Nursery Summer Student

Western Forest Products Inc.; Central Saanich; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Forest Products is seeking a Nursery Summer Student for the 2027 season. The position is an 8-month term from May to December at the Saanich Forestry Centre on Vancouver Island, BC, performed in person.

The role involves supporting forestry and nursery teams with seedling cultivation, crop monitoring, irrigation, and routine greenhouse tasks, gaining hands‑on training. The schedule runs Thursday–Monday, 7:30 AM–4:30 PM.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a forestry, horticulture, or biology-related post-secondary program.
• Previous nursery or horticulture co-op experience is an asset.
• Mechanically inclined and able to operate equipment such as forklift, weed-whacker, lawn mower, etc.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and irrigate crops, assess crop health, disease and pest presence.
• Measure seedling growth and report findings.
• Weed and thin crops; perform greenhouse maintenance and cleaning.

Skills

Teamwork

Dependable

Attention to detail

Strong work ethic

Physical fitness

Time management

Communication

Education

Forestry/Horticulture/Biology program

Tools

Forklift

Weed-whacker

Lawn mower

Job description

We are seeking to hire a Nursery Summer Student for the 2027 season. This position is an 8-month term from May to December and will be based out of the Saanich Forestry Centre located on Vancouver Island.

What You’ll Do:

Our Nursery Students work alongside our team of forestry and nursery professionals, gaining valuable training and experience in the gr owing and maintenance of seedling crops.

Who You Are:

This is a great opportunity for students who are currently enrolled in a forestry, horticulture and/or related post-secondary program and looking to gain hands on experience!

What We Offer:

• Pay from $4,500 - $4,850 per month based on skill level, qualifications, and experience
• 4% Vacation pay in lieu

Work Environment:

This role is to be performed in person at our Saanich Forestry Centre located on Vancouver Island in Saanichton, BC. This position runs on a Thursday – Monday shift, from 7:30AM to 4:30PM.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Nursery Summer Student is a key member of the Saanich Forestry Center and is required to be a team player primarily within the nursery and management staff.

• Monitoring and irrigating crops, including crop health, disease and/or pest presence;
• Seedling growth measurements and reporting;
• Weeding crop, thinning crop, general greenhouse maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep;
• Block spacing;
• Greenhouse poly removal and installation;
• Strong planning, time management, and organization skills;
• Excellent people skills and the ability to support the supervisors with supervision of the seasonal employees;
• Ability to communicate with employees effectively through a culture of respect and trust;
• Good working knowledge of WorkSafe and environmental regulations relevant to the nursery industry;
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS-Excel, MS-Word, and MS-Outlook;
• Must be physically fit, capable of lifting heavy objects and be able to physically manipulate objects with body strength.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Currently enrolled in a forestry, horticulture, or biology related post-secondary program;
• Previous nursery or horticulture co-op work terms is an asset;
• Mechanically inclined and able to run various types of equipment such as forklift, weed-whacker, lawn mower, etc.

Skills, Knowledge and Required Competencies

• Dependable, possess a strong work ethic, attention to detail, have a great attitude, and thrive in a team environment;
• Self-motivated and able to take their own initiative;
• In good physical condition and enjoy the challenge of working in a nursery and greenhouse environment.

YOUR CAREER

At Western Forest Products, we believe our most significant asset is our people. Investing in our people brings value and success to our business, ensuring a safe, engaged, productive and continuously improving workplace. We offer challenging opportunities working alongside the best in the industry to meet your career and professional development goals while providing competitive total rewards and recognition.

We provide a variety of on-the-job training and continuing education in many areas at Western to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed. Our promote-from-within culture recognizes high performance and we offer diverse career paths across the organization for those with the talent and will to advance.

WESTERN OVERVIEW

Western Forest Products is a leading forest products company that sustainably manages forests and manufactures high-quality wood products. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with operations in the coastal region of BC and Washington State, Western meets the needs of customers worldwide with a specialty wood products focus and diverse product offering.

Our commitment to health and safety, environmental stewardship and community engagement is core to how we do business at Western Forest Products.

Our approach to responsible business practices in all aspects of our business is multi-faceted. We adhere to and employ the most stringent environmental practices in the world. The steps we take to ensure the forests in which we operate are renewed and remain healthy and viable for future generations are mirrored in the care we take to make certain our communities continue to grow and prosper. This includes investing in communities where we operate and continuing to forge mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations in respect of their local and cultural interests.