During my first term as a UBC Co-op student, I have been working as a Forestry Technician for Coastal Natural Resource Management Ltd. I have had the pleasure of working all over Northern British Columbia, spending time in Mackenzie, Prince George, and Quesnel. I have undertaken a wide variety of roles, such as conducting silviculture regen surveys, boundary and road layout, as well as riparian assessment.
In my time with Coastal, I have learned the procedures of block layout, including access planning, slope gauging, as well as timber and riparian evaluation, all the while improving my native tree and shrub identification skills. I have come to appreciate long rewarding days in the field, as I have had countless eye-opening wildlife sightings. The most memorable being a brief, yet breathtaking run in with a wolverine!
I originally joined the UBC Co-op program to gain experience applying learnings from the classroom; however, my time working with Coastal has been so much than that. I have thoroughly enjoyed improving my data collection and analysis, species ID knowhow, and my understanding of forest dynamics. I look forward to continuing to work in remote areas of British Columbia with kind and hardworking people as it has been an extremely rewarding experience.
I have been working as part of a soil processing department at Bureau Veritas in British Columbia for two months during my co-op term. As part of its environmental services, Bureau Veritas provides analytical data to ensure its clients have the values that need to be protected and uphold quality and control. My role involves processing samples provided by clients, weighing them to one gram, and then diluting the samples with chemicals like nitric and hydrochloric acid. I will deliver the work to other departments for further analysis.
With the Co-op program, I have gained a better understanding of the different procedures and purposes of the various positions that are available. This pushes me to be better than I am today, and it still gives me the strength to explore more challenges that the Co-op program offers. I am glad to learn more from my peers and colleagues about the different opportunities that are available to me and encourage future Co-op students to look for many unique opportunities that can lead to various pathways and different objectives.
Wood Science Intern – Structure Monitoring Technology Research
I have been working at SMT Research, where I’ve contributed to a range of projects focused on monitoring systems for mass timber and building envelope performance. My work has included writing blog posts about building crises in different countries, drafting technical articles and project profiles, and supporting outreach to architects, engineers, and mass timber manufacturers. I’ve also been involved in designing 3D models to illustrate how our roof leak detection systems are integrated into building assemblies.
This co-op has allowed me to combine technical knowledge with creative communication, expand my industry awareness, and take part in solutions that support more resilient, sustainable buildings. It’s been a valuable experience, and I encourage others to join co-op to explore real-world applications of their studies and build meaningful industry connections.
I have been working on layout during my co-op work term, which involves establishing boundaries and road locations within a block for future logging development. A key part of my work has been stream classification, where I assess streams to determine their size and whether they have the potential to support fish. This information is critical for ensuring proper management and protection of waterways in forestry operations.
Through this experience, I have gained valuable field skills and a deeper understanding of how forestry balances development with environmental stewardship. Co-op has given me the opportunity to apply what I have learned in class to real-world situations, and I encourage others to join the program to gain hands-on experience and explore different career paths in forestry.
Junior Forest Ranger Sub Leader – Government of Alberta
I am currently working for Alberta Wildfire as a Junior Forest Ranger leader in High Level Alberta. For the month of June, my co-leader and I have been busy planning the summer for our incoming crew. We have been contacting potential partners for the summer and completing site visits when necessary. During slow days we have been given the opportunity to shadow different departments within wildland fire, such as driving with patrol or flying to deliver supplies to fire towers.
Once our crew arrives in July, we will be completing work projects that range from fire smarting campgrounds, helping unit crews with fire mop-ups to completing biodiversity monitoring of buffalo ranges. The goal of this summer is to teach and expose our youth crew to the different careers in wildland fire and forestry.
Co-op has given me the opportunity to explore a career in wildland firefighting that I likely wouldn’t have considered if I didn’t have access to the resources co-op provides. Living on the firebase and learning about all the aspects of wildland firefighting has been such an incredible experience.
Wildlife Ecology Research Assistant – UBC Department of Zoology
I have been working with UBC’s Gaynor Lab as a Himalayan Carnivore Research Assistant this summer. My role primarily involves sorting through thousands of camera trap images from Nepal and organizing them according to project relevancy.
Beyond this, the position has also given me the opportunity to learn about other ongoing wildlife ecology research from current grad students, critically read and discuss scientific papers with the other members of the lab, and explore how programs such as R and GIS can be used to synthesize our data and results.
Overall, I’ve been having a fantastic experience so far, contributing to important research and learning more about research methods and protocols! This co-op placement has enabled me to connect with scholars from various fields and has opened the door to post-undergrad opportunities.
During my first co-op term this summer, I joined the Liquid Waste Services Department at the City of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, where I observed and learned about the department’s equipment, technologies and relevant regulations and policies governing wastewater management. I assisted in a key city project digitalizing pipe services using ArcGIS, which involves compiling and updating municipal data to enable operators to deliver efficient, high-quality services, including wastewater treatment at the Norm Wood Environmental Centre and maintenance of the sewer system. Through this experience, I expanded and enhanced my skills in data analysis, research, and map editing. The variety of activities, environments, and interpersonal interactions that my co-op term provided me with have been very valuable in expanding and enhancing my skill set and applying my knowledge and passion for practical work, while appreciating the industrial knowledge and professional growth opportunities provided.
The UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Co-op Program has been invaluable in enhancing my resume and interview skills, allowing me to immerse myself in a small-town municipal environment and explore potential career paths in environmental services. I am extremely grateful to the UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Co-op program and the City of Campbell River for providing me with this opportunity for its enriching blend of practical work, skill development, and real-world application of academic passion, and I am looking forward to the rest of my work placement.
The human side of forestry is often overlooked but always present. Seeing the forest for the trees in this case means connecting the dots between the many ways that people interact with, benefit from and shape natural spaces, and the consequences these activities are having on everything from environmental sustainability to community wellbeing. In this issue, we delve into the social sciences of forestry, highlighting how the academic work, career paths and actions taken by our UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship community are shaping the future for the sake of humans and the planet.
Fabrication Designer (Detailer) – Mercer International
I have been working as a Fabrication Designer at Mercer Mass Timber in Vancouver, a company that focuses on sustainable construction using mass timber materials such as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam. During my co-op term, I was responsible for creating 3D models of building structures and converting them into 2D shop drawings used in the actual fabrication process. It was exciting to see how digital design plays a direct role in real-world construction, and this hands-on experience helped me better understand the connection between design and manufacturing. I was able to apply what I learned in school about engineered wood, and it was especially rewarding to see how those academic concepts are used in industry to build sustainable structures.
What made this experience even more meaningful for me was my long-time interest in environmental sustainability. I have always been concerned about the impact of carbon emissions on our planet, and through this co-op, I was able to explore how eco-friendly materials like CLT and Glulam can reduce the carbon footprint of construction. Visualizing entire buildings in 3D before they are built helped me gain a new perspective on sustainable architecture and the role design plays in creating greener cities.
This co-op gave me more than just technical skills-it gave me clarity about my career path and the kind of work I want to pursue in the future. Being part of the mass timber industry showed me the importance of innovation in sustainable building practices. I believe co-op is one of the best opportunities for students to grow both professionally and personally.
I have been working for West Fraser at the Slave Lake Veneer Division. I have been working on optimizing the log conditioning process, specifically preventing over-conditioning and under-conditioning logs. This process improvement also works on improving veneer quality and production efficiency through the lathe, where veneer is peeled.
Another aspect I aim to improve is energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption in the log conditioning process. This has involved conducting conditioning trials with controlled parameters, analyzing core temperature data, analyzing energy data, and summarizing key findings in reports. Through this experience, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of industrial wood processes and quality control. I have toured many mills on work trips where I gained knowledge about panel manufacturing processes such as LVL and Plywood.
Co-op has given me the chance to contribute meaningfully to real operations while building technical skills and confidence in a professional environment. Co-op has given me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to a small town and experience working in a potential career path after graduation. I can experience the work and lifestyle of being in an environment so different from Vancouver and learn if it is the best career choice for me based on my interests and skills.
