Post-war: a new forestry era

CONSERVATIONISTS: A group of Junior Forest Wardens stands at a gate to the Experimental Forest Area, 1967. Photo courtesy of the qathet Historical Museum & Archives

Carolyn Smith is the qathet Museum & Archives’ Visitor Services Coordinator.

As Earth Day approaches in the qathet Region, our community may ponder on how we can protect our local forests, but we are not the first, as the Powell River Company took early actions in forest conservation through Junior Forest Wardens in the 1940s and 1950s.

Following Canadian guidelines, regional branches of the Junior Wardens Association were created allowing youth to work closely with the Powell River Company’s Forestry Department on safe forest practices, conservation, and fire protection.

In the late forties, the Forestry Department dedicated 450 acres between Westview, Townsite and Cranberry for an Experimental Forest Area to study forest management and find out the best methods for logging and reforestation (The Powell River Digester March-April 1950).

Using the company’s Experimental Forest Area, the Junior Forest Wardens planted 10,000 fir seedlings across from Willingdon Beach (ʔahʔǰumɩχʷ) in late March of 1951. Approximately 40 of the regions youth participated in this activity and later were guided through lessons on forest protection (The Powell River Digester March-April 1951).

1951 marked a change in the local forestry mindset as the Canadian Forestry Association of British Columbia marked May 19 to May 26 to be “Forest Conservation Week.” The local Junior Forest War- dens took action, educating their fellow youth, as well as explaining their environmental work to adults of the region.

Considered a new era for logging, conservation became important to the Powell River Company and its development, with a focus upon public education and engaging the region’s youth (The Powell River Digester March-April 1951).

While simply visiting or residing within the qathet Region, it is difficult to not reflect upon one of nature's greatest gifts to our community: the surrounding forests. This Earth Day, April 22, reflect upon your conservation goals and come by qathet Museum & Archives to learn more about early forestry within your community.