The Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre near Lake Doré has become a special place for people of all ages, including students who study in the Forestry Technician program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus. The old growth forest that is part of the property is majestic, almost eerie, and sparks the imagination of visitors as they walk the paths that surround trees that are hundreds of years old.
During her time studying in the Forestry program, it was a special place for Sionaid Eggett, who had left a career in early childhood education to pursue her passion for the outdoors. It happened by accident. Eggett had worked in the field for more than a decade, primarily supporting children with special needs, but she was becoming restless and was planning to teach internationally. Then, the COVID—19 worldwide pandemic derailed her plans.
“I had done some backpacking trips in Algonquin Park and thought that if I had the opportunity I would become a park ranger as my favourite places to visit during my travels were the natural sites. The people who worked in the parks seemed to have the best time and it aligned with many of my personal interests and pursuits,” says Eggett.
One of the people she met in the Park was a woman who had graduated from the Forestry program at the Pembroke campus. She spoke glowingly about her experience and that was all Eggett needed to start doing some research about the program. She liked that the program could be completed in one calendar year and was inspired when she read about a female graduate who was doing well in her career as a forestry technician. “I was greatly attracted to the amount of hands on in the field learning Algonquin had to offer,” says Eggett.
Forestry alumna Sionaid Eggett receives the James M Kitz award for her dedication to her profession as a recent forestry graduate.
She enrolled in the program while the pandemic was at its peak in the Fall of 2021. It was challenging with her theory courses taught by faculty online, but the college managed to allow students to take field trips so they could hone their practical skills in the rich forests of the Ottawa Valley. At a time when it was difficult to make human connections, the field trips filled a void, allowing her to be with her classmates and teachers in the tranquil spaces of some of the most diverse forests in Canada.
By the late summer of 2022, Eggett had graduated from the Forestry program and quickly found employment with the Ontario Woodlot Association, hired as a field operations coordinator. She quickly left an impression with her employer and took on a leadership role, promoting careers in forestry while also helping to build on the tradition of the industry.
One of those traditions is a year end ring ceremony, where students who complete the program receive a special ring from the Canadian Institute of Forestry. It’s a tradition that started in 1953, but up until 2002 it was only forestry graduates from universities who could receive the rings. When college graduates were brought into the fold, it became a source of pride for all colleges who offered forestry programs.
At its core, the ring symbolizes the commitment forestry graduates are making to their field of study, acknowledging their responsibility to act professionally in their day to day work. Eggett believes strongly in the power of the ring and has fully embraced her new career, earning her recognition as one of Canada’s leading new forestry professionals.
Forestry Technician alumna Sionaid Eggett is off to an excellent start in her career, having been recognized by her peers for her work.
She quickly took on a leadership role within the Canadian Institute of Forestry, chairing the Algonquin chapter of the CIF and has become a champion for the ring, sharing the importance of the values that is represents for all who are part of the fores try fraternity. That commitment has caught the attention of the industry and earned Eggett the prestigious James M Kitz award that recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals who are just getting their forestry careers started. Eggett received the award at a special ceremony in Newfoundland, having been nominated by one of our professors in the program, John Pineau, who is now her colleague at the Ontario Woodlot Association, having hired Eggett shortly after she graduated from the program.
Eggett’s forestry career is off to a great start and as an alumnua she remains attached to the college. “I continue to work with the Algonquin Forestry students each year to help to give back to the institution that has greatly influenced and changed my life. I have never been so happy in a career or workplace and feel extremely supported by the whole forestry community. My line is “if we as people are doing well then the forest is doing well” which really resonates with me,” says Eggett.
When the graduating class of 2024 at Algonquin received their silver rings, it was Eggett who presented them, but at the ceremony she learned something was amiss and wanted to address what she thought was an unfortunate situation. The program coordinator, Peter Arbour, who was presiding over the ceremony had mentioned he didn’t have a silver ring. Arbour was Eggett’s primary teacher while she was in the program and she wanted to pay it forward, acknowledging the impact Arbour has had on her life and new career.
Algonquin College Forestry Technician coordinator Peter Arbour receives his silver ring from alumna Sionaid Eggett and Brittany McKenzie and CIF lead John Pineau.
She worked with others including John Pineau, her employer at the Ontario Woodlot Association and a long time champion of the CIF and arranged for a special impromptu ring ceremony for Arbour at a meet and greet for industry partners to meet the new Forestry students. The setting was perfect. Arbour received his ring at the Shaw Woods Education Centre, in front of his current students. It was a full circle moment for Eggett, back in a place where her love of forestry was confirmed and while speaking about the significance of the silver ring she shared an important message with the new students who had gathered.
“Never have I worked in an environment that is so uplifting, where everyone cares about your journey,” said Eggett. It was an inspiring message from the heart that only someone who loved their job could share. It’s that enthusiasm that has made Eggett a leader in the field and while she is early in her career, Eggett has already proved she has a bright future ahead in one of our country’s most historic industries.
(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Interim Dean of the Pembroke Waterfront campus)
