between CRIFA and Forêt Hereford is a long-term one. In the near future, the leaders of the educational institution would like to see the creation of a sugar bush school.
