A bike ride across Canada this summer is promoting green jobs.
Zac Wagman, who has been riding across Canada on a wooden bike for the past couple of months, was touring Timmins today, and talking about Project Learning Tree Canada's (PLT Canada) Green Ride for Green Jobs.
“We’re trying to get more young people aware of the outdoor career opportunities that exist in the forest and conservation sectors. We offer a 50 per cent wage match to employers, which helps them hire more youth in the outdoors,” he said.
In Canada, 235,000 people are employed in the forestry sector in 200 communities.
At EACOM, he said they've had five student positions funded by the program, which is for youth between the ages of 15 to 30.
"Our forests are a source of collective wealth that we strive to preserve for future generations. The partnership with PLT Canada is a natural fit, showing that by managing Canada's greatest renewable resource responsibly, we generate stable jobs and opportunity for communities like Timmins. We're happy that Zac is riding across our communities and inspiring youth to consider these wonderful careers in the great outdoors," said Kevin Edgson, EACOM president and CEO, in a news release.
This morning, Wagman toured the Timmins sawmill, later meeting with kids at the Timmins YMCA.
It's one of the youngest crowds that Wagman has talked to.
“We just thought it would be a fun idea to stop the YMCA here in Timmins today and just tell the kids about what great opportunities there are in the outdoor sector,” he said.
Wagman and his brother Nick set out on the trek from Victoria, British Columbia in May. They hope to wrap it all up by the end of September in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Along the way they have more than 100 stops in communities that are home to companies who have partnered with PLT Canada.
Their rides are Picolo Velo bikes, which feature wooden frames made of ash.
“It’s been a great way to raise awareness of the forestry jobs and wood industry as a whole, and they’re just really cool. A lot of people really haven’t seen a wooden bike before, so it’s great way to sort of get awareness into what we’re doing,” said Wagman.
