Region Archives: Canada

Business & Politics

PM Carney says tone with U.S. already ‘quite firm’ as trade talks continue

By Émilie Bergeron
The Canadian Press in CTV News
August 5, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Carney said Canada’s tone toward the US is already “quite firm” and insisted trade negotiations with Washington remain “constructive” as an Aug. 19 deadline for new U.S. tariffs draws near. US President Trump has threatened to impose new 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports beginning Aug. 19. “We have time. We have real negotiations, constructive negotiations on several issues,” Carney said. The prime minister was asked whether Canada should change its strategy or adopt a tougher stance toward the Trump administration.Carney suggested now is not the time to shift course. He noted that Canada’s minister responsible for Canada-US trade, Dominic LeBlanc, is in Washington alongside Canada’s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette for a series of meetings aimed at advancing the talks. …Asked Wednesday about the possibility of export quotas, Carney declined to comment.

Related coverage by:

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Federal surtax on cheap wood imports good first step, but more needed, industry says

By Catherine Lévesque and Jordan Gowling
National Post
August 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

OTTAWA — For the past six months, Luke Elias, the president at Muskoka Cabinet Company Inc., says his workers have been working only two or three days a week. The Eastern Ontario company, which has been making custom wood cabinetry for nearly four decades, is one of the thousands of companies in the kitchen cabinet industry that have been crippled by cheap imports coming from primarily southeast Asian countries. Elias said his company, like many others, has been working at less than half of its capacity, and he has had to lay off 30 out of 70 workers. …On Friday, Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne announced a 25 per cent surtax on imports of certain wood cabinets and vanities, effective immediately, to remain in place for a maximum of 200 days. …Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the surtax is a very important first step in helping address dumping.

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Strengthening Indigenous leadership in British Columbia’s forest sector

Iskum Investments
August 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Vancouver, BC – Iskum Investments Limited Partnership (Iskum), a consortium of coastal First Nations-owned businesses, today announced it is advancing the study of a new, state-of-the-art wood processing facility on the British Columbia coast. The study is supported by a $1.275 million contribution from the Government of Canada through Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI). …First Nations across the coast now hold more than 200 forest tenures, representing approximately 4.6 million cubic metres of allowable annual harvest. Iskum exists so that participating Nations can move from tenure holders to manufacturers, turning access to fibre into ownership of a wood processing facility that manufactures products for domestic and international markets.  A facility of this kind would be designed to strengthen the entire coastal economy, including supporting pulp and paper operations that are struggling to secure a reliable, economic supply of fibre. A modern wood processing facility would provide a steady, long-term source of the chips and residuals they need, while also creating a dependable domestic market for underutilized coastal species. 

Additional coverage

Natural Resources Canada: Strengthening Indigenous leadership in British Columbia’s forest sector

Truck Loggers Association: The TLA congratulates Iskum Investments LP on today’s announcement, we’re pleased to see continued support for Indigenous leadership in BC’s forest sector.

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Canada to impose temporary 25% tariff on some wood cabinets, vanities

The Canadian Press in Bloomberg
July 31, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, International

Canada is imposing a temporary tariff on imports of some wood products as Ottawa awaits the findings of a probe into possible harmful practices in the global market. The federal government said in a news release that Canada will impose a 25% surtax on certain wood cabinets and vanities starting Friday. Those tariffs will be in place for a maximum of 200 days while the Canadian International Trade Tribunal investigates whether increased imports of those goods are threatening to harm Canada’s domestic producers. Wood cabinets and vanities manufactured in the United States, Mexico, Israel, Chile and developing nations will be exempt from the tariffs. The federal government said that’s in keeping with Canada’s international trade obligations. …Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne asked for the Canadian International Trade Tribunal inquiry back in April at the request of the Canadian Wood Products Alliance. The tribunal is expected to report its findings by Jan. 15, 2027.

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Sawmill closures ‘gut-wrenching’ amid lumber industry headwinds: Canfor CEO

By Lauren Krugel
The Canadian Press in Global News
July 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Susan Yurkovich

Recent mill closures have been “gut-wrenching” as the forestry industry faces tough market conditions, the chief executive of Canfor said. The Vancouver-based company announced it’s permanently closing its Fox Creek sawmill in Alberta because there is not enough fibre to sustain it long-term. US tariffs and weak markets have further eroded its viability, it said. …“Our goal is to ensure these operations can run fully and successfully, while generating jobs and supporting communities,” Yurkovich said. …Meanwhile, West Fraser Timber is continuing to assess the impact of the Trump administration’s latest tariff volley. The US plan to impose a 50% tariff onCanadian goods includes several varieties of plywood, paper and other wood-derived products. …West Fraser said its medium-density fibreboard is not directly subject to tariffs.” Year-to-date, 3% of its plywood and 20% of its laminated veneer lumber would have been affected by the latest tariffs, had they been in place during that time.

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As more Trump tariffs loom, Canada plans new strategic export office

By Uday Rana
Global News
July 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Maninder Sidhu

The federal government will launch a “strategic exports office” aimed at helping Canadian businesses land lucrative foreign contracts as Ottawa looks to diversify trade beyond the United States, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu announced on Thursday. The office will be an arm of the federal government that will help Canadian businesses and government officials be “better coordinated,” he said. “We are launching Canada’s first-ever strategic exports office, working side by side to help our best companies win the biggest contracts in the toughest markets around the world,” Sidhu said. “Think of the strategic exports office as your government-level dealmaker. It brings strategic advocacy, government financing, and diplomatic support together in one place,” he added. The office will have diplomatic and financial experts, along with “business backing from the industries,” Sidhu said.

Government of Canada, Global Affairs: Minister Sidhu establishes Strategic Exports Office to strengthen Canada’s global competitiveness

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US releases post-preliminary countervailing determination of Canadian softwood lumber

The US Dept of Commerces in FEA
July 29, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

On June 30, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) published its post-preliminary determination for the seventh administrative review (AR7) of countervailing duties on certain softwood lumber products from Canada. This determination does not have any impact on current duties or cash deposit rates. In a memo accompanying its preliminary countervailing duty results published on April 8, the DOC said it would issue post-preliminary results once it completed an assessment of other remaining programs. The June 30 determinations now supersede the April 8 determinations. The period of review is January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. The revised preliminary findings are summarized in the table below. It is important to note that these findings are still preliminary:

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Valemount sawmill facing challenges

By Kevin Gibson
The Rocky Mountain Goat
August 6, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VALEMOUNT, BC — The Valemount Industrial Park sawmill may be only weeks away from exhausting its remaining log supply, raising the prospect of another curtailment and further layoffs unless additional fibre can be secured. The issue at hand is that there are no new logging contracts for the mill. During a lengthy and at times tense board discussion on July 29th, members were told the mill had approximately 15 to 20 operating days of logs left. …The looming end of the log supply means the board may soon face a decision larger than how to measure the mill’s performance. Without a new source of fibre, the board will have to determine whether to curtail operations, reduce costs and wait for market conditions to change, or continue trying to keep the mill operating with help from Industrial Park lease revenue.

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City councillor urges billionaire Jim Pattison to personally deliver final cheques to laid-off mill workers

By Andrew Kurjata
CBC News
August 4, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

A Prince George city councillor is challenging billionaire Jim Pattison to personally hand out final paycheques to workers losing their jobs at Canfor’s Northwood Pulp Mill. Pattison owns the Jim Pattison Group, the majority shareholder in Canfor. …Canfor has closed multiple mills around B.C., impacting hundreds of workers. The latest is 300 people at the Northwood Pulp Mill. At a July news conference, Coun. Brian Skakun — himself a former Canfor employee — said he wanted to see Pattison … personally hand out cheques as the workers leave the job site for the last time. “If Jimmy Pattison really wants to live by his decision, then I would encourage him to come out to these mills when they’re shut down and hand out the last cheques to each employee personally and say, ‘I am sorry for what is going on,'” Skakun said, accusing Canfor of being more concerned about shareholders than communities.

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City of Fort St. John will be endorsing the “Forestry is a Solution” initiative

By Ruth Prarthanan and Stephen Albert
Energetic City Fort St. John
July 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Lilia Hansen

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John is endorsing the “Forestry is a Solution” initiative, which is led by the BC Council of Forest Industries. During the July 27 regular council meeting, a letter from BC’s minister of forests, Ravi Parmar, was presented to the council in response to the city’s letter supporting the “Forestry is a Solution” initiative. In her letter, Lilia Hansen, mayor of the City of Fort St. John, said forestry remains a foundation of economic resilience in communities across the province. …She said, “The City of Fort St. John appreciates the Province’s continued work with industry, Indigenous partners and local governments and encourages ongoing collaboration to ensure forestry remains a strategic asset for BC and the communities that depend on it.” In response, Parmar said he valued Fort St. John’s leadership and advocacy during the transition for the forest sector. 

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Kitsumkalum First Nation, Terrace Timber Sign New Forestry Agreement

By Sabrina Spencer
Canada’s First Nations Radio (CFNR) Network
July 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Kitsumkalum First Nation has entered into a new forestry partnership with Terrace Timber Ltd., naming the Terrace-based company as the replaceable harvesting contractor for the nation’s forestry operations. The agreement, signed July 29th at the Skeena Sawmills boardroom, was reached under the framework of Bill 13. It involves Kitsumkalum First Nation, the Kitsumkalum Economic Development Group (KEDG), and Ama Gan, alongside Terrace Timber. Kitsumkalum Chief Councillor Troy Sam said the agreement is a significant milestone for assets purchased out of receivership, and reflects a goal of sustainable harvest practices that bring long-term certainty to the region. He added the Northwest has too often been overlooked by the province, despite being a major contributor to it. Diane Collins, CEO of the Kitsumkalum Economic Development Group, said forestry partnerships depend on the relationship between license holders and loggers, and grow from there into broader opportunities, something she says matters more than ever given the challenges facing the industry today.

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B.C. forestry company moving head offices to the U.S. amid struggles, tariffs

By Amy Judd
Global News
July 29, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Jock Finlayson

One of BC’s largest forestry companies is moving its head offices from Burnaby to Atlanta, Georgia. …Jock Finlayson, the chief economist for the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, said that Interfor is one of the foundational businesses in BC’s forest industry. “They have reduced their footprint here kind of incrementally over time. Most of the assets of the business are in the US now, which I think sort of helps to explain the move.” But Finalyson said that Interfor’s announcement is a sign of how the overall forest products sector, which at one point was BC’s largest goods-producing industry, has fallen on hard times. …“BC has really lost our competitive position as a lumber and forest products producing jurisdiction generally, certainly in the North American context,” Finlayson said. …Finlayson added that this may not be the last big company based in B.C. that ends up relocating its physical office.

Related coverage by Graeme Wood in Business in Vancouver: Report of Interfor’s corporate headquarters shift to the U.S. part of broader trend: Union leader

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WTF? ILMA Asks the Question Everyone in BC Forestry Is Thinking

Independent Lumber Manufacturers’ Association
July 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

The Independent Lumber Manufacturers’ Association (ILMA) has chosen a convention theme that’s sure to get people talking: WTF? Where’s The Fibre? The title may raise a smile, but the question is serious. Join us September 21–22, 2026, at the Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos, BC. Fibre availability has become the defining issue facing British Columbia’s forest sector. Harvest levels remain well below historical norms, mills continue to compete for a shrinking timber supply, and communities are asking what the future holds for one of the province’s most important industries. The ILMA Convention brings together senior government officials, First Nations leaders, industry executives, forestry professionals, suppliers, and community leaders to discuss practical solutions for the future of BC’s working forest. …Tuesday’s business program begins by examining how BC got here and why fibre access matters, before turning to the Province’s Active Forest Management initiatives and its goal of increasing the harvest toward 45 million cubic metres.

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B.C. wood producers brace for tariff hit that adds insult to injury

By Derrick Penner
Vancouver Sun
July 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

A niche corner of B.C.’s forest sector … is now staring down a deadline for a crushing blow in the next round of tariff charges announced by U.S. President Trump. Those new charges would slap a 50 per cent tariff on $28 billion of Canadian exports including B.C. plywood, veneers and plywood panels starting Aug. 19, leaving producers short on strategies to adjust. “(We’re) just hoping that Trump is flip-flopping again,” said Bhavjit Thandi, chief financial officer of Richmond Plywood. …Thandi said Richmond Plywood sells most of the output of its 450-employee mill into the Canadian market, but the 10 to 12 per cent it has been shipping into the U.S. represents its best and highest-value product. …To Brian Menzies, executive director of the Independent Wood Producers Association, the threatened tariffs add insult to injury for his members that have been struggling for almost a decade under the punitive duties of the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute. [A Vancouver Sun subscription is required for full story access]

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Canfor announces closure of Fox Creek Sawmill in Alberta

Canfor Corporation
July 28, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER, BC – Canfor announced that it will permanently close its Fox Creek sawmill in Fox Creek, Alberta. …The Fox Creek sawmill, destroyed by a fire in 2008, was rebuilt in 2011 as a single-shift operation to process the uplift in available timber as part of the Province of Alberta’s strategy to reduce the amount of pine beetle susceptible forests. …However, with the end of the pine beetle strategy and with wildfire-damaged timber now largely exhausted, there is insufficient fibre to sustain the operation over the long term. Coupled with prolonged weak markets and punishing duties and tariffs, this facility is no longer viable. …Susan Yurkovich, Canfor CEO said “This decision does not diminish the dedication and contribution of our Fox Creek team. We are committed to helping those impacted.” …The closure of Fox Creek sawmill represents a reduction of 120 million board feet of production capacity. Operations are expected to be concluded by late summer.

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Ontario and Canada Invest More Than $7.2 Million to Protect Workers in the North

By Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Government of Ontario
July 27, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Ontario government is partnering with the Government of Canada to invest more than $7.2 million through the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response to help protect workers in the North, strengthen critical industries and build a more competitive and resilient economy in the face of global economic uncertainty. This investment will help more than 500 workers across northern Ontario upgrade their skills, transition into in-demand careers and ensure local employers have the skilled workforce they need to grow and succeed. “Through these investments, we’re helping workers transition into good-paying careers, supporting employers facing economic pressures and strengthening the industries that will drive Ontario’s future prosperity,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Ontario will deliver the funding through Skills Advance Ontario, which partners with employers and training providers to help workers transition into the sectors that are driving economic growth and building the province’s long-term competitiveness. 

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Western Forest Products continues curtailment of mill operations in Cowichan Bay

By Sarah Simpson
The Ladysmith Chemainus Chronicle
August 3, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, US West

COWICHAN BAY, BC — Western Forest Products has announced the extension of their Cowichan Bay Sawmill curtailment until the fall. The move leaves 54 employees without work, said Brian Butler, president of United Steelworkers Local 1-1937. The Cowichan Bay workers join the 120 workers from the Chemainus Sawmill, who have been curtailed indefinitely since June 2025. “Beyond what WFP has advised about the Cowichan Bay Sawmill curtailment lasting through September, we have no information beyond that,” Butler noted. …“It remains a very difficult period of time for our members in these operations,” Butler said. …WFP spokesperson Kelly Marion said the Cowichan Bay mill closure is “in response to persistently weak market conditions.” She added that the company is continuing “to work to mitigate the impact on employees by providing work opportunities at our other operations where possible.”

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In Memoriam

A tribute to “King Kong” Ken Nelson

Campbell River Mirror
July 29, 2026
Category: In Memoriam
Region: Canada West

Ken Nelson

In Loving Memory ~ November 14, 1942 – July 9, 2026

It’s with deep sadness we announce the passing of Kenneth Arthur Nelson, who passed away peacefully with his family by his side. Born in Garden Bay (Pendor Harbour), BC, Ken was raised on the Sunshine Coast. …Ken spent his entire career in the logging industry. After the tragic death of his older brother, Jim Catterall, in 1978, Ken purchased Eldred River Logging, becoming one of the most respected contractors on the West Coast; giving many people their first start in the industry in Mooyah Bay where many have timeless memories. A Pacific Northwest Logger Sports icon of over 30 years, Ken became well known by everyone as “King Kong”, where he won multiple Canadian and World Championships, participating abroad in the United States, England, Spain, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. [Read more about logger sports and Ken’s contribution in The Land of the Legends]

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Finance & Economics

Home-Building Is Sputtering, but Lumber Prices Haven’t Been So High in Years

By Ryan Dezember
The Wall Street Journal
August 5, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Home sales are slumping, renovation spending is losing steam and yet lumber prices have risen this summer to their highest level in four years. Back in 2022, the price of two-by-fours was falling back to earth after a record-setting spike during Covid. …This time around, reduced supply rather than unyielding demand has driven lumber prices higher. Imports are down due to steep duties on Canadian boards and President Trump’s 10% softwood lumber tariff. Meanwhile, low prices last year prompted sawmill curtailments and closures from BC to northern Florida. …Home builders… say the run-up in prices has become a headwind and will filter through to the cost of houses. Yet lumber futures, which are down about 12% from their high in late July, suggest that wood prices may have peaked for this year. …“I don’t anticipate that those mills that have been shut down are going to come back,” said Weyerhaeuser CEO Devin Stockfish. [to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required]

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West Fraser reports Q2, 2026 net loss of $61M

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
July 29, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

VANCOUVER, BC — West Fraser Timber reported the second quarter results of 2026. Second quarter sales were $1.434 billion, compared to $1.334 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Second quarter earnings were $(61) million, compared to earnings of $(188) million in the first quarter of 2026. Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $59 million compared to $(66) million in the first quarter of 2026. Other highlights include: Lumber segment Adjusted EBITDA of $41 million, including a $13 million favourable in-year duties adjustment; North America Engineered Wood Products segment Adjusted EBITDA of $13 million; Europe Engineered Wood Products segment Adjusted EBITDA1 of $13 million; and Other Operating Segments Adjusted EBITDA of $(8) million, due largely to maintenance at our Cariboo pulp facility. …”West Fraser’s second quarter results delivered continued progress against our business priorities supported by improved market conditions,” said Sean McLaren, West Fraser’s CEO….Based on our current outlook… capital expenditures for 2026 are expected to remain within the $300 million to $350 million range.

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Bank of Canada expects economic rebound, decelerating inflation rate but risks remain

By Paula Tran
Yahoo! Finance
July 29, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Canada’s economy showed signs of growth in the second quarter of 2026, but uncertainty from U.S. trade policies and the war in Iran means monetary policy must remain nimble, the Bank of Canada’s governing council said during deliberations preceding its July 15 interest rate decision. A summary of deliberations that led to the council’s decision to hold interest rates steady at 2.25 per cent shows that members discussed Canada’s sluggish economy. Gross domestic product had not grown between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, members said, and the heightened uncertainty around tariffs and the Canada–U.S.–Mexico (CUSMA) agreement had kept the economy in excess supply. However, members noted recent indicators that showed the economy was recovering in the second quarter of 2026 after it adjusted to the U.S. tariffs and geopolitical turbulence, and the growth was broadening instead of relying on strong consumer and government spending.

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Canfor reports Q2, 2026 net loss of $18.5M

Canfor Corporation
July 29, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER, BC — Canfor reported its second quarter of 2026 results. Second quarter sales were $1.526 billion, compared to $1.359 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Second quarter earnings were $(18.5) million, compared to earnings of $(72.1) million in the first quarter of 2026. For the lumber segment, operating income was $41.2 million compared to the previous quarter’s operating loss of $43.7 million. …For the pulp and paper segment, the operating loss was $23.1 million compared to an operating loss of $16.2 million for the first quarter of 2026. …Canfor’s CEO, Susan Yurkovich, said “our second quarter results reflect an improvement in earnings, principally driven by a solid operating performance across all of our lumber regions and an ongoing improvement in our underlying cost structure, combined with an uplift in lumber market conditions in North America. Despite this short-term uptick, we continue to take disciplined actions to address longer-term structural fibre and market challenges.”

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Stella-Jones reports Q2, 2026 net income of $61M

Stella-Jones Inc.
August 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada East

MONTREAL, Quebec – Stella-Jones announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2026. …Sales for the second quarter of 2026 were $1,042 million, up eight million dollars, versus sales of $1,034 million for the second quarter of last year. Excluding the $29 million contribution from the acquisition of Brooks Manufacturing, pressure-treated wood sales decreased by $13 million, or 1%. …Adjusted EBITDA of $167 million, or 16.0% margin compared to $189 million, or 18.3% margin in Q2, 2025. Net income was $61 million compared to $106 million in Q2. …This performance reflected higher wood utility poles sales, largely offset by the lower market price of lumber for residential lumber and lower volumes in railway ties. Logs and lumber sales declined by eight million dollars, or 31%, primarily due to a reduction in logs trading activity. …Eric Vachon, President and CEO of Stella-Jones said “We expect margin performance to improve in the second half of the year.”

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Cascades reports Q2, 2026 net earnings of $21M

By Cascades Inc.
PR Newswire
August 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada East

KINGSEY FALLS, Quebec — Cascades reported its unaudited financial results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2026. The Corporation’s second quarter sales of $1,219 million increased by $32 million compared with the same period last year. This increase reflects consolidated net benefits of $13 million from higher average selling prices and a favourable sales mix of $21 million. …For the three-month period ended June 30, 2026, the Corporation posted net earnings of $21 million compared to a net loss of $(3) million, in the same period of 2025. On an adjusted basis, the Corporation posted net earnings of $24 million in the second quarter of 2026 compared to net earnings of $19 million in the same period of 2025. …Hugues Simon, President and CEO, commented: “Our second quarter results exceeded expectations, driven by a stronger performance in Packaging.”

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Acadian Timber reports Q2 2026 net income of $1.3M

Acadian Timber Corp.
August 5, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada East

Edmundston, NEW BRUNSWICK – Acadian Timber Corp. reported financial and operating results for the three months ended June 27, 2026 (Q2 2026). “Our results reflect two trends: ongoing progress towards sustained profitability in Maine due to changes that were made during the quarter, and reduced sales volumes in New Brunswick due to elevated customer roundwood inventories,” said Malcolm Cockwell, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. “We expect that Maine will continue delivering stronger results in 2026 compared to last year, and that New Brunswick will return to normal harvesting levels over the rest of the year.” During the second quarter, Acadian generated sales of $14.6 million compared to $17.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. Acadian generated $1.3 million of net income, $1.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA and $0.2 million of Free Cash Flow during the second quarter. The Board of Directors declared dividends of $5.4 million, or $0.29 per share, to our shareholders.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Inside the rush to build highrises and fire halls out of … wood?!?!

By Stefan Novakovic
Be Giant
July 29, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Wood is everywhere at Toronto’s Limberlost Place. From tall structural columns to ceilings, walls and stairs, nearly every surface in the airy, three-level central atrium is timber, complete with rustic knots and growth rings. It all feels welcoming and surprisingly intimate. “I’ve never seen anyone get so excited about structures in my entire career,” says architect Phil Silverstein, a partner at Moriyama Teshima Architects, the local firm that designed the new classroom hub for George Brown Polytechnic in collaboration with Vancouver’s Acton Ostry. “People walk through the halls of Limberlost touching the wood. They [even] want to hug a column! There’s something innate about it that excites people.” But all that wood isn’t just about feeling – or looking – good. Part of a wave of new mass timber development, Limberlost Place is a testing ground for a technological revolution that could fundamentally transform Canadian housing and infrastructure.

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Wood Manufacturing Council launches youth woodworking training program

By Rich Christianson
Woodworking Network
July 29, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

BLACKFALDS, Alberta The Wood Manufacturing Council launched Connecting Youth to the Canadian Wood Manufacturing Industry, a new program funded through the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. Over the next two years, the program will help 96 youths facing barriers to employment gain the hands-on-skills training, supports, and paid work experience needed to build successful careers in the wood manufacturing sector. Through industry-focused training, career coaching, and employer partnerships, participants will develop valuable workplace skills and connect directly with employment opportunities across Canada. Participants complete an 8-week paid, hands-on training program, receiving PPE and industry-recognized certifications, including First Aid/CPR. WMC then reimburses employers for up to 30 hours/week at provincial minimum wage for a 7-week work placement, allowing employers to provide shop-specific training while evaluating potential new hires.

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Forestry

The Insider’s Warning on Mega Fires, Govt Incompetence, and the Carbon Cover Up

By Anthony Robinson
Forestnet Media
May 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

In this episode, Charles Vennat, CEO of CMI Mulching, pulls no punches – we dive into the mega fire crisis nobody in government wants to own, a carbon cover-up that’s costing taxpayers twice, why the forestry sector is in crisis, and what can be done about it.

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Wood you take two minutes to protect Canada’s trees?

By Canadian Food inspection Agency
The Government of Canada
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

This August, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) encourages Canadians to take part in Tree Check Month. This annual campaign reminds Canadians of the vital role they play in protecting local plants and trees and the importance of healthy trees to our environment, wellbeing and economy. This Tree Check Month, take a closer look at the trees and plants around you. Whether you’re in your backyard, local park, cottage or workplace greenspace, a quick inspection can help protect Canada’s trees and forests. Early action is one of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of invasive pests. These harmful species often spread through everyday human activities: hitching rides on vehicles, pets, firewood and outdoor gear, allowing them to travel between regions undetected. …Some of the pests we’re monitoring: Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Spongy Moth and Spotted Lanternfly.

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How Canada can better protect its forests

By Rick Doman, Chair, Boreal Carbon Corporation
The Globe and Mail
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Canada is blessed with some of the largest forests in the world. Unfortunately, it is being increasingly affected by insects, disease, drought, and the effects of a warming climate. These damaged forests now contain significant fuel loads that contribute to large, more intense wildfires, which can spread into adjacent healthy and mixed forests, further degrading one of Canada’s greatest natural assets. …An overlooked consequence is the loss of the economic value derived from the carbon Canada’s forests store and remove from the atmosphere – a value we rarely account for. …Canada could become one of the world’s largest forest carbon offset opportunities by establishing a value across the country for forest carbon credits, helping finance restoration while expanding Canada’s forests for future generations. This is not rocket science, it is forest science. …Rather than watching our forests decline rapidly, we should reverse course and invest in growing them. [to access the full story a Globe and Mail subscription is required]

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While Europe burns, Canada’s water bombers are too few and far between

By Michael Ignatieff,
The Globe and Mail
July 31, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

© Wikipedia

France is on fire again, with flames also blazing a path of death and destruction in Spain and Greece. But exhausted Europeans aren’t looking skyward in awe of Canadian Canadair water bombers, a triumph of Canadian aviation. The most modern ones are capable of taking in about 6,000 litres of water in 12 seconds, and dumping it on a fire before going back for another load. …According to Le Monde, no more than eight of the 12 have been operational at any one time since July 21. …Bombardier suspended production of the planes in 2015, when the company decided there wasn’t enough demand. …So we have technology the world wants, but we can’t produce it at speed and at scale. No country can afford to squander an advantage in any domain, especially not in this increasingly urgent space. With some corporate leadership and some federal assistance, though, this can be fixed. [to access the full story a Globe and Mail subscription is required]

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Aboriginal Title and Private Property

By Andrew Willett and Andrew de Vries
Canadian Forest Owners
July 27, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Canada has long been recognized as a global leader in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, particularly since Aboriginal rights and title were constitutionally entrenched in 1982. While significant progress has been made, reconciliation remains an ongoing process, with courts continuing to shape how these rights are defined, respected, and implemented. A pivotal moment came with the Tsilhqot’in Nation v British Columbia decision, in which the Supreme Court of Canada granted Aboriginal title to a large area of land in British Columbia. This ruling established key legal tests for proving Aboriginal title and outlined how governments may justify infringements. Importantly, the decision affirmed that such lands are no longer Crown lands and are subject to Indigenous rights of “exclusive use and occupation.” More recently, courts in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick have begun addressing how Aboriginal title may intersect with privately owned land. These cases introduce a complex legal tension: both Aboriginal title and fee simple ownership confer rights of exclusive use and occupation. The question of how these rights can coexist on the same parcel of land remains unresolved and is now central to ongoing legal debates.

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The Indigenous Case for Active Forest Management

ForestNet Media
You Tube
August 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

He still calls himself “a recovering forester.” BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee, a former RPF turned political heavyweight spent 30 years in the bush before becoming one of the most powerful Indigenous voices in Canadian forestry. Terry Teegee explains why BC keeps paying billions for wildfires it could have prevented, and who he thinks is really slowing down reconciliation.

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Beavers are the answer to community wildfire danger, not more logging

Letter by Catherine Slater
North Island Gazette
August 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

I saw “BC Is Burning” produced by the Truck Loggers Association last March in Campbell River. This documentary states that Climate Change is a rising threat to rural communities. There are dramatic scenes of forests and homes burning. The film’s solution is more “Active Forest Management.” It promotes extensive tree and woody debris thinning (even in protected areas such as OGMAs) to reduce wildfire “fuel load,” processing these harvests into new carbon-sequestering or carbon-replacing products, regenerating the forest with seedlings in these “fire-smarted” areas. Community wildfire safety and jobs are addressed by this proposed solution, a win-win situation. But, where is the health of a natural forest ecosystem? …How can we maintain intact forests AND keep rural communities safer from wildfire? Beavers! Beaver ponds reduce community wildfire danger as humidifiers and wetland firebreaks. …The BC Wildlife Federation promotes widespread beaver reintroduction…

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Are we doing enough to manage BC’s forests before the next wildfire?

By Jim Csek
Vernon Now
August 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

As wildfires burn across Canada and smoke again reaches communities far from the fire line, a harder question is emerging behind the daily evacuation updates and air quality warnings: Is British Columbia doing enough to manage its forests before the next crisis? The question has taken on added political weight as criticism of Canadian wildfire smoke has surfaced south of the border and as politicians debate whether severe fire seasons are primarily a climate problem, a forest management problem or both. Murray Wilson says that framing misses the point if it becomes an excuse for inaction. Wilson, a former forester, discussed wildfire risk, smoke, forest management and the shrinking capacity of the forest sector in an interview with The Really Big Show. He said communities need to prepare for a future in which large fires and severe smoke events are no longer treated as rare exceptions.

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Smoke and Devastation

By Dan Albas
MP Okanagan Lake West – South Kelowna
August 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

In the Okanagan, we have sadly become all too familiar with the smoke and devastation caused by wildfires. Most recently, several wildfires have impacted our region, most notably the Bradley Creek fire, which has threatened parts of the Okanagan Indian Band lands and resulted in the loss of more than 200 homes. It should also be noted that some residents reportedly evacuated before an official evacuation order was in effect, a reminder of how quickly conditions can change when wind and weather shift unexpectedly. …Earlier this year, I discussed many of these issues with retired forester Murray Wilson on my Finding Solutions podcast. Drawing on decades of experience, Mr. Wilson shared his perspective on forest management and how we can better understand and mitigate wildfire risk. …Forest management is undoubtedly important. However, it is also reasonable to expect that more progress can be made in reducing the number of human-caused fires.

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2 sentenced for blocking logging in Vancouver Island’s Walbran Valley

By Isabella Calissi
CBC News
August 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Two protesters from the Walbran Valley blockade were sentenced Tuesday, after pleading guilty to breaching an injunction order in November 2025. The order barred protesters from blocking access to the Tsawak-qin Forestry logging site. Twelve protesters were arrested in total. Kenni Apt was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, with 75 hours of community service or a fine of $2,250. They were arrested after attaching themselves to a large wooden cougar statue within the injunction area, intending to block logging activity. Apt says they feel good about their sentence, but they’re sad that they won’t be able to visit the valley any time soon. …Zoey Barak was sentenced to seven days’ jail time. She was arrested after being found in an elevated sling between two trees within the injunction area. The blockade in Walbran Valley was linked to the same organizers behind the Fairy Creek anti-logging blockade on southwest Vancouver Island, which saw thousands arrested in 2021. 

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As Forests Burn Again, BC Is Changing Tactics ‘On the Fly’

By Tyler Olsen
The Tyee
August 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Prolonged drought conditions are forcing British Columbia’s fire tacticians to rethink how they battle blazes in the province’s dry and hot Interior.  As huge, destructive blazes spread across the southern Interior, many are burning across land that has already experienced fire over the last decade. In years past, the BC Wildfire Service would expect previous burn scars to slow, or even stop, the progress of a new fire. But this fire season, a prolonged drought has upended that assumption. Firefighters’ experiences could have implications for what British Columbians can expect from fire seasons for years to come. …A burn scar “used to be something we could use as a control line,” Chapman said. Current conditions, though, make those scars untrustworthy. “The fire behaviour can be almost as extreme in some of those old burns, depending on their age and how severe the burn was.”

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Conservation group contesting Kananaskis logging project in court

By Greg Colgan
CBC News
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Timberwolf Wilderness Society is asking for a judicial review in federal court after a permit was provided for a logging operation in Kananaskis Country in an area with threatened bull trout. Timberwolf launched legal action after Fisheries and Oceans Canada approved West Fraser Timber to build a bridge over the Highwood River and 13 other temporary river crossings in the Loomis Creek and Upper Highwood area. The group argues the project “may result in harm, harassment or killing of the threatened bull trout … or damage or destruction of the bull trout’s critical habitat.” Bull trout are listed as a threatened species … Joyce Wagenaar, director of communications for West Fraser, said the company couldn’t speak to the judicial review since it’s before the courts. She said after the company took over the project, it paused logging plans to further consult with people and groups that could be impacted.

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Improving habitat, reducing risks for fish, wildlife, ecosystems

By Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Government of British Columbia
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Critical ecosystems throughout B.C. will be safer and better protected, thanks to provincial funding for a new partnership led by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF). B.C. is providing $1 million to HCTF to identify and assess water-control infrastructure on conservation lands and other areas that support ecological values throughout the province, helping guide investments that improve habitat, reduce risks and support local communities. …As part of the work, a shared database will be created to identify infrastructure such as small dams, dikes and water-control structures. It will track infrastructure condition and safety risks, while taking into account ecological, cultural and community needs associated with each site. …The initiative is expected to provide, for the first time, a co-ordinated inventory and assessment of water-control structures allowing government and conservation partners to better understand infrastructure needs and prioritize future upgrades. 

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British Columbia is logging its last old growth. Protesters are sleeping in the road to stop it

By Annika Hammerschlag
Associated Press
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

PORT RENFREW, British Columbia — The five-car caravan crept down a gravel logging road as the day’s last beams of golden light filtered through the trees. About 20 forest defenders were making a stand in southwest Vancouver Island, at a spot where a logging company was expected to cut old-growth trees the following morning. …“There is no dispute about what happened to our land,” said Bill Jones, a First Nations Pacheedaht elder who sat in the road as daylight crept in. …“There’s nothing left — it’s practically naked, bare,” he said. “There’s few remnants here and there, and so we have to save what we can.” …Vancouver Island’s remaining [old growth] stands — some are home to thousand-year-old trees — store more carbon per hectare than nearly any other forest system, according to the Sierra Club of British Columbia. …Still, the transition away from old-growth logging cannot happen overnight, said Parmar, the forests minister.

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B.C.’s contribution to the 30 x 30 Plan is missing the mark

By Mark Hall
East Kootenay News Weekly e-KNOW
August 2, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

In 2004, Dr. Geoff Scudder of UBC completed one of B.C.’s most important biodiversity analyses. By mapping species rarity and richness, he identified where the province’s most threatened species occur and where biodiversity is most concentrated. These biodiversity hotspots are the places where conservation matters most. These hotspots occur mostly in the South Okanagan, the Lower Mainland, and Southeastern Vancouver Island along with the Gulf Islands. Despite their global significance, these hotspots remain largely outside B.C.’s protected area network. As Canada advances its 30×30 plan to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030, the gap between what is protected and what needs protection is poised to widen. Canada has committed to 10 new national parks, and B.C. has proposed three new conservation areas. Yet none of these proposals capture Scudder’s hotspots. Once again, B.C. is protecting more of what is already safe and less of what is truly at risk.

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Cariboo Chilcotin Forestry Leaders Unite Around Regional Solutions

By Beth Veenakmp, Manager of Economic Development
The City of Williams Lake
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

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.”

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Minister’s statement on arrival of wildfire personnel from Mexico

By Ministry of Forests
Government of British Columbia
August 3, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, has issued the following statement in response to the arrival of wildfire personnel from Mexico: Supporting our neighbours and communities, showing hospitality to our partners and taking care of each other. These are the values that make me proud to be a British Columbian. In our time of need, I am honoured to welcome more than 100 wildfire personnel from Mexico on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, with more than 200 arriving later in the week. They’ve travelled from their homes to help us protect ours amidst a challenging wildfire season. As British Columbians, let’s welcome them warmly as they prepare to work alongside our BC Wildfire Service crews. Wildfire response is built on teamwork. Whether support comes from within B.C., across Canada or around the world, every person who joins the effort strengthens our response capacity and helps ensure resources are available when and where they are needed most.

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Forests Minister Ravi Parmar featured in On The Brink Podcast

By On The Brink Podcast
You Tube
July 28, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The Honourable Ravi Parmar is British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Deputy Government House Leader and the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Langford–Highlands. One of the youngest people ever appointed to the provincial cabinet, he is currently the youngest MLA serving in the British Columbia Legislature. …His return to ON THE BRINK offers an opportunity to revisit that first conversation, examine what has changed and hear directly from the minister about his vision for the future of forestry in British Columbia.

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West Fraser Shares Nature Reporting Framework Developed for Alberta Operations

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
July 23, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Alongside the release of our first  (TNFD)-aligned report focused on our Alberta operations, West Fraser is sharing the supporting methodology so others across the forest sector can learn from and build on the approach. Developed in collaboration with the  (NCASI) and supported by our project partners, the methodology provides a practical roadmap for assessing nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities. West Fraser chose to focus this work on our Alberta forest management operations and mills as a starting point. It was an opportunity to test, learn and refine our approach before applying it more broadly across our operations. Our forest management operations represent a direct, on-the-ground relationship with nature; we operate within ecosystems and depend on them. 

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Managing Stanley Park’s 600,000 trees is becoming more challenging. Here’s why

By Glenda Luymes
The Vancouver Sun
July 30, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

After a visit to Stanley Park, Nina Shoroplova, a Vancouver naturalist, went on to research and write a book about the park and its trees. Stanley Park holds a fascination for many. Sometimes called the crown jewel of the city, the park contains about 600,000 trees. But the urban forest is changing in ways that challenge both the health of the ecosystem and ideas about the park itself. An outbreak of western hemlock looper killed about 30 per cent of the large trees in Stanley Park as of April 2023… Recent droughts have made the damage more severe, increasing the wildfire risk in the park… Amid some opposition, park board crews have cut down about 14,000 trees since fall 2023. …The idea that Stanley Park is an area of untamed wilderness has always held appeal. But its history and present reality are much more complex, said Sean Kheraj, author of Inventing Stanley Park: An Environmental History. …The reality is that Stanley Park’s forest has long been influenced by people. [A Vancouver Sun subscription is required for full access]

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Forest Enhancement Society of BC project updates from around the province.

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
July 31, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Building wildfire resilience in British Columbia’s forests starts with strategic forest management with an aim to help create healthier forests for future generations. This summer as we learn about or experience wildfires in our province, FESBC remains committed to investing in innovative forest enhancement projects that help British Columbia take proactive steps to lessen the severity of wildfires through wildfire risk reduction work. In our 10-year history, we have seen that wildfire risk reduction is most effective when it is built on strong partnerships. …These collaborative efforts help reduce wildfire risk and better protect communities.

In this newsletter:

  • Connection to Care Program, by the BC Forest Safety Council
  • Canada-B.C. Workforce Tariff Response Forestry Grant – Forestry Training Fund
  • The Intersection of Forestry and Human Health: Balancing Ecological Benefits of Fire with the Health Risks of Smoke in Modern Forest Management
  • Faces of Forestry features Garnet Mireau

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Did excessive logging debris fuel Mount Underwood’s ‘explosive’ growth a year ago?

By Eric Plummer
Ha-Shilth-Sa | Canada’s Oldest First Nation’s Newspaper
July 30, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

PORT ALBERNI, BC — It’s been almost a year since Mount Underwood erupted south of Port Alberni, quickly spreading across a bone-dry slope to become the largest wildfire the area has seen in over a century. While this forest fire season has been relatively mild by comparison, some residents are questioning if slash left over from past logging fueled the rapid growth of the blaze in August 2025. …“BC Wildfire Service described that behaviour as ‘explosive’,” stated the alliance. “We are concerned that the fire’s behaviour and size were the direct and foreseeable result of fuel hazard conditions created by rapid logging and establishment of conifer plantations.” …With an investigation still underway, the BC Wildfire Service has not disclosed what caused Mount Underwood. But Mosaic believes that “preliminary information suggests it was caused by human activity.” “There were no active forestry operations in the area at the time the fire started,” stated Mosaic. 

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Why are B.C.’s forests turning red?

By Colin Dacre
Castanet
July 30, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

A pest is placing huge swaths of BC’s forests under strain while adding a red tinge to the province’s landscape. Data from the Ministry shows the current outbreak of the western spruce budworm was mapped last year at 1.7 million hectares, more than double the previous two outbreaks which peaked in 1987 and 2008 at around 800,000 hectares. The budworm is native to BC and has been studied for a century due to the visible, and at times, deadly impact it can have on the province’s forests. …The pest takes a year to complete its life cycle. The eggs hatch in about 12 days, resulting in larvae that feed on tree needles, causing them to turn red. “These trees are not dead,” said a statement from the Ministry of Forest. “They may die after successive years of defoliation.” The ministry said younger, understory trees are more susceptible to being killed by the budworm.

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Study shows clear-cut logging affects flood risk in B.C.

The Campbell River Mirror
July 29, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Younes Alila

A University of British Columbia professor says a recent study near Summerland shows forest practices are resulting in more frequent and more intense flooding. Younes Alila, a professor with the Department of Forest Resources Management at the university, studied the forest area near Summerland, along with Spencer Pearson-Atkins and Xu Jian (Joe) Yu, also from the university. Their recent study found clear-cut logging can increase the risk of flooding. Alila, who has been studying flooding since 1996, said the area near Summerland has been indiscriminately logged over the years. Because of the logging practices used, flooding is becoming more severe. …He explained that …after heavy logging, that canopy is gone and as a result, the soil becomes wetter. …Intense logging practices can also result in increased risks of droughts, Alila added. …“Abandon clear-cut logging and adopt other eco-friendly logging practices,” he said. “We need to learn from our terrible, messy experience.”

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The Science Behind BC’s Fire Danger Ratings

By Ainslie Cruickshank
The Tyee
July 29, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

In BC, almost 40% of the wildfires that started between 2015 and 2024 were sparked by people — our campfires, our infrastructure, our vehicles. To avoid preventable fires, officials ban campfires, restrict the use of heavy machinery and sometimes prohibit the use of off-road vehicles. But before making those decisions, they need to determine just how bad the fire danger is in the first place. …The billboards, with their green, yellow, orange and red markers that denote different fire danger levels. …Forest fire danger rating research began in Canada in the 1920s with studies in experimental plots to investigate the moisture content and flammability of forest fuels — everything from the fine needles and twigs that litter the forest floor to the deeper organic layers below. Over time, researchers incorporated that work into a series of scientific models now used across Canada and around the world to estimate wildfire danger and fire behaviour.

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‘Nothing that Canada can do’: Experts push back on Trump’s criticism of Canada’s wildfire response

By Tammy Ibrahimpoor
CTV News
August 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada East, United States

U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Canada is failing to properly manage its forests, and that the cost of wildfire smoke drifting south should be added to tariffs on Canadian goods, has prompted renewed questions about whether more could be done to prevent the massive blazes that have blanketed parts of North America with smoke. But wildfire experts say the answer is far more complicated. “The short answer is there’s nothing that Canada can do about these major wildfires that are causing wildfire smoke to travel thousands of kilometres,” said Anabela Bonada, managing director of climate science at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. …“The No. 1 thing is all of us reducing our emissions, and that goes for the U.S. as well,” Bonada said. “But we are looking at smoky summers ahead, so we need to do everything possible to protect ourselves and people that live in our home.”

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Ford government won’t commit to forest fire inquiry, as chiefs demand change

By Jon Thompson
Fort Francis Times
August 4, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

Ontario will not commit to holding an inquiry into its response to the worst forest fire season on record, despite calls from every opposition party and First Nations leaders whose communities are still under evacuation. …“Once we get through the fire season, just like we do after every fire season, we go through what’s happened well, what hasn’t worked the best with our teams, and we look to change those things for the following season,” Minister of Natural Resources Mike Harris said. ..Those First Nations insisted they be part of an ongoing conversation, and help to provide solutions. …Cat Lake First Nation Chief Russell Wesley argued Ontario is thwarting First Nations who are trying to get involved and help improve Ontario’s firefighting system, and trying to be a part of the planning for climate disasters that disproportionately impact them.

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The fungus that could save Maine’s trees one seedling at a time

By Lori Valigra
The Bangor Daily News
August 3, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States, US East

MAINE — Researchers walking through the forest during a major spruce budworm outbreak in the 1990s discovered some healthy fir trees unaffected by the deadly pests, and wondered what gave them apparent immunity. They took needles from the healthy trees to study at their University of New Brunswick lab, and found they contained a fungus with a beneficial relationship with the trees. …The discovery attracted the attention of Canadian forestry conglomerate J.D. Irving, the largest owner of forested land in Maine. The partnership, which started in 1999, resulted in a novel way to combat future outbreaks: breeding budworm-resistant trees. Its strategy to use natural fungi — known as endophytes — is at the forefront of science to find more natural solutions. Several universities in the US are researching how endophytes act in other types of trees. …Irving Woodlands is ramping up production of the trees in a newly opened greenhouse in New Brunswick. 

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

As wildfires rage, it’s a moment for carbon removal technology to shine

By Na’im Merchant and Grant Canary
The Globe and Mail
August 4, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

There have been more than 800 wildfires across Canada so far this year and nearly four million hectares of land has been burned. …In addition to the fires’ immediate damage to our natural landscapes and well-being, there’s another way to think about their climate implications: a healthy forest spends decades pulling carbon out of the air and locking it away in tree trunks, branches and roots. A wildfire undoes that long-term work almost overnight, and releases all of that carbon. …Carbon removal is distinct from carbon capture… it’s a distinct process that pulls carbon already in the atmosphere back out, rather than just capturing it as it’s produced, and this deserves a policy environment to catalyze it. …Some carbon-removal companies take fire-killed trees that have no other use, which would otherwise decompose or fuel the next fire, and bury it in engineered, low-oxygen sites where its carbon stays locked away for a century or more. [to access the full story a Globe and Mail subscription is required]

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Climate Change Made Canada’s Forests Much More Likely to Burn

By Coco Liu
Bloomberg News
August 6, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada East

The planet’s warming had a strong influence on destructive wildfires in Canada that have raged across Ontario and the Northwest Territories since late June, making the extreme fire weather that fueled them at least twice as likely, according to a report published Thursday by World Weather Attribution. With global temperatures roughly 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, Canada is experiencing a notable rise in extremely hot and dry weather — the ingredient required to turn minor ignitions into infernos. Researchers found that the severe conditions behind the recent blazes in Ontario are now twice as probable as they would be in a world untouched by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The change is even more stark in the Northwest Territories: There, a week of fire weather as extreme as this year’s — which would occur once-a-decade without global warming — is now estimated to return every two years.

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Health & Safety

Congrats to the Wood Pellet Association of Canada’s Latest Safety Hero

By Gordon Murray
The Wood Pellet Association of Canada
August 4, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada

Scott McPhee

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) is pleased to announce our latest Safety Hero, Scott McPhee, Operations Superintendent at Drax Burns Lake in BC. Scott continually motivates his colleagues to work safely. Scott is a long-time champion for workplace safety. Before his current role, he served as HS&E Manager with Drax, building a foundation of safety leadership that continues to this day. He is a strong advocate for Drax’s Zero Harm program and a vocal and respected member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. “Scott has recently played a pivotal role in preparing the Burns Lake team to safely perform burner cleaning operations in-house,” said Rodney Bedford, Plant Manager at Drax Burns Lake. “He helped drive the safety planning, procedures and preparedness required to execute the work safely.”

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‘Smoke-Proofing’: The Need for a National Effort

By Crawford Killian
The Tyee
August 3, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada

We can’t do much to prevent losing more communities to wildfires, and we certainly can’t reduce the scale of fires in the boreal forest. But we can minimize the health impacts of wildfire smoke, which should help us deal with the economic impact of wildfires and other climate disasters. …First, we need to minimize the damage of PM2.5 and other particles in wildfire smoke. That would involve more airtight homes, workspaces and schools, plus air purifiers in every room and office. In new construction, air purification should be built right into the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Second, we need to start using N95 masks whenever air quality drops. …Third, we need to recognize that wildfires and heat waves can threaten electricity grids by damaging transmission lines. The remedy here would be installing enough solar power in homes and workplaces. …We will also have to prepare for long-term health consequences of wildfires.

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Alberta Forestry and Parks charged under Occupational Health and Safety Act over 2024 death of man battling Jasper wildfire

By Iman Janmohamed
CBC News
August 4, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

©GeoReach

Two years after a man died while fighting a wildfire in Jasper National Park, workplace safety charges have been laid against Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Parks in connection with his death. Morgan Kitchen, 24, of Calgary was fatally struck by a tree on Aug. 3, 2024, while working as a wildland firefighter after the Jasper townsite went up in flames. Charges laid against the ministry — Kitchen’s employer — revolve around a string of alleged workplace safety violations under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. The six charges, laid on July 29, allege the Alberta government failed to ensure the safety of workers by not adequately assessing and controlling hazards at the worksite and also failing to adequately train workers. OHS also alleged the province failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, like cutting down hazardous trees or establishing a no-work zone.

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Board of Directors approves amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

WorkSafeBC
July 31, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

At its July 2026 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The amendments relate to Face SealAutomotive Lifts, and Periodic Certification

The above amendments were posted online for feedback during the public hearing process. Feedback for Face SealAutomotive Lifts, and Periodic Certification is available for review.

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Forest Fires

UPDATE: Evacuation orders, alerts to remain as Quilpituk Creek wildfire slows

By Jordy Cunningham
The Northern View
August 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

All evacuation orders and alerts will remain in place on Wednesday, Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD) has announced. In total, 2,223 properties (approximately 5,113 residents) are on order and 425 (approximately 976 residents) are on alert. “We know residents want to return home, and we want that too,” stated CORD. “Evacuation orders will remain in place until it is safe to return, including addressing hazards such as damaged utilities, hazard trees and unsafe road conditions. At this time, Westside Road remains closed from Highway 97 in Vernon to Caesar’s Landing. The Quilpituk Creek wildfire is displaying Rank 1 and 2 fire behaviour on Wednesday, Aug. 5. This means the blaze currently is “a smouldering ground fire to low vigour surface fire, characterized by visible open flame and unorganized inconsistent flame fronts,” said BCWS.

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‘Treepedo’: Officials share photo of smashed tree to show difficulty in returning to Boston Bar

By Jessica Peters
Hope Standard
August 4, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©FVRD

BC Wildfire crews and other officials accessing the Fraser Canyon are encountering everything from downed power lines and poles, to “treepedos.” As Boston Bar residents hope to head home following the Brunswick Complex fire, the Fraser Valley Regional District used social media over the B.C. Day long weekend to explain why that may take more time and effort than anyone expected. To illustrate the difficulty, they shared an image of a tree smashed on Highway 1, calling it a treepedo. “Treepedo (noun): A dead tree that falls over and rockets down a hill and lands on the road,” the district posted. “Treepedos are the reason the southern access is a definitely ‘no way’ for us to travel. Also giant boulders but we don’t have a cute name for that.” …The Brunswick Creek Complex wildfires are still considered out of control, and all evacuation orders remain in place as of Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. 

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No change to evacuation alert for Area D in Columbia Shuswap Regional District

By Lachlan Labere
The Vernon Morning Star
August 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

With hot weather ahead, residents in Electoral Area D under evacuation alert are urged to prepare grab-and-go bags and emergency plans. In an Aug. 5, update on the Bradley Creek wildfire by Okanagan Lake, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District said evacuation alerts issued for properties south of Highway 97 in the Sweetsbridge/Cedar Hill area, and in parts of Glenemma, remain in effect. As of Wednesday morning the fire was estimated to be 2,852 hectares, with little growth seen from the day prior. “However, the wildfire remains active and is still listed as out of control,” said the CSRD. “Work is continuing on creating containment lines, but this is taking time due to the damage to infrastructure and the amount of danger trees in the area. The fire zone must be made safe for responders to work.” Environment Canada anticipates highs in the mid 30s for the Vernon area in the coming days, reaching 36 C on Friday, Aug. 7.

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Fraser Valley Regional District downgrades Boston Bar evacuation orders, residents allowed to return

By Dillon White
Victoria News
August 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©Barriere ESS

Several evacuation orders have been downgraded to evacuation alerts in the Boston Bar area. The Fraser Valley Regional District said on Aug. 5, the areas of Boston Bar, North Bend and Canyon Alpine, Fishblue Lake, Scuzzy Creek south of Boston Bar, and Nahatlatch and North Boothroyd are now under evacuation alerts instead of orders. Per the release, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) advised that risk has “sufficiently subsided” and residents can return home if they choose. Forty-six properties remain on evacuation order in the Hells Gate, Spuzzum and south to Sawmill Creek areas. The downgrade does not apply to any First Nations communities and the FVRD advises members to look to their governments for direction. Highway 1 also remains closed for a 63.5-kilometre stretch between Toll Road and Jackass Summit. …The Brunswick Complex wildfires remain out of control, with the Brunswick Creek fire listed at 7,817 hectares and the Ainslie Creek fire listed at 40,599 hectares.

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Wildfire breaks out in Metro Vancouver’s Belcarra Regional Park

By Arden McLeod
CBC News
August 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

A wildfire in Metro Vancouver’s Belcarra Regional Park was discovered on Wednesday, forcing evacuations in the nearby Village of Anmore. The fire is burning roughly one kilometre southeast of Sasamat Lake’s White Pine Beach, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). The Village of Anmore had a population of just under 2,500 in 2022, according to its website. Two houses on Fern Drive were evacuated by ground crews, while an initial evacuation alert by the Village of Anmore listed 12 affected properties. That number grew to 35 properties after the Village of Anmore expanded its evacuation alert at 7:30 p.m. PT Wednesday. The affected areas are along Fern Drive, north of Magnolia Way; along Oak Court; and properties northeast along Crystal Creek Drive. …ground crews weren’t able to access the wildfire directly due to live electrical wires from nearby B.C. Hydro infrastructure …and instead utilized three helicopters to dump water over the fire. 

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B.C. community in ruins as chief says 230 homes destroyed by wildfire

By Darryl Greer
Canadian Press in Victoria Times Colonist
August 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

VERNON — The devastation stretches for more than a kilometre along the northwest shore of British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, house after house reduced to scorched and twisted metal and grey dust. The apocalyptic scenes — burned-out cars, still-smouldering ground and homes levelled to their foundations — stand in contrast to the postcard views previously enjoyed by this once-pretty waterfront community on the Okanagan Indian Band’s reserve. But the aftermath of the Bradley Creek wildfire, that was fanned by howling winds as it tore through the area on Saturday, extends far beyond the shoreline, and smoke still billows from behind the community, on a steep, forest-covered ridge. The depths of the destruction go deep into the reserve, where Chief Dan Wilson said on Tuesday that about 230 homes had been destroyed in one of the worst wildfire losses in recent Canadian history. Wilson said 30 homes of band members and 200 non-band homes had burned.

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Wildfire has destroyed structures on about 120 properties near Clinton, B.C.: regional district official

By Simon Little
CBC News
August 4, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

Hundreds of homes have been lost to wildfires in British Columbia. In the area around Clinton, where the massive Pear Lake fire has burned over 1,246 square kilometres, “several hundred” structures are believed to have been destroyed on about 120 properties. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District said it believes that number will rise as staff are able to safely access more areas. Meanwhile, the Okanagan Indian Band said it believes at least 200 homes have been destroyed west of Vernon, where the Bradley Creek wildfire tore through the community amid powerful winds on Saturday. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported due to the fires. The B.C. Wildfire Service warned that the province is facing an “explosive and extremely dangerous situation,” with challenging weather in the forecast. …About 8,000 people have been evacuated from their homes across B.C., while another 7,100 have been told to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice.

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Wildfire destroys about 230 homes in western Canadian Indigenous community, officials say

Associated Press
August 4, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

VERNON, British Columbia — A fast-moving wildfire destroyed about 230 homes in an Indigenous community in western Canada, officials said Tuesday, making it one of the country’s most destructive fires in recent years. Dan Wilson, chief of the Okanagan Indian Band, said the Bradley Creek wildfire devastated much of a reserve community near Vernon. “It was hard to recognize my community from the air with all the structures and the forest gone,” Wilson said after surveying the area by helicopter. The destruction ranks among Canada’s worst recent wildfires. A 2024 blaze in Jasper, Alberta, destroyed about 350 homes, while the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire, also in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, destroyed about 200 homes. Canada has endured increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, with smoke from the blazes repeatedly spreading across North America and triggering widespread air-quality alerts.

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Quilpituk Creek wildfire continues to burn, evacuation orders and alerts remain

By Jordy Cunningham
Victoria News
August 5, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

Fire crews and bucketing efforts were able to continue through the night, and into Wednesday morning (Aug. 5) at the Quilpituk Creek wildfire along Westside Road. As of Wednesday morning, the blaze remains 742 hectares in size and out of control. Additionally, all evacuation orders and alerts remain in place. In total, 2,223 properties (approximately 5,113 residents) are on order and 425 (approximately 976 residents) are on alert. …Throughout Tuesday, fire crews assessed the danger trees along the east flank of the fire, establishing a 10-foot edge on the perimeter of the blaze. Along the north flank, crews and heavy equipment moved west, extending hose lines to suppress the fire’s edge. Along the south and north flanks, heavy equipment continued to establish contingency lines, working as far up the slope as they can, said BC Wildfire Service (BCWS). Multiple fire personnel and structure protection crews are on scene.

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Bradley Creek Wildfire remains 2,603 hectares in size after little growth found

By Jordy Cunningham
The Interior News
August 4, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BC Wildfire Service

After a day of cooler temperatures and calm conditions, the Bradley Creek wildfire showed “no significant growth” on B.C. Day, according to BC Wildfire Service. BCWS said crews have been working on the north and south flanks of the blaze to mop up hot spots around homes in community areas. Meanwhile, structure protection and defence crews have continued to extinguish hotspots near homes along Westside Road, conducting roving patrols overnight. “There continues to be significant Fire Department support overnight to assist with structure protection and structure defence…,” said BCWS. At this time, multiple evacuation orders and alerts remain in place…The human-caused fire sparked on July 31 and has since grown to an estimated 2,603 hectares in size. BCWS continues to work alongside the Okanagan Indian Band Fire Department actioning the blaze. …The Bradley Creek wildfire is currently one of six wildfires of note in the province and one of 120 active wildfires.

Additional coverage

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Smoke and ash lead to flickering lights as wildfires torch hundreds of power poles in B.C.

By Simon Little
CBC News
July 30, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

B.C. Hydro says it will have to replace hundreds of power poles due to wildfires raging in the southern part of the province, but that its major transmission lines have escaped major damage. “There is quite a long list of items that are going to be replaced,” B.C. Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer told CBC’s Daybreak North. The Pear Lake wildfire, burning near Clinton, has torched more than 230 power poles and knocked out power to about 1,100 customers. In the Boston Bar area, the fires of the Brunswick fire complex have left about 100 customers without power and burned 34 transmission poles. Significant quantities of power line and transformers will also need to be replaced, Gammer said. However, the fires have not knocked out any of B.C. Hydro’s major 500 kV transformer systems, and all of its primary transmission corridors — which supply power to millions of British Columbia — remain in service, the Crown corporation told CBC News.

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Crews continue to battle 152-hectare wildfire beside Logan Lake

By Jordy Cunningham
The Kelowna Capital News
July 31, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BC Wildfire Service

BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) continued its tanking operations overnight as they continue to battle the Guichon Creek wildfire in Logan Lake. On Friday morning (July 31), BCWS provided an update, stating the blaze is now 152 hectares in size. It remains out-of-control. On Thursday, BCWS stated it assisted the Logan Lake Fire Department with ground and aerial support. “Skimmers and airtankers actioned this fire to support firefighting personnel and heavy equipment,” said BCWS. Using its helicopters equipped with night vision imaging systems, when visibility allowed, BCWS continued to provide tanking operations Thursday night and into Friday morning. On Thursday, the fire displayed Rank 2 and 3 behaviour, “meaning a surface fire with some open flame, occasional candling, and a slow to moderate rate of spread.”

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No word on return for Clinton, B.C., residents as fire burns watershed, power lines

By Ashley Joannou
Canadian Press in Red Deer News Now
July 29, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BC Wildfire Service

The chair of the board in British Columbia’s fire-stricken Thompson-Nicola Regional District says that for a lot of people, the wildfires burning in the area will be “one of the most traumatizing events” they’ll live through. Barbara Roden told an online meeting with about 350 people on Wednesday to reach out for help if they need it, as properties remain under evacuation order across the region, including the village of Clinton, with no timeline for residents to return. …Clinton’s CEO Brian Doddridge told the meeting that property owners will get calls over the next few days to inform them if their home has not survived the large Pear Lake blaze, which measures about 668 square kilometres. Doddridge said the area’s watershed has been “severely damaged” and work is being done to see what effect that has on water quality. …Premier David Eby urged people heading out for the August long weekend to exercise “extreme caution” because of the fire risk.

Additional coverage in CBC News by Arden McLeod and Simon Little: Mayor concerned about controlled burns near Clinton, B.C., as wildfire rages nearby

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Forest fires continue to rage across Northern Ontario

By Elaine Della-Mattia
The Sault Star
August 4, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada East

Northeastern Ontario continues to battle with forest fires. Five new wildland fires were confirmed Monday, all in the Cochrane area. There are currently 46 active fires in the Northeast region. Of those, one is being held, six are under control and 39 others remain under observation. Northwestern Ontario is feeling the brunt of active wildland fires. There are currently 119 active wildfires in that region of the province. Of those, 24 fires are not under control, six are being held, seven are under control and 82 are being observed. Eight fires have recently been called out. Four areas across the northwest have been classified as areas to note, including the Rinkler Lake Complex, the Atikokan Cluster, Dryden and the Highway 599 Cluster around Sioux Lookout.  

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