Strathlorne Nursery to Hire Additional Staff

The Department of Natural Resources will be hiring an additional 11 casual staff for the 2003 growing season at the Strathlorne Forest Nursery in Inverness County.

"A few years ago we developed a five-year business and marketing strategy for the provincial nursery in Strathlorne," said Natural Resources Minister Tim Olive. "Our goal was to increase the number of tree sales and to make the facility financially self- sufficient. We are going into our third year of that plan and as a result of increased sales and other efficiencies, we will be hiring additional staff this year."

The Strathlorne Forest Nursery produces tree seedlings for use in reforestation activities carried out by the forest industry throughout Nova Scotia. The facility provides about one third of all trees sold in the province. Staff work with other forest nurseries to meet longer term demands for seedlings.

The nursery has been in operation for 22 years and has employed five permanent and 48 seasonal staff for the past number of years.

"The nursery is an important facility for the Inverness area from an employment and economic perspective," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "The new positions are very welcome in the community and are a reflection of the hard work of the current employees and the facility's business plan."

"It has been many years since we have hired new casual employees at the Strathlorne Nursery," said Mr. Olive. "Today's announcement reflects a more prosperous and self-reliant Nova Scotia and an economy that continues to grow."

Sales at the nursery for the coming year are estimated at 9.2 million seedlings.