The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has awarded Tanya Wick, Vice President, People and Services, at Tolko Industries of Vernon, B.C, its Women in Forestry Award of Excellence. The award recognizes her leadership and contribution to women in the forest products sector.
“Creating a diverse workforce is in the best interests of Tolko as we face the future,” said Tanya. “An engaged and dynamic workforce will help us reach and exceed our goals as a company, draw the best and brightest to our workforce to meet our demographic challenge, and foster innovative ideas to move the industry forward.
“Increasing the number of women in our workplace is critical to our shared success.”
Tanya initiated Tolko’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in 2017. It comprises many initiatives, including a leadership development program specifically for women, unconscious bias training for managers, Indigenous and youth strategies, collaborative oversight committee to make recommendations for change, and a comprehensive focus on an inclusive culture built on Tolko’s values.
In the B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan forest industry, women make up only 16 per cent of the workforce.
“This means that our industry is missing out on the ideas and innovation that a diverse workforce has been proven to deliver,” said Tanya.
“Forestry is a great and iconic Canadian industry,” said Brad Thorlakson, Tolko President and CEO. “We do it better than anywhere else in the world. We work outdoors and in some spectacular places. Industry innovation is impressive and we market to global customers. There is a lot for anyone to like about a forestry career and we appreciate Tanya’s innovative thinking to help us do things differently.”
“I am fortunate that Tolko and its leadership team has been so supportive of this diversity and inclusion effort,” Tanya remarked.
