Greenhouse skills learned on job

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HIGH LEVEL - Maxine Auger admits to being a little homesick. On a five-month, on-the-job training placement with a Whitecourt nursery, this will be the longest she's been away from her home on the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement.

But the 19-year-old is also excited about her future. She is hoping her newly acquired greenhouse skills will pay off in a long-term career for herself and a new industry for her settlement.

Auger is one of nine participants on a year-long, federally-funded Job Development forestry training program run by the Paddle Prairie Waskayigun Association in an effort to develop sound management and control over their renewable timber resources.

Her role is especially important as she is being groomed for the greenhouse technician position and will be responsible for running the new facility, and important component of the reforestation aspect of the program.

At the moment, Auger is involved in all aspects of the nursery's day-to-day operation and works directly under the supervision of the owners. At the end of the five months, she will take some technical course to complete her theoretical training.

"I see this as an opportunity to have a real career," said Auger," who did not quite complete her Grade 12 and was employed up until the program began last January. "The only jobs available to me were waitressing and chamber maid."

The greenhouse operation will also generate very significant seasons employment for the settlement," said Project Manager Rick McLeod. The settlement is establishing a comprehensive plan for development of its forestry resources, he added.

The six forest constructors, the secretary accountant and the greenhouse technician along with the project manager started out by mapping the timber resource spread throughout the settlement's half million acres. Other activities have included ground truthing, silvaculture, timber cruising, first aid and safety procedures.

In addition, the group of nine took a three-week log home construction course

in order to equip themselves with the skills to build the new administration office for the forestry department.

Regeneration surveys are also going to determine if the areas are being restocked naturally or whether additional re-seeding must take place, said McLeod. Participants will be busy planting 35,000 seedlings throughout the settlement.

The settlement is located about 40 miles south of High Level.