IT'S NEW AT FAIRVIEW! SO NEW, IT'S STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
WOOD PROCESSING TECHNICIAN
This credit program will be a one-year certificate designed to prepare students for a career in wood processing. The program, which is planned to be introduced in 1997/98, will give students a grounding in the study of wood characteristics, primary and secondary processing operations, safety, and technical areas such as wood grading and wood drying.
*More information about this program will be added to this web site as soon as it becomes available.
BUT
FAIRVIEW COLLEGE ALSO OFFERS NON-CREDIT COURSES TO PRIVATE SECTOR CLIENTS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING TWO SERVICE VENUES.
Woodlot Management Skills is a certificate of proficiency program with courses on woodlot inventory, economic feasibility of a woodlot, woodlot development, woodlot maintenance, woodlot harvesting, woodlot marketing strategies 1 & 2, woodlot sawmilling, value-added sawmilling - hardwoods and softwoods, establishment, harvesting, marketing and value-added processing.
WM 101 Woodlot Ecology
This course provides an introduction to the basic ecology of a woodlot.
Topics include an introduction to forest soils, identification of tree species,
tree function in relation to environmental factors and forest succession.
WM 102 Woodlot Inventory
This course is designed to aid the student in evaluating an existing woodlot.
Topics will focus on how to conduct an inventory of a woodlot, equipment
requirements, inventory techniques including timber cruising, calculating
timber volume and surveying for other resources.
WM 103 Economic Feasibility of a Woodlot
This course is designed to assist the student in determining the economic
potential and the feasibility of operating and managing a woodlot. Topics
include calculating the economic value from a woodlot assessment or inventory,
and consideration of other factors including wildlife, recreation, water
resources, livestock, etc.
WM 121 Woodlot Development
This course focuses on providing skills necessary to implement a woodlot
plan. Topics include: reforestation, afforestation, natural regeneration,
species and source selection, site preparation, seedling handling and planting.
WM 122 Woodlot Maintenance
This course provides instruction on maintaining a woodlot for future uses
such as harvesting. Topics are aimed at instructing the student on how to
improve the woodlot through such activities as weed control, thinning or
spacing, pruning, fertilization, pest and fire control.
WM 123 Woodlot Harvesting
This course provides theory and hands-on instruction to enhance skills in
general and specialty harvesting. Topics include: commercial thinning, crop
tree identification, harvest methods, specialized machinery, harvesting
for value-added products, harvesting hardwoods and selection-cuts vs. clear-cut.
WM 131 Woodlot Marketing Strategies I
This course provides instruction in most aspects of marketing woodlot production
of roundwood to outside parties, including primary wood-using industries.
Topics include: requirements, policies and prices for wood purchasing and
delivery, comparative pricing, forward contracting, current market stability
and trends and wood specifications.
WM 132 Woodlot Marketing Strategies II
This course focuses on the marketing aspects of primary and secondary processing
of woodlot production. Topics include: inventory measurements, primary and
secondary processing equipment needs, product design and development, product
distribution and economic benefits to manufacturing value-added products.
WM 133 Woodlot Sawmilling
This course focuses on the sawmilling aspect of primary processing of woodlot
production. Topics include: portable sawmills, small-scale operations, circular
and band saws, edging, planing, dry piling and log and lumber grading.
WM 134 Value-Added Processing - Hardwoods
This course provides instruction in the technical aspects of secondary processing
of hardwoods. Topics include: value-added product choices and options, integration
with larger organizations, characteristics of hardwood species, hardwood
processors, grading wood quality and general hardwood drying techniques
and applications.
WM 135 Value-Added Processing - Softwoods
This course focuses on providing instruction in the technical aspects of
secondary processing of softwoods. Topics include: characteristics of softwood
species, basic kiln operations, growing for quality, grading wood quality
and product choices and options.
WM 120 Woodlot Planning
This course provides students with necessary skills to complete a detailed
woodlot plan. Topics include planning for: lot size, location, slope, aspect,
access, drainage, soil factors, multi-aged stands, species consideration
and non-commercial values (wildlife etc.).
The Boreal Wood Centre is a new forest industry training and development project with a mandate to promote the wise use of timber resources in Northwest Alberta. The project is the result of a unique partnership between Fairview College, the private sector and the local communities. Existing workers interested in expanding their careers can take short courses in hydraulics, kiln drying, planermill maintenance, sawfiling or supervision. The Boreal Wood Centre also helps residents in the region to identify and pursue careers in wood processing. The Centre offers a 20-hour orientation course in wood processing for high school students. The Centre also administers an industry funded scholarship program to promote post secondary studies by residents of Northwest Alberta.
Basic/Intermediate Hydraulics
A four day hands-on introduction to basic hydraulic theory. Participants
will review hydraulic motors, rotary actuators, hoses and fittings, proportional
and servo technology, valve and pump sizing, troubleshooting and problem
solving hydraulic systems and safety issues. Participants will have an assignment
in a mill setting as part of the course. Target audiences: Millwright trades
people, electricians, supervisors.
Kiln Drying for Operators
A four day session for kiln operators, quality control personnel and maintenance
workers. Participants will review tree growth, drying operations, methods
to reduce costs and maintenance considerations. Target audience: Kiln operators
and managers responsible for lumber drying. The 13 mills with kilns in the
Peace Country will be invited.
Forklift Operations
A two day course to cover traffic safety, inspection and safety checks,
preventative maintenance, forklift operations and handling loads. Day one
is classroom based. Day two cycles participants through a two hour practical
session. The course will demonstrate that participants are competent with
the CSA's published standards for forklift operations. Target audience:
planermill and warehousing employees.
Log Haul Safety
A three hour overview of log haul safety issues and practices. The course
will be given as a component of the MDFP orientation session for log haul
contractors and sub-contractors for the next log haul season.
Troubleshooting for Small Sawmills
A two day course for operators of small sawmills. Participants will receive
classroom theory on machine alignment and problem identification. A practical
session will follow on saw hammering and sawfiling. Target audience: Owners
and operators of independent sawmills.
Planermill Maintenance
A four day course which focuses on sawmill planer operations. The course
is the first module of a five part series developed by the College of the
Rockies for the Boreal Wood Centre. Course topics are specific to planer
mill equipment and will include set up of the planer, grinding and jointing,
knives and cutter heads, maintenance and overhaul of planermill equipment.
Target audience: planermill supervisors and operators.
Programmable Logic Controls
A four day review of PLC functions, capabilities and the internal operations
of the PLC. The PLC course will use Allan Bradley 5.0 hardware. The trainer
will focus on PLC structure, operating processes within a PLC, safety considerations
and PLC maintenance. Target audiences: Electrical trades people working
on electrical equipment controlled by the PLC, and Electrical trades people
working in the forest industry.
Supervisory Training
A two day course for managers covering practical aspects of supervision
in a mill setting. Topics will include: the responsibility of being a manager,
assigning work, coaching and discipline, and team work. The course format
includes instruction and facilitated discussions. Target audiences: new
and experienced managers.
FAIRVIEW ALSO OFFERS...
a CARPENTER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM and SILVICULTURE STUDIES
*to find out more about these and Fairview's other offerings visit their
web site at