Peter Lister
With climate change, wildfires are becoming more common and more severe. …While the number of hectares burned in 2026 is approaching the 10-year average, the fires have had an enormous effect on communities in BC’s Okanagan Valley. Residents in the immediately affected areas have had their lives disrupted through evacuations, lost homes, and lost income from closed businesses. To date, about 150 structures were destroyed in the Bald Range fires, about 40 in Summerland and the rest in outlying areas. Most of us can appreciate that losing your home has a huge emotional and financial impact, and many people will face years of work to negotiate insurance settlements and rebuild their lives. People without adequate insurance will likely never financially recover.
The provincial government has several programs to help mitigate wildfire risk. …While these programs are helpful and a good starting point, the amount of funding available is simply inadequate relative to the scale of the need across the province. …Clearly, a different approach that does not depend on government grants is required to quickly treat a much larger amount of land at a lower cost. Forestry contractors hold the key. Increasingly, mechanized approaches are being used to thin the forests and reduce fuel loads. Mechanized thinning can not only treat much larger areas than manual approaches, but by modifying the approach to include the removal of some larger stems, treatments can be done on a break-even basis by selling the harvested stems as pulp or sawlogs.
Communities will be better protected from wildfires in a timely manner, government does not need to find the funding to pay for the manual treatments, and forestry contractors are kept working, preserving jobs and businesses and maintaining harvesting capacity that will be necessary when the forest product markets finally recover and mills get back to work.
A new manufacturing operation coming to Chemainus is expected to create 30 jobs by early 2027, with plans to grow to 70 positions over the next three years. Japan-based Shinohara Nexus Group will open a production facility on a portion of the Chemainus sawmill site, leased from Western Forest Products. North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas said he met with Shinohara Group’s senior management team, including the company’s president and CEO, to discuss the project. The investment was also discussed with North Cowichan council members by B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar during the Union of BC Municipalities convention. According to Douglas, the operation will be housed in two existing storage buildings at the site. Western Forest Products has told the United Steelworkers the new operation will not impact the Chemainus sawmill’s ability to restart. Shinohara has operated manufacturing facilities producing pre-cut lumber for approximately 4,000 residential, commercial and institutional buildings each year.
David Eby initially framed this election as being about who’s the best choice to fight the threat posed by Donald Trump. …Pshaw, Eby’s critics say. …Whether Eby is using Trump as a strawman, and whether the New Democrats are the ones to counter the president and his tariffs, is up for debate. What’s not in dispute, though, is those tariffs hit the forest sector hard. In the outer reaches of ridings like North Island and Mid Island-Pacific Rim — places more wild and rugged than tamed, uncalloused Victoria — they’ll tell you the tariffs are just one more challenge to an already struggling industry. People in forestry also fret about access to fibre, the depletion of valuable Douglas fir, wildfires, regulatory burden, transportation costs and, yes, cross-border wrangling. …Eby said B.C. would fight tariffs by adding $90 million to existing government programs to attract investment and jobs to rural areas.
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to hear an appeal involving CN Rail and Alberta Pacific Forest Industries that could clarify the courts’ authority to review decisions of the Canadian Transportation Agency. The case centres on whether factual findings by the agency can be challenged through judicial review, despite statutory limits on appeals.
The announcement that BC’s Howe Sound pulp and paper operation will remain open after securing government support has reignited questions about whether a similar intervention could have been pursued for Canfor’s Northwood pulp mill in Prince George. Domtar’s future has changed dramatically following discussions involving government officials, the company and union representatives. According to Unifor’s Gavin McGarrigle, government assistance played a critical role. …For critics of the provincial government’s response to the Northwood closure, the contrasting outcomes raise difficult questions. …McGarrigle argues the key difference lies in the willingness of the parties involved to engage. …Canfor disputes the notion that support for Northwood was not pursued. …“Canfor has been advocating for years to address the critical shortfall of economic fibre needed to sustain our manufacturing facilities. …With respect to our pulp operations in the region, we are intensely focused on ensuring a strong future for Intercon and Specialty Paper operations in Prince George.
The British Columbia Supreme Court has refused to approve a proposed reverse vesting transaction (RVO) for Teal-Jones Group that would have wiped out long-standing fibre supply agreements tied to TFL 46, finding that TimberWest and Domtar held proprietary interests that should not be extinguished. The Monitor argued that the sale of the Surrey Mill and TFL 46 to Gillfor Manufacturing was the best available transaction and that removing the agreements was necessary to preserve the business, but the Court found no sufficient evidence that the agreements were uneconomic or would prevent Gillfor from operating the assets. With the agreements priced at fair market value and their termination expected to cause significant prejudice to TimberWest and Domtar, the Court declined to approve the transaction unless they remained in place. …The prejudice to Domtar if the supply agreements were extinguished would be significant. 
Time after time, week after week, there is yet another story lamenting Canada’s continued reliance on its resource economy. Wood, minerals, oil, gas and more are written or spoken of as antiquated, crumbling foundations of an economy that must supposedly grow up and embrace the world of tech and renewable energy. In June 2026, Canadian merchandise exports reached a record $78 billion, while imports totalled $73.8 billion, producing a $4.2-billion trade surplus. Why? Because Canada’s natural resource economy has proven once again that it can generate enough export earnings to offset deficits elsewhere in merchandise trade, supporting national income and domestic production. According to Statistics Canada’s merchandise data, five resource and resource-based product categories stand out. …Combined, they accounted for $46.2 billion in exports, while accounting for just $18.9 billion in imports, for a surplus of around $27.4 billion. Compare that with every other merchandise category in Canada, which ran a combined deficit of roughly $23.2 billion.
Much of the current discussion about BC exports understandably focuses on tariffs and the evolving trade relationship with the US. …A complete picture of what the province sells to earn its way in the world must include services. They generate roughly 40% of the province’s international export earnings. …The shift toward services has been underway for decades, supported by steady growth in gateway transportation and the rapid expansion in technology and professional services. …BC’s export mix has become more diversified partly because services have performed well, but also because merchandise exports have struggled. …The largest contributor to the decline in BC’s real merchandise exports is softwood lumber and other forestry-related exports, which have plunged since 2017. That decline reflects a shrinking timber harvest mainly attributable to provincial policy changes, a dwindling fibre supply, rising costs and other pressures that have reduced the competitiveness of the B.C. forest sector.
The University of British Columbia’s new MacIsaac Health Building is the first project on the Vancouver campus to achieve Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Building—Design Standard v2 certification. Designed by Perkins&Will in partnership with Danish partner Schmidt Hammer Lassen, the approximately 25,000 m2 facility brings together nursing, kinesiology, student health and well-being, clinical teaching, research, and academic space. Carbon reduction informed the project’s design and construction strategies. The building also achieved LEED Gold certification. A high-performance envelope is intended to reduce energy demand, while natural-ventilation strategies and heat-recovery systems support operational performance. The project team also completed a whole-building life-cycle assessment to identify opportunities to reduce embodied carbon. Material selection also played a major role. Mass timber forms a key part of the structure and provides exposed timber finishes throughout the building. According to the project team, the material selection helps reduce embodied carbon while referencing Pacific Northwest building traditions.
As architects and interior designers balance sustainability goals with the growing demand for human-centred spaces, biophilic design offers an opportunity to support both people and the planet. Research continues to demonstrate the measurable benefits of biophilic design with wood, including improvements in wellbeing, occupant satisfaction and overall user experience. Explore this toolkit of resources and discover how to create healthier, more inspiring spaces.
The community of Smithers has been relatively untouched by wildfires… However, drought has significantly impacted the area and the threat of wildfire has become ever present… Our local community wildfire suppression group, the Woodmere Emergency Services Society … visited a recent BC Timber Sales block that was harvested and sold to Hampton Lumber in Burns Lake. …In the spring of 2026 we had a field visit with Hampton to look at the slash/fuel left behind on this block. While Hampton had no legal obligation to do any further clean up, we were impressed that the company recognized the issue and agreed to clean up the block. …at the end of September 2026, we saw that Hampton has gone above and beyond our expectations and has done an exceptional job at their own expense. …Companies like Hampton are what give forestry a good name in British Columbia.
Forest soils store an estimated 40% of the world’s terrestrial carbon, but estimates suggest that around 15–30% of that soil carbon is lost when a forest is harvested. Tracking such losses can be tricky: wildfires, insects, disease and past forest management can all affect forest soil carbon stores, and tree type, climate and harvesting method can all affect how much carbon is lost. The BC Long-Term Soil Productivity (BC-LTSP) study is a long-term forest experiment that researchers used to examine how organic matter removal and soil compaction have affected soil carbon over the past 20 years, how soil carbon and the forest floor recover after heavy harvesting, and how latitude and climate affect soil carbon. The research is published in the 
As we move into fall, this is a time share the important role community forests play across BC. September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a time to reflect on our shared history, to listen and learn, and to recognize that reconciliation is ongoing work. Across BC, community forests are contributing to that work by building relationships with First Nations …and learning from the knowledge and values that First Nations bring to caring for the land. …With a provincial election underway, the BCCFA will be working throughout the campaign to bring our priorities forward and help candidates understand what community forests are delivering for BC and what is needed to strengthen the community forest program. In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll find information on:
Mission’s forestry department reported a net loss of $234,506 in the second quarter of 2026, but is expected to be profitable by the end of the year. According to the department’s quarterly report from the September 21 council agenda, market uncertainty led to lower volumes harvested during the quarter. The department reported a net profit of $301,844 in the second quarter of last year and projected a net profit of $733,511 for Q2 of 2026. However, the department released just 39 per cent of its budgeted volume to date because market uncertainty. “Continued challenges exist in the timber market. In addition to tariffs from the United States, fuel prices have increased substantially in 2026, which has impacted shipping costs,” the report reads. The report highlights trade friction with the United States as “one big challenge” moving forward, but also notes reasons for optimism for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.
Okanagan backcountry patrols are still turning up campfires burning without anyone around, weeks after campfire restrictions were eased across the region. Kane Blake, founder of the Okanagan Forest Task Force, says volunteers have discovered multiple campfires over the past several weeks that were left burning with no one present to monitor them. …Under B.C.’s Wildfire Regulation, a Category 1 campfire must be watched and patrolled while it is burning. The person responsible must maintain a fuel break around the fire and have either at least one firefighting hand tool or eight litres of water available. Leaving a fire unattended can also result in enforcement under the Wildfire Act and Wildfire Regulation. B.C.’s current listed fines include $1,150 for lighting, fuelling or using a fire against regulations. For the Okanagan Forest Task Force, Blake says the goal is also to educate younger generations about safely enjoying the backcountry.
The decisions made in a forest today will shape it for generations. Making those decisions well requires shared knowledge, strong relationships and an understanding of the priorities of the communities connected to the land. …In the Williams Lake region, the National Forest Week vision is being put into practice through a partnership between West Fraser and the Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation (SXFN). Together, West Fraser and SXFN are demonstrating how collaboration can advance local forest stewardship through shared learning, skills development and a commitment to responsible land management. “Good forest management starts with understanding the ecosystem and managing for resiliency over generations,” said Chad Swanson, West Fraser’s Chief Forester for British Columbia. “Working collaboratively with Indigenous Nations in the areas where we operate allows us to incorporate important knowledge and perspectives about the land and combine them with forestry science. Together, these insights help us make informed decisions that support healthy, resilient forests.”
The University of British Columbia and the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) have signed a memorandum of collaboration to strengthen their partnership on fisheries conservation and research, resource management, and environmental stewardship in S’ólh Téméxw. The traditional and shared territory of the Stó:lō people spans the Fraser Valley and lower Fraser Canyon region of B.C. The agreement formalizes a long-standing research relationship between the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES), the Faculty of Science, the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) and the LFFA, a First Nations-led organization that advances the collective fisheries interests of 24 Lower Fraser First Nations. The partnership provides a framework for collaboration on a number of areas including strengthening work on long-term fisheries conservation including the health and sustainability of fisheries, aquatic resources and their habitats, with particular attention to the management of Fraser River fish. 
It’s a big win for Yukon’s wildland firefighters. The Yukon government tabled a bill on Tuesday that would amend the territory’s Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act to include wildland firefighters under presumptive cancer coverage. Currently, only full-time and part-time structural firefighters are covered under the act for 19 types of cancer. Wildland firefighters are not included. Laura Lang, Yukon’s minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board, said wildland firefighters are there to support and protect communities in times of need, so it’s time to reciprocate that support. “Under the proposed change, when a wildland forest fighter is diagnosed with a listed cancer and meets the legislated eligibility requirements, their cancer would be presumed to be work-related,” she said. “For those who qualify, that means less red tape and a lot more straightforward, predictable claims processes.”
From training young and new workers to managing roadside risks and small business safety, the fall issue of WorkSafe Magazine shares practical guidance to help employers and workers create safer, healthier workplaces. Alongside feature stories, you’ll find information on small business, volunteer fire departments, upcoming conferences.