Canada’s Forest Sector Announces Winners of 2022 Green Dream Internship Program

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2022 Green Dream Internship Program. The national initiative is set to showcase the experiences and perspectives of eleven summer students working in the forest sector over the next six weeks.

Launched in 2013, the annual Green Dream Internship Program is designed to promote young Canadians who are passionate about working in the forest sector and have a strong commitment to the environment and their community. Green Dream Interns are selected to create influencer-style content – including videos, blogs, podcasts, and TikToks – that provide an inside look at the work being done in Canada’s forests and communities from coast-to-coast.

“Over the past decade, we are very pleased to see an increasing level of interest and enthusiasm among young people towards summer internships,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “The Green Dream Internship Program provides a first-hand look at our sector’s commitment to sustainable forest management and innovation – while offering a glimpse at how forestry supports hundreds of Indigenous and rural communities through an inclusive workforce that values sustainability, diversity, and opportunity across the country.”

FPAC’s Green Dream Interns receive a scholarship to support their ongoing education. This year’s recipients include:

• Victoria Carlyle, Resolute Forest Products – Thunder Bay, ON
• Samantha Shapira, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. – Boyle, AB
• Bailey Brokenshire, Tolko Industries Ltd. – High Prairie, AB
• Aidan Starosta, Resolute Forest Products – Montreal, QC
• Andy Goodson, Tolko Industries Ltd. – Prince Albert, SK
• Rosa Désy, Resolute Forest Products – Senneterre, QC
• Kimberley Bérubé–Boyle, Resolute Forest Products – Baie–Comeau, QC
• Danielle Dubeau, West Fraser – Hinton, AB
• Basil Cooper, Canfor Corporation – Vancouver, BC
• Jake Atkinson, Weyerhaeuser – Grande Prairie, AB
• Cody Oliver, Alberta Newsprint Company – Whitecourt, AB

Content generated by the 2022 Green Dream Interns will be shared online throughout the summer. Follow along with their summer adventures on FPAC’s Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an Industry with annual revenues exceeding $75B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 225,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.

2022 Green Dream Interns: Biographies and Quotes

Victoria Carlyle, Resolute Forest Products – Thunder Bay, ON

Victoria is spending her summer working as a Chemical Engineering Student at Resolute Forest Products in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  She received an Engineering Technology Diploma from Lakehead University in May of 2021 and will return to Lakehead to finish the final year of an engineering degree program in the fall.  Outside of work and school Victoria has a passion for the outdoors. Sustainability is very close to her heart, and the placement has helped her understand the connection between the forest industry and the environment.

“In my first two months at Resolute I have had the opportunity to learn about the Kraft pulp process, production of renewable biomass energy and the care and complexity that goes into all types of forest products produced in Canada.  It has been a privilege to work with the engineering and operation staff at Resolute; I truly learn something every day. It is a privilege to work with the intelligent and hardworking people at Resolute.  I am hopeful that sharing my experiences will spark an interest in forestry for others.”

Samantha Shapira, Alberta–Pacific Forest Industries Inc. – Boyle, AB

Samantha has just completed her fifth year of a double major in earth and environmental sciences at Dalhousie University in Halifax. She grew up in southern Ontario and took to school as her way to learn more about the natural world and immerse herself in the outdoor experience. Samantha became enthralled by rocks, soil, water, trees, our atmosphere, and the processes that shape them. Her current position as a Science and Certification summer student with Al–Pac has given her an overview of the many aspects of forestry and allows her to explore the broad influences and relationships between industrial activity and the health of our forests, and how to best manage them.

“I am proud to be involved and contributing to the forestry industry in Canada and helping to secure its sustainability in all regards; economically, socially, and environmentally. I am excited to be part of the 2022 Green Dream Internship Program to showcase how varied the lifestyle, roles and work can be in forestry and encourage other folks to consider their place in the industry as well!”

Bailey Brokenshire, Tolko Industries Ltd. – High Prairie, AB

Bailey was born and raised in central Alberta and this fall will be going into her third year of forestry at the University of Alberta. There is nothing she enjoys more than strolling through the bush all–day rain or shine and her time in the bush is spent hunting moose and elk in the fall, snaring rabbits in the winter, and foraging, shelter building, or basket making in the summer. Bailey says she feels fortunate to be hired as a woodlands summer student at Tolko’s High Prairie OSB mill, couldn’t be happier, and believes this is a fantastic start to a career in forestry. Further down the road Bailey hopes to receive her forestry degree and remain in northern Alberta and be a planning or operations forester.

“So far, I have had great impressions of Canada’s forestry industry. What comes to mind first is the people in the industry. For my first few weeks at Tolko, we did lots of training, and much of the entire woodlands division participated. This allowed me to meet roughly all 20 woodlands employees, and I can say with confidence that every one of them is passionate about their job. I haven’t come across another industry with people who are as enthusiastic about what they do as the people at Tolko.”

Aidan Starosta, Resolute Forest Products – Montreal, QC

Aidan is a third year Political Science Major at McGill University, where he is also completing two Minor Concentrations in Management and Italian Studies. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado – this is Aidan’s first summer in Montreal and his internship with Resolute Forest Products is his first experience in the corporate world. Previously, he has seen how government functions while interning with the Colorado State government in the Governor and Attorney General’s Office, learned about international trade while interning for the World Trade Center Denver, and worked with business management while interning for RocketFizz Soda Pop and Candy. Aiden suggests, now that he is working for Resolute, he has expanded his knowledge of Logistics and the Global Supply Chain –– two fields that are extremely important in a post–COVID world.

“I enjoy working for a company that is doing their job to achieve reasonable sustainability goals within the forestry field. Learning about logistics has helped me understand the behind–the–scenes action propping up the complex system of the world. The Green Dream Internship program is the perfect opportunity for me to connect to my peers in the industry, while also allowing me to share my experience with the world.”

Andy Goodson, Tolko Industries Ltd. – Prince Albert, SK

This is Andy’s second summer as a Green Dream intern. He graduated from the Integrated Resource Management program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic this spring and is working on an eight–month term with Tolko Industries Ltd., Meadow Lake Woodlands. He is based out of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – or as he puts it, the “Gateway to the North”, a.k.a. “the last place to pick up McDonald’s before hitting the lake.”  Andy says he feels lucky to spend most days outdoors, whether walking road line, flagging buffers, or touring with members of the community. He adds, the job also brings me to some remote and fascinating areas of the province that I would have never had the chance to visit. Working in forestry still feels new, but it keeps growing on me.

“Working in forestry has been a life–changing experience for me. There is a lot to learn in the field. Every day presents its own unique set of challenges. There’s no better way to put things into perspective than through writing, and I look forward to doing just that in the Green Dream internship program.”

Rosa Désy, Resolute Forest Products – Senneterre, QC

Rosa is from Montreal and discovered that the pace of the city was not suitable for her because everything seemed too fast. She then discovered the calm of the forests and the countryside and knew that this was the environment where she could fulfill herself personally and professionally. Rose studied three years in Forest Technology where she was able to confirm her passion for forest management and decided to continue studies at the University with a bachelor’s degree in forest management and environment. Rosa says she has experienced the beauty and diversity of the Quebec Forest, by working in different fields, and was also able to develop related passions thanks to many stays in the forest such as herbalism and hiking. Rosa now tries to share her interest in the forest by getting involved in various groups such as Université Laval’s Forest Science Week and the Association of Forestry and Environment Students at Laval University.

“Being able to share my experience at Resolute Forest Products this summer is a great honour, and I can’t wait to show everything we can see in the region!”

Kimberley Bérubé–Boyle, Resolute Forest Products – Baie–Comeau, QC

Kimberley is a hunter, fisherwoman, and hiking enthusiast, and has spent countless hours in the forest since she was very young (extending a huge thank you to her dad for having left me this immense love for nature). She says the vastness of the forest, its breathtaking landscapes and all its little discretions fascinate her and make her want to discover it up and down. Kimberley is a student in forest management and environment at Laval University, and both are an integral part of her daily life. She says everything makes sense in the forest and that is why she want to work in such a way as to ensure its well–being and its sustainability in the face of the many challenges it will face.

“I consider myself to be a beginner in the great world of forestry. However, as I am very passionate about forestry and have done two very formative internships, I can’t help but have my own impression of Canadian forestry, and especially of Quebec forestry. As the forestry sector contributes significantly to the Canadian economy, I must affirm the importance of managing this sector well so that it can maintain its economic importance throughout the country. Furthermore, in the era of climate change, the forestry sector is without a doubt the sector to prioritize in the fight against climate change; in doing so, Canadian forestry can (and will) play an important role.”

Danielle Dubeau, West Fraser – Hinton, AB

Danielle attends the University of Alberta after becoming interested in ecology and the environment during high school and decided to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences with a major in Conservation Biology. She has lived in Hinton, Alberta her whole life until moving to Edmonton for school. Living so close to Jasper, many of her interests include outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, paddle boarding, and even cliff jumping! Now that she is going into her last year of university, Danielle is excited to apply all that she has earned and gain experience in her chosen field.

“Now that I work for West Fraser and have had the opportunity to get a first–hand and personalized look at the processes of making pulp and paper it’s truly a complex and interesting industry. I’m super excited to be part of the Green Dream internship and to document my experience working at Hinton Pulp Mill!”

Basil Cooper, Canfor Corporation – Vancouver, BC

Born and raised in the lower mainland of BC, Basil has always loved the outdoors, spending free time hiking, camping, kayaking, and exploring the province’s amazing forests. As someone who appreciates BC’s natural beauty, he decided to study environmental systems at SFU. Basil wants to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy our beautiful province while also providing essential products to society, came across the sustainability co–op at Canfor and the role seemed like a perfect fit with his education, interests, and career goals. Throughout my internship, Basil has worked on a variety of meaningful projects as Canfor reshaped its sustainability strategy. He is excited to share his story throughout the summer!

“The forest industry will play a key role in Canada’s (and the world’s) transition to a sustainable, net–zero carbon economy, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I could not be more excited or thankful to have been selected as a Green Dream Intern!”

Jake Atkinson, Weyerhaeuser – Grande Prairie, AB

Jake has taken on a summer job is with Weyerhaeuser as a silviculture intern and this will be the third summer, working at the company’s office in his hometown of Grande Prairie, Alberta. In his role as a silviculture intern, he has gained valuable experience in all aspects of silviculture including tree planting, herbicide, mechanical site preparation. In his first summer of work, Jake says he developed a real passion for silviculture which has only been deepened by the experience that he has gained in following seasons of work. He is currently attending the University of Alberta in the Bachelor of Science in forestry program. Outside of work and school, Jake still strives to be outdoors as often as possible whether I’m reading a book, canoeing, foraging for mushrooms, or going camping with friends.

“I grew up around a lot of foresters and a lot of forestry which is why I know how valuable insight into the industry can be. I’m really hoping that I can provide that same insight this summer.”

Cody Oliver, Alberta Newsprint Company – Whitecourt, AB

Cody is from Whitecourt Alberta, and at I am 21 years of age, currently attending the University of Lethbridge majoring in accounting. He grew up in the outdoors, whether it was quadding, hiking, horseback riding, archery competitions, or camping. Cody plans to continue a career within the forestry industry, applying his knowledge of accounting to help further Alberta Newsprint Company’s success.  He says the forestry industry has been extremely impactful throughout his life, as Whitecourt has three Mills within 50KM of each other, one of which has provided his family for multiple generations. Cody has worked in operations as well as the accounting department, during the summer breaks and is extremely excited to share his experience with the public and shine some light on unknown areas of the Forestry Industry.

“Forestry has been a part of my life since before I could remember. Providing my family with countless opportunities. I am extremely excited to share and help shine light on the industry.”

About Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)

FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an Industry with annual revenues exceeding $75B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 225,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.

Contact:

Kerry Patterson-Baker – Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs – kpatterson-baker@fpac.ca – (613) 563-1441 x 314

Source: Forest Products Association of Canada