More than 60 forestry, Indigenous, government and economic development leaders gathered in Williams Lake to identify shared priorities and advance collaborative action for the future of forestry in the Cariboo Chilcotin. Hosted on Thursday, July 23, 2026 by the City of Williams Lake, the Cariboo Chilcotin Forestry Forum brought together a diverse cross-section of forestry leaders and stakeholders for discussions focused on strengthening the region’s forest economy, supporting sustainable jobs, improving wildfire resilience and advancing long-term forest stewardship. “It was a pleasure to see so many forestry and community leaders gathering in Williams Lake,” said City of Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor. “The depth of experience, knowledge and commitment was inspiring. What stood out was the shared determination to work together on practical solutions that will support healthy forests, stronger communities and a sustainable forest economy.”