CoFI launches a pilot professional mentorship program
Date: Sep. 22, 2025
Working in the forest is not for everyone, but for many students entering NSCC’s Natural Resources and Environmental Technology Program, it is both a natural fit and a long-term career goal.
For the past three years, with support from the Family Forest Network (FFN), NSCC’s Centre of Forest Innovation (CoFI) has supported 28 Forest Futures Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) summer placements across eight forest stewardship organizations in Nova Scotia. These opportunities have given students practical experience and mentorship to prepare them for careers in ecological forest stewardship.
To build on that foundation, CoFI is launching a new professional mentorship pilot: Forest Ready. Designed for FFN members, the pilot extends the success of Forest Futures by offering continued mentorship and career development to NSCC students and recent graduates.
Forest Ready aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by reinforcing confidence, building networks and supporting skill retention within Nova Scotia’s forest sector. Participants will benefit from mentorship by ecological forestry practitioners, as well as gain professional development delivered by NSCC experts in leadership, networking and personal resilience.
Running through the fall and winter of 2025/26, the pilot includes part-time placements for current students and a limited number of full-time roles for recent graduates.
One student already making the most of the opportunity is Mitchell Thibodeau, who spent the summer with the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners.
In his words: "Working with the Federation through the WIL Program and being part of Forest Ready has shown me how valuable mentorship and networking are as I move into the field. Learning from people already working in forestry, connecting with industry professionals and communicating with landowners has given me confidence and helped me see the ways I can contribute. It’s encouraging to know that students are valued in the sector while also being prepared to step into the workforce."
Beyond expanding his resume and gaining real-world experience, Mitchell is also getting insight into the seasonal rhythms of the work. This experience will make his transition into the workforce even smoother.
For employers, programs like Forest Ready offer long-term benefits, too.
"Working with young, talented NSCC graduates is crucial for organizations like the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners. Many people focus on the importance of training to fill spaces in an aging workforce, but it's much more about giving the next generation of forest professionals the opportunity to help create the kind of sector that they want to work in. The students have taught us that mentorship cuts both ways. Talented graduates from NSCC hold the keys to innovation and have insights into where the sector is headed, so we benefit as much from their participation as they do from the experience of working in the field. Our landowners are excited to meet students on the land and be able to offer their perspectives and watch the sector evolve – just knowing some young people want to take up the mantle of sustainable forestry is heartening", says Blair Peruniak, Executive Director of the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners.