Sixteen soon-to-be graduates of the Forest Resources Technician Program at College of the North Atlantic Corner Brook campus received their silver rings from the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) last week at the Blomidon Cross Country Ski Lodge. Front left: Donalda Walsh, Fleur-de-Lys; Alexandra Cabot, Happy Valley-Goose Bay; Tim O’Brien, St. John’s; Sherilyn Young, Kippens; Robin Courtney, Burgeo; Cody Avery, Hodge’s Cove; Katie Butt, Lethbridge, NL; and, Colin Carroll, national CIF Vice-President. Back left: Alex Drummond, national President; Taro Foley, Tokyo, Japan; Ben Basha, Corner Brook; Adam Critchley, Port Saunders; Bradley Philpott, Corner Brook; Heather Gidge, Cobb’s Arm; Erin Pearson, Deer Lake; Jessica Nippard, Kitchener, ON; Damien Hoskins, Corner Brook; and Brad White, First Vice-Chair CIF in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Forest Resources Technician (FRT) graduate Erin Pearson of Deer Lake received the Canadian Institutes of Forestry (CIF) Gold Medal of Excellence from national President Alex Drummond.
CORNER BROOK, NL – Sixteen students of the Forest Resources Technician (FRT) program at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) Corner Brook campus are sporting some bling on their pinky fingers these days.
They were all part of a Silver Ring ceremony held at the Blomidon Cross-Country Ski Lodge in Corner Brook last week, where approximately 115 people attended to witness the presentations.
The Silver Ring is an initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Forestry (CIF), and ceremonies are held at select locations throughout Canada. The rings are presented as a way to welcome new forestry professionals, and is a symbol associated with the completion of a CIF-recognized forestry program. The ring is traditionally worn on the little finger of the left or right hand (depending on whether the graduate is left or right-handed).
Receiving their rings were: Cody Avery, Hodge’s Cove; Ben Basha, Corner Brook; Katie Butt, Lethbridge, NL; Alexandra Cabot, Happy Valley-Goose Bay; Robin Courtney, Burgeo; Adam Critchley, Port Saunders; Taro Foley, Tokyo, Japan; Heather Gidge, Cobb’s Arm; Damien Hoskins, Corner Brook; Austin Jayne, Corner Brook; Jessica Nippard, Kitchener, ON; Tim O’Brien, St. John’s; Erin Pearson, Deer Lake; Bradley Philpott, Corner Brook; Donalda Walsh, Fleur-de-Lys; and, Sherilyn Young, Kippens.
A highlight of the night was the awarding of the Gold Medal of Excellence to FRT graduate Erin Pearson. She was selected based on a combination of criteria, including outstanding scholarship, sports and citizenship as demonstrated throughout her time in the program.
This follows a recent announcement that Pearson was the successful recipient of the CIF’s Prince of Wales Forest Leadership Award, which is a partnership between the United Kingdom and Canada. Pearson, one of two Canadians selected, is CNA’s first-ever winner of the prestigious award. The recipients will participate in an international work exchange in their respective partner countries during the summer of 2018. They will be placed in roles at some of the top forestry and natural resources management employers in, in addition to receiving a bursary of $12,000 CAD to cover expenses.
Alex Drummond, national CIF President, attended the ceremony to present the rings to FRT graduates, and was joined by Colin Carroll, national CIF Vice-President, and Brad White, First Vice-Chair CIF in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Michelle Jesso
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
michelle.jesso@cna.nl.ca