How Chelsea is Tying Together School, Work, and the Silviculture Innovation Grant
Chelsea Southern is an assistant forester who has been working in silviculture at Strategic since June 2023. She supports a range of projects including vegetation management and silviculture surveys across both private and Crown land. After a particularly inspiring field shift on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and learning from experienced foresters, she decided to fully commit to a career in silviculture.
In the fall of 2024, Chelsea enrolled in the Coastal Forest Technology Diploma program at North Island College(NIC). Once she graduates, she’ll earn a diploma and become a Trainee Forest Technologist (TFT). Her studies so far have included topics like engineering, cruising, soil science, hydrology, GIS, and forest policy. She expects to complete the program in April 2026.
Returning to school is a significant investment, particularly financially. Chelsea explored various funding options but didn’t qualify for the limited government grants available. Then, one day, Tina Podlasly, External Relations & Administration Manager, forwarded her information about the Silviculture Innovation Grant. The application was demanding—requiring a written proposal and a detailed budget—but it offered a rare and valuable opportunity for funding. Chelsea applied, highlighting her educational goals and passion for community forestry, and was remarkably selected as a recipient. The grant was open to all B.C. students interested in silviculture, as well as foresters seeking support for research or professional development.
The Silviculture Innovation Grant was partially created to encourage foresters to improve their practice by learning and developing new skills, as well as encouraging others to enter the profession. It is also for those interested in innovative silviculture, which Chelsea would like to practice in a community forest. As an early career forester attending a post-secondary forestry program and hoping to eventually get her RFT, she fit both pre-requisites.
As mentioned, school is expensive but being employed at Strategic while attending NIC, having flexible work hours, as well as having the support of Tina, who’s role at Strategic includes finding grant funding opportunities, made attending school less financially stressful. It was hard for Chelsea to financially justify returning to post-secondary, but she’s grateful for the Silviculture Innovation Grant and Strategic’s support toward her learning and career.
The grant helps ease financial pressures, while her work experience strengthens the skills she’s building at NIC. Together, school, work, and the grant are setting Chelsea up for a strong start in a career focused on sustainable, innovative forestry.
