The Truck Loggers Association (TLA) has partnered with Vancouver Island University to provide $3,000 annually over the next three years to create a Minerva Foundation for B.C. Women education award at VIU.
The Minerva Foundation seeks matching funds from post-secondary schools to increase the dollar amount of awards provided by groups like the TLA. This new TLA/VIU award adds to the existing $10,668 of TLA/VIU funds that are available to students in the Vancouver Island University Forestry Education Diploma Program.
Dave Lewis, TLA executive director says, “Every year the TLA raises and donates about $50,000 that is targeted toward forestry education programs, initiatives and awards
“Through the work of VIU’s financial awards department and groups like Minerva Foundation, the TLA has been able to leverage their education funds to ensure that we are maximizing the funds available to our future workforce as they seek training.”
Currently, women represent approximately 13 per cent of the forest industry workforce, he said, acknowledging he would like to see those numbers increase as they look to replace an aging workforce.
“We see our partnership with VIU and Minerva as a very positive step towards that objective.”