Free to Grow in Forestry Certification Program

Vision

To shift the workplace culture to be more welcoming of women and all other underrepresented groups in the forest sector.

How?

In 2018, the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC), in partnership with the Centre for Social Intelligence, worked collaboratively with industry, not-for-profit organizations, academia and Indigenous groups to unite efforts and build a national action plan designed to identify the barriers women and other underrepresented groups faced in the sector and find ways to overcome those barriers. As a result, the Free to Grow in Forestry (FTG) initiative was officially launched in 2021.

Why Now?

The forest sector is one of the key pillars of the Canadian economy and is comprised of 17% women and 9% Indigenous people.

Currently this sector is facing unprecedented levels of labour market demand due to an aging workforce. The Government of Canada is also accepting an unprecedented level of new immigrants into the country (half a million/year) for the three-year period 2022-25. Action is required now to reduce stigmas and shift the workplace culture to be more accepting of everyone, regardless of gender, race or religion, allowing this sector to continue to compete in the global market.

Research shows that diversity of thought leads to innovation, better business outcomes and higher performance among teams. The forest sector can benefit from diverse minds to find positive and meaningful solutions to the sector’s most challenging issues such as climate change, invasive species and labour market demand, among other issues.

The National Action Plan Exceeded Expectations

Because we brought it to life through engagement across the sector. We were encouraged to go on, and so we did…

The second phase of the Free to Grow in Forestry initiative began in 2021 where we moved from a national to a regional focus, with the intent of providing the necessary skills and tools needed to empower leaders in the forest sector across the country to take action. However, the overwhelming level of interest in this initiative caused us to quickly pivot from sharing the learnings with regional leaders to sharing them through an open webinar platform approach to engage any leader in the forest sector from around the world.

We also furthered our reach by implementing a communications strategy that included the Forestry Forward Pledge, encouraging all companies to join the movement and take action on DEI.

The CIF-IFC has also created an internal DEI Pledge for its 18 Sections to endorse, creating a wave of change across this national organization in Canada.

Beyond all of that, the Centre for Social Intelligence also created highly interactive, mobile-friendly online training courses, the Free to Grow in Forestry Certification Program, that help engage individuals on why they need to take action, and then how to go about it. The Program is made up of 4 online training courses. Access the courses below!

View Training Courses

People are talking about FTG training

{Kelly Cooper's training modules on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace are groundbreaking. Professional, practical, and achievable! Using a storytelling approach that includes her own experiences, Kelly Cooper builds the case for the benefits of diversity to build successful enterprises --"the potential of the diversity advantage". The tools provided to learn allyship, inclusive leadership and how to overcome resistance are invaluable. Her steps to "be the change, make the change, and leverage the change" provide a clear path for transforming the workplace. Although directed at the private sector, I couldn't help but think about all the other enterprises -- public service, nonprofits, etc. -- that would benefit from this training.
Dr. M.A. (Peggy) Smith R.P.F. (Ret.)
Professor Emerita, Faculty of Natural Resources Management Lakehead University
{I recommend these training courses to anyone who wants to think about the positioning of their company with regard to D&I. If you are unsure or looking for how to start a D&I process or want concrete tools to help you and your team move to the next step, take the time to follow these training courses, they will certainly be useful to you.
Johanne Latour
Vice-présidente des ressources humaines | Vice President of Human Resources Les Entreprises Barrette
{The Free to Grow in Forestry’s Inclusion, Equity and Diversity training is very easy to navigate. The ability to work through this at whatever pace suites you is great. I found the section on overcoming resistance particularly insightful. I would recommend this to folks just starting out with their I&D journey, as well as people who are well on their way as there is a learning opportunity for everyone. 8/10 rating.
Nelson Schneider
Training Program Manager, Chair 2024 Diversity Council Canadian Forest Products (Canfor)
{The Free to Grow training modules were nothing short of transformative! Kelly’s expertise and passion for fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace environment were evident throughout the program. The modules provide valuable insights into the nuances of diversity, equity, and inclusion, helping one better understand the importance of creating a workplace that embraces differences. The exercises within support reflective discussions and real-life scenarios with allow for further exploration of the topics at hand. This practical approach sets this training apart from others. From understanding unconscious bias to fostering allyship and promoting a culture of belonging, the modules cover a wide range of important topics.  Thank you, Kelly, for developing DEI training that seeks to enhance our understanding and for leading the change!
Kristen Stinson
VICE PRESIDENT, PEOPLE, CULTURE, HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT Regency Fireplace Products
{This training gave me the courage and the tools to start having these conversations in my workplace. It’s often not easy to start these conversations, but once you begin, armed with the tools from this training, you can have deep and meaningful conversations within your organization that lead to positive change from a value-add and diversity perspective.
Sarah C. Billig
Director, Stewardship Mendocino and Humboldt Redwood Companies
{I recommend this training for anybody searching for the language to express ideas and concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are important topics but can prove difficult to articulate, and this training helped me with that.
Loni Pierce
2024 President Canadian Institute of Forestry
{

I thought the Free to Grow In Forestry Certification Course was a perfect introduction to DE&I and gave me the tools to start implementing change in my organization. The platform was easy to use, highly engaging, and provided real stories that made the training approachable. Also, I really enjoyed the pop culture references throughout the course. It made the training feel less corporate. I would highly recommend this course to anyone leading a team in the forest sector!

Tyler Niles
Silviculture Manager Grande Prairie Timberlands Weyerhaeuser
{I was impressed with the Free To Grow in forestry certification course! The training covers key issues that the forest sector faces and helps  support our efforts to attract and retain a best in class workforce.   The content is easily digestible, innovative, dynamic as well as practical and immediately applicable.  I recommend this training for anyone wanting to make a positive impact in their organization and our sector.
Alicia Cramer
Senior V.P. US Endowment for Forestry and Communities
{

I feel that the Free to Grow In Forestry Certification Course is a great way to introduce the topic of Diversity & Inclusion to people working in the forest industry.  The training is personal and relevant.  Although suited for middle managers, I think anyone would find something in this training that resonates with them and makes them think about their own actions and biases and how those impact their organization.  The module structure allows you exposure a little at a time, providing the space a person needs for reflection and to absorb the messages.  Highly recommend!

Traci Carter
RPFT Weyerhaeuser
{The Wood Pellet Association of Canada is striving to be among the most inclusive and successful trade associations by actively seeking out diversity across our industry.  We applaud the Free to Grow in Forestry (FTGIF) initiative’s pursuit of gender equality and meaningful inclusion of equity-deserving groups in the forest sector.   To this end, we recommend FGTIF’s new training modules.  They cover essential topics like the competitive advantage of diversity and inclusion; making a positive impact; the role of leadership in attracting and retaining top talent; and overcoming resistance to make change happen.  We especially appreciate how the modules are designed to be picked up and left off progressively in small blocks of time, making them convenient for even the busiest managers.  And making them smart phone-compatible was brilliant!
Gordon Murray, RPF, CPA, CMA
Executive Director Wood Pellet Association of Canada
{My job involves assisting colleagues in DEI programming with focus on technical and evidence-based methods. While many DEI in workplace training materials discuss the importance of DEI (what and why), few offer the “how”. This online training, however, fills that gap by offering actionable insights grounded in theory, experience and enriched with practical examples – a rarity. An invaluable resource that I thoroughly enjoy.
Sinta Dewi
Senior Manager, Gender and Diversity Forest Stewardship Council International - Bonn, Germany

Free to Grow in Forestry Certification Program

Consists of 4 online training courses:

COURSE 1

Free to Grow in Forestry:

Unlocking the Competitive Advantage of Inclusion

In this course, you will learn how Free to Grow in Forestry got started and all that it has accomplished. You will also learn how to explain to your team what a diverse and inclusive culture looks like, why having a diverse team is important, and how to plan the next steps on how to build an inclusive culture within your team.

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Course 2

Allyship in Action:

From Intent to Positive Impact

In this course, you will gain familiarity with the role and responsibilities of an ally by learning what an ally is and how to be an effective ally.  You will be walked through the allyship journey and learn the skills, steps and roles an ally can play that will help you immediately in the workplace, making you a role model for future generations.

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Course 3

Inclusive Leadership:

Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

In this course, you will explore what inclusive leadership is and how to be an inclusive team leader. As you walk through all stages of the employee lifecycle, you will learn actions and measures that can be taken to attract and retain top talent and how to prevent and address performance issues related to inclusion and belonging.

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Course 4

Overcoming Resistance:

Tools and Strategies to Make Change Happen

In this course, you will explore the common forms of resistance that can get in the way of developing a more diverse and inclusive workforce and be guided on how to create greater commitment and acceptance from your colleagues.

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All the coursed that make up the Free to Grow in Forestry Certification Program are currently available in English only.

Get Certified

Show your stuff
Free To Grow in Forestry Certificate

Once you complete the program (4 courses), you will receive an electronic Free to Grow in Forestry Certificate that you can display proudly on your Linkedin account, in your office, or wherever it serves you!

This program completion will not only demonstrate you are a part of the social and economic solutions for your organization, but it will also help you with developing your social intelligence skills of empathy, impulse control, self-awareness and self-regulation – all assets that contribute to you being seen as a leader and a top candidate for career opportunities.

Take the Certification Program

A Podcast working to move #ForestryForward

 

Free to Grow in Forestry Podcast – Join the conversation as we hear from guests from all groups in the forest sector, as well as inclusion and diversity experts, on how they are taking action on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Listen to the podcast

For more information and to view all FTG resources, visit the Free to Grow in Forestry website

Learn more about Free to Grow in Forestry