The general public was able to meet the forest community in Amos


The event, which has been held every three years since 2015, had to be pushed back a year to 2021 due to the pandemic.

On Saturday, about a thousand visitors were able to discover various activities and training related to the forest environment, on the site set up near the Amos municipal airport.

Alain Shink, President, and Marc Provencher, General Manager of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Forestry Association.

Alain Shink, President, and Marc Provencher, General Manager of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Forestry Association.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

“The name of the event says it, it’s an open door to our forests. It allows small families to come and experience the forest environment, because everyone is here. Forestry is here, the people who take care of our forests, and also the entrepreneurs who are in the wood, because often what happens in the forest, we do not see it. And it is our educational mission, at the Forestry Association, to show people, to provide information and to explain what is happening in the forest”, emphasizes the director general of AFAT, Marc Provencher.

The day before, more than 250 entrepreneurs and forestry workers had first been able to visit the sixty or so exhibitors present. “It’s our VIP Contractors day, as we call it, and it’s just for OEMs and contractors, to give them the chance to come see equipment and make sales. This is the objective of the first day”, explains Alain Shink, president of AFAT.

Machinery at work

Three man standing in front of a forest machine

Pierre Dulac, Antony Drapeau and Samuel Dennis-Larocque, from Trionex.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

As much for entrepreneurs on Friday as for the general public on Saturday, the Doors Open to Our Forest is an opportunity to see forestry machinery at work.

“We are here to promote the Ponsse product, our high-tech product for forest harvesting and also to meet our customers in a context other than work. It’s a friendlier atmosphere. And today, it’s above all a family day, where we can meet people to promote our product as well, but at the same time to demystify forestry equipment a little,” points out Pierre Dulac, General Manager of Trionex.

It is also an opportunity to attract the next generation for educational institutions.

Luc Laroche, teacher in the forest road program at the Center de formation professionnelle Harricana.

Luc Laroche, teacher in the forest road program at the Center de formation professionnelle Harricana.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

“We are here to promote the forest road course. During the two days, all children and even adults can try out our equipment. We have a small shovel here on the site. Often, it pisses them off. We won’t hide it, we currently have a shortage of heavy equipment employees and we want to have replacements. And we are here to train this next generation,” says Luc Laroche, teacher of the forestry road program at the Harricana Vocational Training Center.

A sting that Samuel Jacques was able to confirm, by testing a timber carrier in the forest.

Samuel Jacques tested a transporter in the forest, which can be seen behind him.

Samuel Jacques tested a transporter in the forest, which can be seen behind him.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

“It’s a machine that I want to heat up in the future. It’s super trippy. I start my DEP in November. This may be my third time heating this up. I’ve been in it since I was very young. I don’t see myself going anywhere else,” he says.

Passing through with his son Aaron, Cony Pard was very impressed by the organization.

“I came to see the forestry industry, the technologies available and the training also offered at the Harricana Training Center, to show my boy to see if that’s what might interest him,” he explains.

other users

Alexandre Dupuis teaches the basics of archery to a young visitor.

Alexandre Dupuis teaches the basics of archery to a young visitor.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

Other users of the forest, such as the Association of Trappers, the Association of Blood Dog Handlers and the Club des archers d’Amos, were also present.

“We are equipped today to shoot toddlers from 3 or 4 years old up to 107 years old. We supervise them, we have the targets, we can show them shooting techniques. It’s a great window of opportunity for us. It’s a beautiful place, it’s super safe, we’re outside and the weather is nice. People won’t come to see us at our shooting ranges or in competition, out of embarrassment or whatever, so here is really the place for that, ”said Alexandre Dupuis, vice-president of the Club des archers d’Amos.



Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca

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