This year we are proud to announce Jordis Smith as the 2024 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary recipient. Jordis will be attending College Of New Caledonia in Prince George for Forest Technology Program this fall.
Growing up in Nakusp, Jordis has spent the majority of her life outdoors. The small town that she lives in is majority forestry and logging, because of all the mountains and trees surrounding the area. She would love to be able to stay in Nakusp to work and live because it is her home and she loves the small-town aspect. Forestry will be a line of work that she will be able to do here forever so it makes it that much more beneficial. Not only is the forest her biggest work interest it is also her favourite place to debrief and enjoy free time. She believes this will allow her to succeed at this job and do as much with her schooling as possible.
When Jordis is not working, playing sports or studying, she is passionate about the outdoors. She spends her free time hunting, fishing, mushroom/huckleberry picking in the area. She likes to work with her family either at their family run store in Nakusp or with her father in the bush learning about the different aspects of forestry. She really loves to spend time with family and friends, these relationships are important to her.
Jordis had proven to be a leader and is a well-respected member of her community. People speak very highly about how she is thoughtful and mature. She plans to continue to work in the forest industry in the Kootenays after she graduates.
We are very proud to help support Jordis’s education and will be excited to follow her career!
This year we are proud to announce Eden Ostoforoff as the 2023 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary recipient. Eden will be attending her second year at Selkirk College in the Forest Technology Program this fall.
Growing up in the Kootenays, Eden has spent the majority of her life outdoors and fell in love with the wilderness at a young age. She knew she wanted to work in the outdoors since she was 15.
When Eden is not working or studying, she is passionate about the outdoors. She spends her free time camping, hiking, and getting firewood or just relaxing at the beach in the summer.
This summer Eden will be part of the environmental crew at Teck Coal, working hard to support her education goals. Eden brings passion to everything that draws her attention whether it is volleyball, the outdoors, and currently her college studies. It has become apparent that Eden is an example of a good citizen who is committed to reaching her goals. Eden has the combination of great characteristics and maturity, she has the best attitude, she works hard and is a leader amongst her peers. Eden has extra determination and seems to be wise beyond her years.
Eden hopes to change the negative stigma surrounding the logging industry and help bring light to the benefits of it. Even though she is just beginning her profession in the Forestry/Logging field she plans to build her career and create sustainable logging practices in British Columbia. She is extremely self motivated, and we know she will make a positive impact on the forestry industry.
We are very proud to help support Eden’s education and are excited to follow her career!
My name is Eden Ostoforoff, and I was honoured to receive the Kyle Levy Pride in Logging Bursary in 2023. Receiving the Kyle Levy Bursary was an immense privilege for which I am profoundly grateful. In the spring of 2023, I had the opportunity to tour one of A.F. Timber's job sites. Witnessing the dedication and expertise displayed by the team influenced my career path, affirming my passion for the forestry industry.
It is truly inspiring to see a small forestry business like A.F. Timber investing in the next generation of trades professionals. The financial support provided by this bursary significantly relived the burden of tuition and equipment expenses during my second year in the forest technology program at Selkirk College. As I approach the completion of my program in April 2024, I cannot wait to start my journey as a Forest Technician in May 2024.
Without the generous support of the Kyle Levy Pride in Logging Bursary, reaching this milestone would have been a far greater challenge. I extend my heartfelt gratitude once again for this invaluable assistance. Looking ahead, I aspire to follow in the footsteps of community-minded organizations like A.F. Timber by giving back to the industry and supporting future generations of aspiring professionals.
A.F. Timber Co Ltd. is excited to reward two very deserving applicants the 2022 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging Bursary to Roah Levy and Kieron Sorenson. Both applications were so fantastic we chose to award two bursaries this year.
Up first it is very special for us to be awarding Roah Levy the bursary named to honour her dad. She has decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and work in the resource industry as a machine operator. She is very excited to be going to Vancouver Island University to learn a trade straight out of high school. It is a comprehensive training program that provides training in all aspects of the workplace as well as extensive hands-on training on the heavy equipment. In addition, the program is ITA certified and is the first step for her to earn her Interprovincial Red Seal Certification.
Roah was born and raised in Nelson, she loves skiing, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, gardening and generally enjoying the outdoor Kootenay Lifestyle.
Roah is proud to be a woman going into this trade. There are less than 1.5 % of machine operators who are women. She would like to be a leader in this field and to demonstrate to women that they can work in any field.
Up next, we have Kieron Sorenson. He was born in Nelson and raised here in the Kootenays. He had the good fortune of being brought up to respect nature as well as learn about what the forests can provide for us and how we all depend on what comes from it. His dad is a forester and has always taught him to work to find a balance that respects all the values of the forests in addition to that just of the trees. Some of his earliest and fondest memories are of drives on forest service roads with his dad to visit those that work in the industry and touring some of the local mills that employ so many people in our area. Kieron is happiest when he is mountain biking, hiking, fishing, dirt biking, skiing, snowmobiling, and just generally out in nature. He loves to be able to drink from the streams, fish and swim in local and alpine lakes. He prides himself in living his life to the fullest just as Kyle did.
Kieron has been accepted into the Forestry Technologies course at Selkirk College starting September 2022. He looks forward to learning and understanding more about the complex environmental connections that influence our resources and their extraction and utilization. He hopes in some small way, he can contribute to the sustainability of this industry and lifestyle that he appreciates so much.
Both Roah and Kieron are looking forward to starting their education. We believe that these students have the passion and enthusiasm to work hard with their studies.
We are very proud to help support their education and are excited to follow their career paths!
Roah Levy
My name is Roah Levy, I received the Kyle Levy Bursary June 2022.
As you can tell from the last name, he was my dad. It meant a lot to me that I could carry on his name, doing something I am passionate about, which is operating Heavy Equipment.
A.F. Timber rewarded me with this Bursary as they knew I would work hard, just like my dad. They give it to the students who are passionate about what they want to do.
I'm so grateful for the Bursary as it helped me pay for my schooling at VIU in Nanaimo BC.
VIU offers a great program for people who are interested in a career in the heavy-duty equipment industry. I learned so much in the six-month program and continue to learn more each day.
My dad was someone who was always learning and teaching. He would be proud of every student who has received this bursary and the many students who will be rewarded with it in the future. He would always encourage me never to give up, to always keep learning even if it was something you had never done before. Learning new skills is part of life, never say “I can't do it” because you can do whatever you set your mind to .
A.F. Timber (Al and Erin) give so many people the opportunity to shine at something they're good at. This Bursary was made to help students achieve the most just as my dad would want the best for everyone.
So, the most I can say is Thank You dearly from the bottom of my heart, it meant everything to me and I hope that everyone can carry on his name with a good heart and use the Bursary wisely. - Roah Levy
A.F. Timber Co Ltd. is proud to announce Colby Mackintosh as the 2021 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary recipient. Colby has been accepted into 4-year trade program to become a Heavy-Duty Mechanic which begins in the fall of 2021.
Colby was born and raised in Nakusp BC. He knew a career as a Heavy-Duty Mechanic was in his blood since he was a boy working along side his Dad and Poppa. He enjoys spending time outdoors down hill skiing, snowmobiling and dirt biking; but his greatest passion is tinkering on anything mechanical.
Colby knows forestry is a huge part of living here in Kootenays. It employs so many and is going to continue for years to come. He feels wood is always going to be in high demand so keeping machines operating and trucks driving is important.
When Colby is not working or in school, he is an asset in his community both in sports and volunteering. He has been involved with many sports such as soccer, basketball, and track and field. One story that stands out is when he wanted to try hurdles. The high school did not have the supplies. Colby with the help of his dad, took it upon himself to make the school a set of hurdles which he practiced on and eventually was able to compete throughout the province. Colby also worked with a crew installing two different sites with solar panels. Colby was a highlight to these jobs. His attitude and work ethic were top notch! He is known for being on time and ready to do what needed to be done. He demonstrates being a quick learner and is always thinking of the next step. He works well with everyone and is willing to help if it was needed. Even when things were slow, he could be found making sure the site was clean.
Colby is looking forward to starting his education and when finished he plans to return to Nakusp to join the family business.
We believe in Colby’s passion and enthusiasm to work hard. We are very proud to help support his education and are excited to follow his career!
A.F. Timber Co Ltd. is proud to announce Dylan Strelaeff as the 2020 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary recipient. Dylan has been accepted into the Forest Technology Program at Selkirk College which begins in the fall of 2020.
Dylan was born and raised in the Kootenays. He knew a job in the forest industry was right for him as he enjoys the lifestyle of being outdoors with his family. He has a rich history of forestry in his family, which has influenced his decision to pursue this career. He will graduate from Mount Sentinel Secondary in June 2020. He is currently working hard to keep his grades up during this final semester from home to ensure his acceptance into the program. He has been described by the people in our community as a task-oriented person and that when he puts his mind to something, he will accomplish his goal. Dylan wanted to make sure this career path was right for him and reached out to 2 local mills and BCTS to arrange a job shadow. This confirmed his passion and the connections he made will help his future and his work ethic will be a valuable skill in the forestry field.
Dylan is proud to have secured summer employment to help pay for his education and when he is not in school or working, he enjoys camping, fishing, and being outdoors.
Once he has completed his diploma, he plans to transfer to UBC to become a Registered Professional Forester.
We believe Dylan’s passion and willingness to work hard will excel him in his career path. We are very proud to help support Dylan’s education and are excited to follow his career!
Receiving the 2020 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging Bursary was a huge honour. It is great to see a local forestry business like A.F Timber supporting their community, the field of logging and Forestry and Trade students that are trying to achieve their goals. The bursary was a huge help to me with helping me pay for my tuition and my equipment that I needed for school and my career. I am currently in the second semester of the forest technology program at Selkirk College and the financial aid that I have received has definitely relieved some of the stress that comes with attending a post secondary institution. I hope to see more graduates take an interest in forestry in the future because they will get to meet great people and see some once in a lifetime things. I want to say once again that I am honoured to be the recipient of the Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary and will do my best to contribute towards helping my community and to keeping our forests healthy and clean. – Dylan Strelaeff
This year we are proud to announce Daniel Burgel as the 2019 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary recipient. Daniel has completed his first year at Selkirk College in the Forest Technology Program.
Daniel grew up in Nelson, as a kid he knew he wanted to work outside and stay active.
He graduated from L.V Rogers in 2018 with a passion to become part of the Forestry Program at Selkirk College. He worked hard to keep his grades up and gave 100% to be accepted into the program. He is an attentive listener and relaxed public speaker. He is known to be the student that is first to class and last to leave. This work ethic is a valuable skill in the forestry field.
Outside of his career interests, Daniel is into health and fitness. Throughout high school he maintained his discipline by sticking to an impressive schedule in both track and field and boxing. He continues his endeavors to stay fit while at college.
Another trait of Daniel’s is the value he places on volunteer work with the Selkirk College International Program. Even with his full schedule he takes time to welcome students to the college, Nelson area and Canada.
This summer Daniel has secured employment with B.C. Timber Sales as a Forest Technician. After completing his diploma, he plans to continue working for BCTS to gain practical experience before pursuing his goal to become a Registered Professional Forester.
We believe Daniel’s enthusiasm and willingness to work hard will excel him in his career path. We are very proud to help support Daniel’s education and are excited to follow his career!
It is such an honor to be a recipient for the
2019 A.F. Timber scholarship. Many local forestry businesses in the Kootenays go above and beyond to help their community. A.F. Timber is no exception. They have given me an edge in post secondary studies by helping me reduce the financial stresses of associated with college. This allows me to focus more on my studies without having too many worries to keep me distracted. In the future I would like to see more young people get involved in the forestry community. The forestry community is filled with many kind, caring, and funny people. As a current forestry student at Selkirk College, I am very excited to graduate and be proactive with the forestry folks. When I was a summer student with B.C. Timber Sales, I had the privilege to see A.F. Timber at work. I have heard many good comments about A.F. Timber from employees of B.C. Timber sales and my neighbors. On a personal level, I found that the owners of A.F. Timber (Erin and Al) were very nice people. I hope to see them at work again in the future. - Daniel Burgel
This year we are proud to announce Allie Chown as the 2018 Kyle Levy Pride in Logging bursary recipient. Allie will be attending Selkirk College for Forest Technology Program this fall.
Growing up in Balfour, Allie has spent the majority of her life outdoors. This lifestyle led her to begin forest firefighting in the summers. She was so excited to find a job that most days doesn’t feel like work allowing her to work outside and constantly learn everyday about the forest. One of the favorite things she has been learning about recently is identifying tree species. This was very rewarding for her which sparked her interest in forestry and eventually to enroll in the Forest Tech Program.
When Allie is not working or studying, she is passionate about the outdoors. She spends her free time camping and hiking in the summer, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. She likes to work with her hands, doing woodworking and furniture design. She really loves animals and to spend time with family and friends, these relationships are important to her.
This summer will be Allie’s second year as a crew leader with her company. Her references in the community had nothing but praise for Allie. Her employer and peers describe her as “born leader”, “motivated”, “problem solver”, and the biggest one was “respectful” which made it so easy to award Allie this year.
Allie has shown herself to be a thoughtful & mature; she plans to continue to work in the forest industry in the Kootenays after she graduates.
We are very proud to help support Allie’s education and are excited to follow her career!
Being the 2018 recipient of the Kyle Levy Pride in Logging Bursary has been a huge honour and privilege for me. I'm grateful to AF Timber Co for being active in our community and supporting a local student that is pursuing her goals while working toward a career to advocate for our forests. I’m in the second semester of the Forest Technology program and am so grateful to be chosen to receive an award that is in Kyle’s name. The financial assistance I received from the bursary has helped manage some of the stress that comes with school and since being selected, I’ve taken a personal responsibility to honour Kyle by continuously reminding myself to work hard and always put my best effort into everything I do. - Allie Chown
This year the Kyle Levy Pride in Logging has made an exciting transition to include first year university students as well as high school graduates. We are proud to announce Micah May as the 2017 bursary recipient. Micah has completed his first year at University of Northern British Columbia.
Micah holds a high GPA with a passion for forest stewardship and environmental studies which has gained him recognition and awards within the community. To name a few, he was awarded the Council of Forest Industries Scholarship, as well as the Get High on Nature Scholarship. The latter of which is awarded to a student pursuing post-secondary education in an area related to environmental studies. He has a solid record of environmental activities as well.
He has demonstrated his continuing interest in the future of our region, including the importance of natural resource industries, particularly forestry, and the need for his generation to become involved and support creative innovation within our sector.
Micah has been described as an innovative leader, who carefully considers situations. While he appreciates the positive, he senses key gaps and needs, and then identifies creative ideas to fill those spaces. During his first year at school he joined and became the treasurer for the UNBC Forestry Club, in his words “it gave me the opportunity to give back to the forest industry."
When Micah is not studying, he is passionate about the outdoors. He has come to love simple ways of experiencing the backcountry: trail running, hiking, canoeing, hunting, and backcountry skiing. But to him it is about more than just being out there, rather he is interested in "learning about and connecting with the environment."
Micah will be working this summer at Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks and was offered a community
outreach position. He is very grateful for this opportunity. One of the tasks will be delivering public outreach programs and sharing information on forest ecology and fire management, which he is passionate about, with urban Canadians. He will also be developing an educational program about glaciers and the relationship between hydrology systems and forest ecology. This will build on his volunteer work as an assistant field researcher with the University of Northern BC's team that is studying glaciers in the Columbia Basin.
Micah has shown himself to be a thoughtful, mature young man who is committed to building his skills and knowledge so he can contribute to the future of forestry and land ethics.
We are very proud to help support Micah’s education and are excited to follow his career!
Receiving the AF Timber Pride in Logging Bursary has helped me continue my university education in environmental science and pursue my interests in the forest sector. It obviously helped pay my tuition, but in a world that is focused on the newest gadget and instant communication, it has also been a reminder that the forest sector helps society take a long-term view, including the importance of investing in our forests and communities. On a personal level, receiving the award confirmed my belief that being actively involved in my school and community are important. It is easy to become consumed with our own personal challenges but, as someone who is dealing with a chronic pain issue for the past 16 months, I am learning that giving back to your community helps you overcome such obstacles. I am honoured to have been chosen for the bursary as it is helping me explore how I will contribute to healthy forests and rural communities into the future. - Micah May
It has been a pleasure to get to know Liam Patience. When we called his references the community had nothing but praise for Liam. Descriptions like “overall package”, “hard worker”, “having integrity”, “kind” and “solid young man” easily rolled off their tongue.
Liam is strong student maintaining a high grade point average. He is supportive by giving countless hours of his time to volunteer within his community such as the Kaslo Fire Department, coaching minor hockey, the Kaslo Jazzfest and is a huge asset in his school. He received a number of awards at graduation one of which was the CBT Youth Community Service Award.
Outdoor life has always been a large part of Liam’s life, fishing, hiking, cross country and downhill skiing. In the summer of 2015 Liam was given the opportunity to work with the Kaslo & District Community Forest. This introduced him to the world of cutblocks, chainsaws, logging roads and the crummy. After that job he knew he was hooked and that forestry was calling his name.
During his graduating year he did a work experience placement with Timberland Forest Consultants. During the winter when he applied to them he was promptly accepted. He plans on working for Timberland Forest Consultants this upcoming summer after grad. Then, in the fall, attending Selkirk College for Forest Technology, a two year diploma program that will prepare him for a rewarding career in forest resource management. Liam looks forward to an exciting future in the Kootenays’ most prestigious industry.
Liam plans to continue his life in British Columbia’s Forest sector and to have a long and rewarding career as a Forest Tech. He clearly loves the outdoors and forestry, and believes it is an integral part of his life in the Kootenays.
We are so proud to help support Liam’s journey and excited to follow his career!
The Kyle Levy Pride in Logging Bursary helped me gain an education in an industry I am proud to be a part of. I get to see great things, meet great people and enjoy the best career in the world because of what the A.F. Timber company has helped me achieve. I hope to see more graduates take an interest to forestry and logging in the Kootenays and remain proud of its vital role in our area. - Liam Patience