Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) is proud to announce it has awarded its third annual Christopher Lee Memorial Scholarship to Lakehead University Bachelor of Science student Sarah Plourde for her outstanding achievement in forestry studies. She is now completing the final year of her BSc in Forestry in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Sarah stands out amongst her peers for her genuine interest in the sustainability of Canada’s forest land, which grew as she gained invaluable work experience in sustainably managed working forests, her aptitude in sports, including Timber Sports, as well as her strong academic performance.
“Each year we face a tough choice selecting the Christopher Lee Scholarship recipient from a high achieving pool of aspiring forestry professionals and technologists in post-secondary institutions across Canada,” states CEO Andrew de Vries, Canadian Forest Owners. “The future of managed forests in Canada is looking bright indeed when we know talented individuals like Sarah will ensure our forests continue to contribute to the economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities across Canada.”
CFO Chair Susannah Banks adds, “Sarah’s commitment to ‘the vital role our forests play in the health of our ecosystems, its response to climate change, and its resilience,’ is a clear match for the legacy of Christopher Lee who was a tireless advocate for Canada’s forest sector.”
CFO established the Christopher Lee Memorial Scholarship to honour the memory and legacy of Christopher Lee and to celebrate his innumerable contributions to the advancement of social and economic development in communities across Canada. Since 2022, CFO has awarded more than $34,000 to advance the education of technicians and undergraduate students in forestry-related programs, and to support a variety of impactful research programs conducted by graduate students.
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Media Contact:
Sandra Bishop 778.269.3050
Canadian Forest Owners (CFO), based in Ottawa, Ontario, represents the unified voice of private forest owners nationwide who are committed to long-term sustainable forest management for a healthy climate and thriving communities. CFO members are responsible for 10% of managed forest land in Canada and nearly 20% of Canada’s timber supply for forests products. For more information, visit www.forestowners.ca