Hayden Leo’s commitment to a career in forestry has earned him an award from Canadian Forest Industry Magazine (CFI).
Named in CFI’s Top 20 under 40 for 2024, Leo’s 11 years working in forestry has seen him dive into everything from silviculture and firefighting to landslide restoration.
According to a press release from his employer, Lil’wat Forestry Ventures (LFV), the leadership award celebrates “young professionals driving innovation and making significant contributions to the industry.”
As a forestry technician, Leo spends much of his time hiring contractors, engineers and tree planters, alongside managing budgets and other initiatives.
“I think that it’s a way for me to work with my community and do things for my community, bringing a skill set that we've always done and being able to bring it back to them,” Leo said.
Leo explained one of the reasons he works in the industry is the intersection between Coastal and Interior forests where he works.
“We have probably one of the coolest forestry areas in the world, because we're right in the middle of Coastal forests and Interior forests; they’re really dry and really wet forests,” he said.
This intimate knowledge of the forest is something he wants to teach to youth in his community.
“If we're able to teach the community members and the younger youth in our territory about forestry, that would be awesome. And then we'd all be able to be stewards of land in our territory,” he said.
CFI Magazine editor Jennifer Ellson applauded the significant work Leo has led in the forestry industry.
“It's incredibly inspiring to have someone like Hayden Leo leading the way in the forest industry,” she said in a release. “That this recognition came on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation feels like a poetic tribute to the important role that young Indigenous leaders like Hayden play in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future for our industry.”
For his part, the news came as a surprise for Leo, who was unaware his boss and manager nominated him for the award.
“I’m super stoked about it. I owe it to a lot of other people that helped me … and influenced my learning,” he said.
After starting as a firefighter with LFV in 2013, Leo went on to obtain a silviculture survey accreditation and earned a forestry diploma from British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). He worked in the industry gaining real-world experience and now is studying at the University of Northern British Columbia to become a Registered Professional Forester.
One of his major contributions in forestry with LFV includes working on the Q̓welq̓welústen/Mount Meager Landslide Restoration project.
He and others planted different species from conifer and deciduous trees, berry bushes and shrubs to help restore the soil and prevent sediment erosion from flowing down into rivers and streams and slow water during flooding.
LFV manages timber in the Lil’wat Nation’s traditional territory, with a broad mandate including harvesting, tree planting, road rehabilitation and more.
Klay Tindall, general manager for LFV, said the work Leo does is well worth recognition.
“The value that Hayden brings is hard work. He is driven to improve himself and genuinely cares about people and his community,” Tindall said in the release. “He is very community-focused, which is significant because he’s not pursuing education solely for himself, but to serve the entire community. Hayden also has an infectiously positive attitude, so even when facing challenges, he tackles them with a smile. Without a doubt, he is deserving of this award, and we are so proud of him.”
For anyone looking to get into a career in forestry, Leo said there’s so many avenues to choose.
“Forestry is huge, there’s not just one small piece. Everyone thinks its logging, but there’s tree planting, surveying, there’s a lot of areas you can grow in or learn about. It’s such a broad range of knowledge.”
