Education Since 1946
A Leader in Forestry
The following section has been adapted from Girvan Harrison’s So Ya Wanna be a Ranger?: The Maritime Forest Ranger School 1946—1996. For those who haven’t yet read this work, it’s a wonderfully detailed account of the history of our institution, from its inception to the mid-1990s. Copies are available for purchase at MCFT reception should any of our readers be so inclined.
The early 20th century marked a pivotal paradigm shift in Maritime Canadian forestry—from unchecked exploitation to intentional, science-based management and sustainability. As the focus turned toward the long-term, sustainable use of forest resources, a new demand emerged for a skilled workforce capable of carrying out the responsibilities outlined in the evolving management plans of the day. It was in this context that the idea of the Forest Ranger was introduced—professionals who would fill a critical skills gap and play a central role in supporting this transformative shift in forestry practice.
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The concept of a dedicated “Ranger School” — a place where scalers, wardens, rangers, lookout men, foremen, compassmen, and camp bookkeepers could all receive practical training for work in government and private forestry — appears to have been first proposed in 1921 by Albert V. S. Pulling, a professor of forestry at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). Although the idea circulated quietly for a time, it began to gain real momentum by the mid-1930s. A University of New Brunswick (UNB) document titled Suggested Ranger School – University of New Brunswick outlined the early vision: a program less academically formal and more hands-on, geared toward individuals aged 18 to 35 who already had some experience working in the woods. The proposal recommended a four-term structure, each term lasting two months, with intakes beginning in September and again in March.
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Early suggestions for curriculum included:
1. Surveying
2. Mensuration
3. Drawing
4. Forest Legislation
5. Scaling
6. Fire Suppression
7. Dendrology
8. Silviculture
9. Bookkeeping
10. Wood Technology
11. Logging Methods
12. Forest Management
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It was proposed that the existing UNB Forest School administer the program, but despite the enthusiasm behind the idea, the logistical, staffing, and financial demands proved prohibitive—particularly in the challenging post-Depression era. As a result, the plan was put on hold until 1938. Renewed interest from the Maritime Section of the Canadian Society of Forest Engineers led to two ad-hoc forestry course offerings at the then-named Acadia Forest Research Station in 1938–1939 and 1939–1940. However, these courses were ultimately suspended with the onset of the war.
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Once again, renewed interest from the New Brunswick Forest Products Association and the New Brunswick Section of the Canadian Forestry Association, coupled with a growing demand for skilled forestry workers, brought the idea to the forefront. Financial commitments from the New Brunswick International Paper Company, the New Brunswick Minister of Lands and Mines, and the Chief Foresters of Nova Scotia helped set the plan in motion. By 1945, a 75-acre property known as Carten Farm, situated on what was then called Maryland Hill, had been purchased, and the institution was officially named the “Maritime Forest Ranger School.” It was recommended that a governing body be established, composed of representatives from the UNB Senate, the Departments of Lands and Mines of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the Maritime Lumber Bureau, and the pulp and paper industries of the Maritimes. The next priority was to appoint a director to oversee the school and report to this authority.
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Major Duncan A. MacPhail, a native of Kincardine, New Brunswick, was appointed to lead the effort. A World War II veteran with experience in several forest products companies, MacPhail was charged with overseeing the construction of the college. Work began promptly on October 25, 1945, the same day a construction tender of $203,435 was accepted. By January 1946, however, MacPhail reported that the new facilities were behind schedule, putting the planned April opening at risk. Fortunately, the recently decommissioned military barracks at the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds—temporarily used by UNB to accommodate returning students after the war—were available. Dubbed “Alexander College” in honor of Field Marshal Harold Alexander, the site offered classrooms, administrative offices, dormitories, study rooms, an art center, a workshop, and even an indoor rifle range. The Maritime Forest Ranger School would take advantage of these facilities until construction on Maryland Hill was completed.
Duncan MacPhail, the first MFRS Director.
Alexander College Facilities.
Mr. Glendon C. Elgee, known as “Bumps”, Mr. Robert H. Burgess, and Mr. James E. Gracie were the first three instructors hired. MacPhail decided that classes, all of which were mandatory, would be help from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Friday, and again from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon on Saturday. As part of the curriculum committee, MacPhail and others suggested the following make up the initial curriculum:
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1. Forest Law – 36 hours
2. Mathematics – 234 hours
3. Bookkeeping – 234 hours
4. Surveying – 234 hours
5. Drafting – 63 hours
6. Botany – 27 hours
7. Dendrology – 27 hours
8. Forest Fire Prevention/Control – 117 hours
9. Forest Entomology – 54 hours
10. Tools and Equipment – 45 hours
11. Silviculture – 90 hours
12. Anatomy and First Aid – 27 hours
13. Logging – 90 hours
14. Milling – 90 hours
15. Forest Improvements – 90 hours
16. Forest Management – 70 hours
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In April 1946, the Maritime Forest Ranger School welcomed its first cohort of students at Alexander College—but it would not be the only group that year. The program’s “two months on, four months off” schedule allowed for the enrollment of three staggered cohorts, each numbering between 47 and 49 students. This structure ensured that only one group required the facilities at a time, while the others gained practical experience through their between-session work practicums. Each group would complete their studies at the College within two calendar years broken down in this way. Initial admission requirements stipulated that students be between 20 and 35 years of age, of good character, possess at least a Grade 8 education (or equivalent), have a minimum of one year of forestry or woods experience, and pass a medical examination. Preference was given to veterans, those with more extensive field experience, and applicants from New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. Of the 146 students admitted across the first three cohorts, 142 were veterans.
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By September 1946, the school had relocated to the developing Maryland Hill campus—despite the fact that construction was still underway. Making use of garages and workshops as temporary classrooms, the institution pushed forward, and the first class graduated in December 1947. By the following October, construction was fully completed, and the Maritime Forest Ranger School on Maryland Hill, with its full complement of operational buildings, officially took shape as the campus we remember it to be.
(1) Director's House, (2) Webb Building, (3) Water Tank, (4) Prince Building, (5) Kitchen, (6) Duplex, (7) McCormack Building, (8) Grading Shed, (9) Horse Barn, (10) Radio Building, (11) Sawmill.
The years from 1947 to 1949 bore all the marks of an institution still finding its footing. The academic rhythm was recognizable to anyone familiar with the school today: instructors scrambling to assemble their courses, students wrestling with mathematics, and administrators introducing alcohol bans to keep nighttime antics in check. During this period, Duncan MacPhail, Bob Burgess, and James Gracie all departed, leaving Glendon “Bumps” Elgee as the longest standing member remaining. Hans Meissner—originally brought in to replace Burgess—served as interim Director until the arrival of Fred Farrell from the New Brunswick International Paper Company. Several notable figures who were not formally employed by the school also contributed to instruction, including R. E. Balch, Nelson Adams, Corporal G. M. Baker, and Edward T. Owens. This era also saw refinements to an emerging curriculum, particularly in the Forest Improvements, Bookkeeping, and Forest Management courses. After two years of strong enrollment, the school faced an unexpected drought: in 1950, not a single application was received. This prompted the decision to broaden recruitment beyond the Maritime provinces. The resignation of Director Fred Farrell in 1949 effectively closed this early chapter of growth at the Maritime Forest Ranger School.
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Henry Willard Blenis Jr.—“Hank,” as generations of students came to know him—stands as one of the most influential figures in the history of the Maritime Forest Ranger School. Arriving in 1949 to replace Fred Farrell, he would guide the institution for 35 years, until his retirement in 1984. Born in Albany, New York, Hank had served as a company commander in the U.S. Third Army under General George S. Patton. He was awarded the Purple Heart for bravery in combat, a decoration still held in the College’s collection today. This transition was born of partly from necessity; upon his arrival, Blenis was met with a crisis in which not a single application had been received for the 1950 term. Refusing to let the school fail, he launched a tireless one-man recruitment campaign, driving his personal car across the Maritime provinces to visit every forest ranger station, district office, and lumber company he could find to hand-deliver the school’s message and drum up enrollment. Early on, Hank oversaw one of the most significant transitions in the school’s history: the shift from the original “two months on, four months off” format to a unified, year-long program running January to May and again from September to December. This structure became the defining rhythm of MFRS education, remaining in place from 1950 until 2003. Hank’s next priority was to continue strengthening the curriculum. He discontinued the Forest Law course and introduced a suite of more broadly applicable subjects, including lettering, report writing, motor maintenance, drawing, utilization, typing, and forest road construction.
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Hank Blenis, Executive Director of the MFRS from 1949 to 1984.
​Hank’s first hire was J. R. (Ted) Bedard—another legendary name in MFRS history and the namesake of one of today’s residence halls. A forester whom Hank had once taught at UNB, Bedard went on to serve the school for 34 years, helping solidify the institution’s growing reputation and character. His tenure also marked the arrival of two instructors whose names remain well known to this generation of MFRS students: R. H. (Bob) Spurway in 1954 and R. E. (Rudy) Hanusiak in 1956. Although the Maritime Forest Ranger School had originally been envisioned as a roughly ten-year initiative, its tenth anniversary in 1957 passed with the institution not only still active but expanding, with no indication of slowing down. Demand for trained forestry workers remained strong, and the lectures and labs continued accordingly. The late 1950s became a period of experimentation, as the school explored the facilitation of standalone external courses in subjects such as camp cooking, guiding, fire protection, and more. The decade was capped by a significant milestone for both MFRS and its students: accreditation from the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests. This recognition affirmed that the MFRS curriculum was equivalent to that offered by the Ontario Ranger School—a meaningful endorsement of the program’s rigor and reputation.
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The 1960s marked a period of relative stability at MFRS. Hank’s curriculum work became more focused, with two of his most significant changes being the introduction of a weighted method for calculating program averages and an increase to the minimum average required to remain enrolled—raised to 65%. To further ensure the quality of the student body and address the high failure rates in mathematics, the school introduced the Differential Aptitude Test Battery in 1965. This standardized screening process provided a more objective measure of an applicant's verbal and mathematical reasoning, moving the institution away from a strictly experience-based admission model toward a more rigorous academic standard. Campus development continued steadily. A new dormitory, a lumber-grading shed, and cook’s quarters were constructed, and upgrades were made to the existing water tower. This surge in physical expansion was made possible by the Technical and Vocational Training Assistance Act of 1961, a federal-provincial agreement that provided the necessary capital push for the decade. Under this agreement, the school was able to recover 75% of the costs for major capital projects, including the $80,000 dormitory and over $70,000 in specialized equipment for surveying, photogrammetry, and biological science labs. By the end of 1964, several campus buildings were formally named: the administrative building became the McCormack Building after William W. McCormack, Minister of the New Brunswick Department of Lands and Mines; the original dormitory became the Prince Building in honor of Gilbert H. Prince, New Brunswick’s Chief Forester; and the newly built dormitory was designated the Webb Building after Leland S. Webb, Chief Forester with the New Brunswick International Paper Company. This decade also saw the arrival of several figures who would become well-known to generations of students. In 1966, John C. Baird delivered the school’s first wildlife management course—arguably the institution’s earliest venture into that field. After Baird’s departure, R. F. (Rudy) Stocek joined the faculty in 1968, followed later by B. M. (Bruce) Timpano, who further expanded the wildlife component of the program. By the close of the decade, newcomers Eugene (Gene) Mattinson, E. T. (Ted) Owens, and Darrell A. Kitchen had also joined the MFRS ranks.
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John Torunski, whose name, along with J. R. (Ted) Bedard, graces one of the residence halls on the present-day MCFT campus, joined MFRS in 1974 as the first director of the newly established Department of Continuing Education. This department developed organically in response to the ongoing delivery of specialized courses outside the regular program. Don Prime was recruited to succeed Glendon Elgee, a long-standing member of the MFRS community whose sudden passing in April 1975 left a significant void in both the faculty and the hearts of students. During this period, interest from the Department of Fisheries led to the creation of a fisheries course at MFRS, further strengthening the wildlife component of the curriculum and positioning the school as a potential recruitment hub for entry-level technicians in the department. The year 1976 saw the first two female MFRS graduates in Jane Marie Jenkins and Rita Elizabeth MacVicar, signifying the end of the school being exclusively male dominated. Around the same time, Ted Bedard, inspired by a study tour of Scandinavian training sawmills, began planning MFRS’s own training sawmill—a facility that would become an iconic feature of the campus for years to come. Talk of facilities continued with renewed interest as some of the original MFRS buildings showed their age. In fact, a provincial boiler inspector actually condemned the school’s boilers, eventually requiring the construction of a temporary wood chip plant for heating.
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By 1975 there was already talk of a “Forestry Complex” with the government of New Brunswick expressing their support, although these talks would move slow mainly due to cost sharing disagreements between the Department of Regional Economic Expansion and the Council of Maritime Premiers. A similarly evolving concern was the need for a school to deliver similar content in the French language. In fact, certain politicians couldn’t rationalize the construction of a new forestry complex in the absence of such a school. This idea came to fruition in 1979 with R. J. (Rod) O’Connell, Louis J. Caissie (MFRS class of 1973), and J. Claude Chiasson (MFRS class of 1975) as the inaugural hires at a French language satellite campus in Bathurst, New Brunswick. By the end of 1978 MFRS was officially incorporated, with a defined mandate being “To establish, own, operate, control, conduct, and maintain a school or other schools and other facilities of learning to permit the carrying on of programs of teaching education, instruction, management, and research in the forestry and natural resources fields.” ​
The present-day CTFM campus in Bathurst, NB.
The first French-language delivery of the MFRS program at the Bathurst campus took place in 1980 with a cohort of 16 students. Around the same time, Mr. Gaetan N. Bolduc joined the Fredericton campus as a replacement for Ted Owens, who resigned in March 1981. In the early 1980s, the Council of Maritime Premiers approved a new cost-sharing agreement that brought renewed momentum to the long-discussed idea of a forestry complex. This momentum was further bolstered in 1983 when the federal government committed $32 million toward the project, which was envisioned as a "Centre of Excellence." By 1982, an agreement between UNB and the Province of New Brunswick designated 70 acres of former UNB woodlot as the site for the new facility. Construction officially began on June 25, 1984—the same year that Hank Blenis had marked as his final before retirement.
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After 35 years of service, Hank Blenis had left an indelible mark on the MFRS curriculum and firmly established himself as one of its greatest champions. He had become the face of the program, instilling a culture of hard work, discipline, and mutual respect. He was succeeded as Director in 1985 by John Torunski. Standing alongside Blenis in both tenure and impact was J. R. (Ted) Bedard, who also retired in 1984 after 35 years of unwavering dedication. As a pillar of the faculty since 1949, Bedard was a visionary whose influence extended far beyond the classroom. His legacy is permanently etched into the campus landscape, most notably through the residence hall that bears his name and his instrumental role in conceptualizing the school's world-class training sawmill. To many, Bedard represented the practical heart of the institution, and his retirement marked the end of an era for the "founding" generation of MFRS. A. G. (Kim) Mann (MFRS Class of 1973) arrived to succeed him, carrying forward the high standards Bedard had helped establish.
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The year 1986 served as the "great transition" for the school as it prepared to leave its original, forty-year-old "temporary" buildings. In anticipation of the move, the school hosted "Homecoming '86," an event that saw over 1,200 graduates return to Fredericton to say a final goodbye to the old campus and inspect the nearly completed new facilities. By September 1986, the school officially moved into the new Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre. This shift integrated MFRS into a collaborative environment alongside partners such as Natural Resources Canada, the NB Department of Natural Resources and Energy, and the UNB Wood Science and Technology Centre. The new facilities brought modern dimensions to student life, including the ability to accommodate female students in residence for the first time.​
The Hugh John Flemming Forestry Complex in Fredericton, NB.
​The decade concluded with significant technological and infrastructural milestones. The "world class" training sawmill, which Bedard had spent years planning after his Scandinavian study tours, was officially turned over to MFRS on April 1, 1988, at a cost of over $4.4 million. The sawmill was born from a vision to create a world-class facility that could offer comprehensive instruction in modern sawmilling technology. A dedicated committee spearheaded the initiative, recommending a design that featured ample instructional space, computerized systems, kiln drying capabilities, and significant storage for both logs and lumber. The project gained tangible momentum in the mid-1980s, particularly after the Daily Gleaner designated it as the only facility of its kind in the country in 1984. By June 1986, the sawmill’s superstructure was complete, a feat made possible through a collaborative effort where various firms across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia donated over 124,000 fbm of lumber and services. Progress continued steadily, and by June 1987, the main sawmill area was approximately fifty percent complete, with the chipper and the band and circular saw areas already positioned.
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On April 1, 1988, the facility was officially turned over to the school, representing a total investment of $4,405,461.56. The sawmill immediately became a dynamic centerpiece of the campus and continued to expand its capabilities shortly after its opening. In 1989, a joint venture with the University of New Brunswick led to the addition of a 6,000 fbm dehumidification dry kiln. The institution’s commitment to staying current with industry trends continued into the mid-1990s, with a 4,000-square-foot addition planned in 1995 to house advanced machinery such as a five-head-moulder, a finger-jointing machine, and a specialized knife-grinding shop. During its years of operation, the facility served as a premier hub for three primary purposes: updating the skills of existing industry workers, providing forest technician students with a foundational introduction to sawmilling, and serving as a vital research site for both academic and industrial partners.
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Education at the sawmill was guided by the hands-on philosophy of "I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand." To facilitate this experiential learning, class sizes were strictly limited to fifteen students, allowing for individualized instruction as participants rotated through various operational stations. The facility was exceptionally well-equipped with advanced machinery, including log infeed decks, ring and rosser debarkers, computer-assisted automatic carriages, and a double-cut band and circular headrig, as well as a gang edger and a stress-grading machine.
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Beyond the mill floor, the facility housed a millwright shop and an expansive saw maintenance and repair shop. This latter space became the modern quarters for long-time instructor Donnie Clark in 1988, allowing his renowned expertise in sharpening, leveling, and tensioning saws to be taught in an environment that matched the world-class caliber of the mill itself. At the height of its use, the sawmill stood as a testament to the school's commitment to providing the most practical and technologically advanced training available in the Maritimes. This era also marked a fundamental shift in forestry tools; while the map and compass remained vital, the traditional slide rule was replaced by computers, and portable data recorders began to modernize the way field data was tallied.
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​Once settled into the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre, the Maritime Forest Ranger School (MFRS) entered a new era of collaboration as a partner in a "Centre of Excellence" alongside Natural Resources Canada, the NB Department of Natural Resources and Energy, and the UNB Wood Science and Technology Centre. This move integrated the school into a much larger ecosystem; the 1,200-hectare Noonan Block was deeded to UNB as part of the land deal, providing a vital field laboratory that complemented the existing UNB Woodlot. The new facilities introduced modern standards previously unseen at the school, including residence rooms equipped with individual thermostats and, for the first time, the ability to accommodate female students in residence. Furthermore, the traditional MFRS kitchen and dining room became a part of history as all partners moved to a shared common food service facility.
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As the 1990s progressed, the school focused on maintaining its academic rigor while adapting to a rapidly modernizing industry. Under Director John Torunski, who led the school from 1985 to 1994, a major curriculum review was completed to ensure graduates better met evolving employer expectations. Despite these updates, the program remained notoriously intensive, requiring 2,200 contact hours—significantly more than the average two- or three-year technical course. A major milestone was reached in 1993 when the Society of American Foresters conducted an accreditation review, upgrading the Ranger School program to the equivalent of a three-year technical program. On January 1, 1995, J. S. (Steve) Hoyt succeeded Torunski as Director, taking the helm just as the school prepared for its 50th Anniversary. This golden anniversary was marked by a project initiated in 1990 to document the school's fifty-year history, culminating in the publication of "So Ya Wanna be a Ranger?" which preserved the stories of the institution’s first half-century for future generations.
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To be continued...