Lakehead University Forestry Association - Yearbook (Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada)

Page 13 text:

- 2 - currently, in the recruitment of a replacement for him. Our technician complement was expanded, last year, when Miss Debbie Wickett joined us to assume responsibilities in the greenhouse and silviculture areas. At the same time, Mr. Greg Cowman replaced Mr. Trevor Woods ( ' 74) who assumed a full time position with the Ministry of Natural Resources. During the year, a committee of faculty members reviewed thoroughly our degree and technology curricula. The review was influenced, in considerable measure, by the recommendation made last year by our Forestry Advisory Committee. Significant changes were made in the forestry degree curriculum, including the addition of electives in year 2 of the program, and a new course, Organizational Behaviour and Administration in the third year. The report of the review committee was debated at great length by all members of the faculty of the School before it was finally approved. Forestry educators everywhere are experiencing increasing difficulty in accom- plishing satisfactorily the effective training and education of practitioners of modern forestry within the constraints of tolerable student course loads, an expanding number of core courses, and a limitation imposed by the actual time available for instruction which, in a four year program, totals only 24 months. The offering of a graduate program at the masters level has been an objective of our School for some time. Last year, the University Senate gave provisional approval to a proposed masters program in forestry, and, in December, we were visited by two appraisers, Professor Armson, of the University of Toronto, and Dr. Lafond, of the

Page 12 text:

CHAIRMAN ' S REMARKS In this fifth year of publication of the Lakehead Forestry Harvest , we can look back upon many, significant changes in the School of Forestry since the publication of the first yearbook in 1972. Five years ago our staff was composed of 10 full time faculty members and four technicians. Enrollment in the School in 1971-72 had risen from 204 in the previous year to 234 students. In the current year, 18 full time faculty members and 12 technicians are undertaking academic responsibilities for a student enrollment of 459. The near doubling of staff and students in the period has necessitated the acquisition of additional offices, laboratories, and other facilities. This has not been accomplished easily, but, with the co-operation of the University ad ministration and faculty, we have succeeded in developing a school capable of offering professional and technicial forestry programs, the excellence of which has been recognized across Canada. During the year, Professors David and Benson joined our faculty. Professor David will enable us to expand our curricula and research activities in the region in Timber Harvesting and Forest Mechanization. A background of professional and teaching experience is enabling Professor Benson to make a valuable contribution in the teaching of courses in the degree and technology programs. In January, 1976, Professor Fedkenheuer left our faculty to accept employment with the Alberta government. We are engaged,

Page 14 text:

- 3 - University of Laval, who were appointed by the Ontario Committee on Graduate Studies to determine our ability to provide a program. At date of writing, it is probable that we will receive favourable reports from the appraisers, but approval of the program will depend upon the recruitment of additional faculty members and the authorization of funding by the provincial government. Viewed from a broad perspective, the forest scene in Ontario cannot be regarded as particularly inspiring. A prolonged strike by mill workers in the pulp and paper industry extending over a period of many months necessitated the termination of woodlands operations. This factor, coupled with the unfavourable economic conditions which have prevailed in the country, appears to be excercising a negative influence on the potential for both summer and permanent employment inforestry in the forest industry. Although the Ministry of Natural Resources has not yet achieved a satisfactory level of performance in the growing of the second forest in Ontario, it appears improbable that the recently imposed posterity measures in public measures in public spending will enable any significant advancement in the silviculture program. The reduction in the number of persons employed in the civil service, will, undoubtedly, adversely affect the recruitment of permanent staff by the Ministry of Natural Resources. During the next few weeks, the provincial government will be considering the budget proposals of the various ministries. It will be interesting to learn to what extent our gov- ernment is committed to forest management in Ontario when the estimates of the Ministry of Natural Resources are debated.