Region Archives: Canada West

Registration is now open for our 2026 Conference & AGM with Early Bird pricing. The event will take place from June 3-5 in Vernon, BC, where community forest leaders, partners, and supporters will gather to connect, collaborate, and inspire action. The field trip will be hosted by Monashee Community Forest, a partnership of the Splatsin First Nation and the Village of Lumby. 

Quesnel City Council has endorsed the “Forestry is a Solution” campaign. Erin Robinson, Forestry Initiatives Manager at the City, talked about the “Forestry is a Solution” campaign at the most recent Council meeting. “It was launched in January at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George.  The “Forestry is a Solution” campaign is led by a coalition of forest sector organizations, community leaders, workers, and industry advocates to demonstrate strong public support for British Columbia’s forest sector. The initiative highlights forestry’s role in: supporting affordable housing, reducing wildfire risk through active forest management, sustaining family-supporting jobs, generating public revenues, and contributing to lower carbon construction.” Robinson said it is in line with Council’s concerns over the current state of the industry.

Alison Nicholson

2026 was intended to be the final year of the joint effort by the province and Cowichan Tribes to heal the Xwulqw’selu/Koksilah watershed — bringing back summer river flows, restoring fish habitat, and reducing damaging winter floods. …it is clear we need more time. …Research shows that industrial forestry practices — specifically clearcutting — increase the frequency and severity of winter floods, which directly degrades instream habitat and worsens summer droughts. This tells us that while reducing water extraction in the lower watershed is necessary, it isn’t enough. …we cannot have a healthy river without addressing how the land is treated. …On Feb. 25, Mosaic Forest Management …announced a pilot to test new watershed stewardship approaches in the Koksilah Watershed. While welcome, it must be more than a private initiative. To succeed, the community needs assurance that it will be integrated into the planning process, with public access to data, independent review, and clear timelines.

City of Powell River councillors were provided an overview on March 5 of Tla’amin Nation’s negotiations to repatriate access to forest lands currently held by Western Forest Products (WFP). Adam Culos, general manager of Thichum Forest Products, said that Tla’amin had announced a milestone agreement, where Thichum Forest Products, through Tla’amin, is working on an agreement with WFP to acquire Tree Farm Licence 39 block one. Seanna McConnell, Western Forest Products vice-president, Indigenous partnerships, said Qwoqwnes Forestry Holdings Limited Partnership, wholly owned by Tla’amin, will be purchasing 100 per cent ownership of WFP’s Stillwater forest operation for $80 million. …Culos said the acquisition … supports Thichum’s long-term success through investment in their business and the future of the community, [adding] that almost all the wood supplies domestic mills, so there are three fibre supply agreements. One will be WFP, supporting the company’s five coastal mills, along with Mosaic Forest Management and Domtar.

Reconstruction of Cliff Gilker Park’s Waterfall and Gorge bridges is to commence shortly and complete “well before the end of the year,” according to Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) staff, thanks to an agreement with the Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF). A contract award to SCCF to do that work was endorsed by the SCRD board at its Feb. 26 meeting. Completing those two replacements as a cooperative project, using wood rather than metal for bridge structures, will save the SCRD time and $578,930, according to a staff report. Rather than spending over $1.2 million as budgeted to reopen the two bridges, which were closed due to damage sustained during the November 2021 atmospheric rivers, the new project cost is $619,920. That price also covers trail resiliency work in the park.

A petition to reject a logging project in the Hatzic Valley has collected over 650 signatures. The proposed project would feature cut blocks between Kussman Road and Eng Road east of Mission, along with a new logging road. According to the province’s Forestry Operations Map, the project in question — FOM 2801 — is expected to be in operation from 2026 to 2030. In a statement to the Mission Record on Friday (March 6), the Ministry of Forests said it hasn’t received an application for a proposed road permit or a cutting permit at this time. “The licensee is welcome to submit an application for review by the Ministry of Forests,” the ministry said. The petition notes the history of landslides, flooding and debris flows in the area. It states that approving a new logging road construction would ignore decades of evidence and repeat past mistakes.

Mission, BC – Despite the continuing uncertainty around tariffs on softwood lumber, the City of Mission’s forestry operation saw a net profit of over $1.1 million last year from timber sales. By taking advantage of temporary market upticks throughout the year, the Forestry Department released three timber sales culminated in a net profit of $1,138,769 after fee and fund transfers in 2025. The original forecast for the year was a net profit of $459,133. The revenue from timber sales fuels the City of Mission’s Forestry Legacy Reserve. This unique reserve is used by Council to allocate funding for projects and initiatives that benefit the community now and into the future. Recent examples of this reserve in action include the new Emiry Park in Cedar Valley and the covered lacrosse box at Centennial Park – both of these projects were made possible in part by funding from the Forestry Legacy Reserve, funds that would otherwise need to be raised through taxation. 

Mosaic Forest Management is testing a new approach to forest management in the Koksilah watershed. The forest company is launching a multi-year pilot program on its private lands in the watershed to demonstrate how working forests can deliver both economic performance and environmental resilience by integrating watershed services, carbon programs, renewable energy, recreation and real estate activities alongside timber production. The Koksilah River has been experiencing persistent problems in recent years, including extreme water fluctuations and severely low flows in the summer months, which led to Cowichan Tribes and the province signing B.C.’s first water sustainability plan for the watershed in 2023, to find solutions. …“This pilot is about figuring out what works by combining sustainable forestry with watershed stewardship and other land solutions,” said Duncan Davies, president and CEO of Mosaic. “We’re committed to building the business model that makes this approach viable and scalable where the right conditions exist.”

The lack of significant snowfall in the mountains around Cowichan Lake could be a problem for water levels during the upcoming dry season, according to Brain Houle, the environment manager at the now closed Domtar pulp mill in Crofton. While Domtar shut the mill down earlier this year, the forest company agreed to continue operations at the weir until the end of 2026. Houle said that while there is still time to accumulate more snow before the winter ends, it is possible that the weather will not bring more snow to the mountains before warm weather begins the annual snow melt. “With the Crofton mill now shut down and water withdrawals from the river significantly reduced, it is even more important to avoid the need to use pumps this year,” …Houle said that a stakeholder meeting was recently held … to discuss water issues related to the Cowichan watershed in 2026, including weir operations.

The Quadra Island Peaceful Grannies are calling on the community to join a peaceful rally on Friday, Feb. 27, taking place outside the post office at Quathiaski Cove. The gathering is a stand against the ongoing over-logging of Quadra Island’s forests and the growing threat to the island’s watersheds, wildlife and ecological integrity. According to the group, across Quadra’s watersheds, from Darkwater Lake and Assu Creek to Beech’s Creek and beyond, the pattern is consistent. Roads are punched into previously unroaded forests, logging proceeds into areas designated for protection and communities are left to fight for their water, their fish, and their safety after the fact. The Peaceful Grannies are calling on the Government of B.C. to make changes to several policies and protections including placing a moratorium on logging of remaining old-growth and mature forests on Quadra Island until proper conservation plans are in place.

More local governments, contractors and First Nations will take on wildfire-risk-mitigation roles in and around their communities thanks to a $30-million investment in training, equipment and FireSmart programs. “Through powerful partnerships with local communities, we’re doing the work to get ahead of wildfire season,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “We’re investing in local governments, contractors and First Nations to mitigate the risks of wildfire, protecting people and community. This is how we create jobs, support workers and build more resilient forests, restoring confidence in our sector.” The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program is receiving an additional $15 million to continue prioritizing core FireSmart activities to protect the most vulnerable communities in B.C. The program is part of B.C.’s Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program. Along with the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction program, it reduces wildfire risk by funding planning, education, co-ordination and fuel-management activities on publicly owned and Crown land.

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B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar has begun imposing deadlines on some First Nations to try to speed up the drawn-out creation of new regional forestry plans. In a wide-ranging interview, Parmar told The Tyee that he has informed participants in two regional forest planning groups that they will be expected to complete work by the end of this year. Work on 15 forest landscape plans, or FLPs, began more than four years ago as part of an extensive effort to overhaul forest management practices in British Columbia. The plans are to be created after significant discussions with community members, industry representatives and local First Nations. But although B.C.’s former forests minister called the approach “transformational” four years ago, only one forest landscape plan — for a series of watersheds on Vancouver Island south of Port McNeill — has been completed so far. Now, Parmar said he has told some First Nations that discussions will need to produce results soon.

Prince George is once again surpassing expectations with the sale of two commercial thinning areas in the region, says BC’s forests minister. The sales were made to Freya Logging, a contractor based in Prince George. The total volume between the two sales is 14,005 cubic metres in the West Lake and Greg Creek area. Freya Logging will undertake commercial thinning, a forest management process that removes a portion of trees in a 35-year-old or older stand to create space and provide more light and nutrients for younger trees in the area, while older trees are cut down and sold. The process is also known to decrease the risk of forest fires by reducing fuel loads and increasing forest resilience against pests. BC Forest Minister Ravi Parmar has been a strong advocate for commercial thinning in the province and considers these two sales a milestone for forestry in BC.

The Alberta government has released a new wildfire mitigation strategy aimed at reducing wildfire risk and protecting communities, forests and critical infrastructure across the province. The Alberta Wildfire Mitigation Strategy outlines measures to improve preparedness and strengthen prevention efforts as wildfire seasons become more frequent and severe. Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said the strategy is intended to help communities better prepare for wildfire and reduce potential damage. …The strategy outlines six focus areas: improving knowledge of wildfire risks, strengthening community and Indigenous partnerships, reviewing legislation and policy, expanding the use of technology and innovation, integrating wildfire mitigation into landscape planning and prioritizing hazardous fuels management.

Members of the public are invited to an open house to learn about the development of a Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan, and provide input to help guide long-term approaches to water supply and ecosystem health in the area. The open house will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 3-6 p.m. at The Hub at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Road in the Cowichan Valley. The B.C. government and Cowichan Tribes are leading the development of the plan, building on several years of engagement with community members, farmers and industry through local advisory tables, such as the Cowichan Tribes Guidance Group and the Community Collaborative Advisory Table.

North Cowichan wants the province to expedite increases to water licences for the Cowichan and Chemainus aquifers. Council authorized Mayor Rob Douglas to write a letter to Randene Neill, B.C.’s Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, asking the government to accelerate the licence process at its meeting on Feb. 18. The request came after a presentation by North Cowichan’s engineering director Clay Reitsma on key infrastructure constraints in the municipality. Reitsma said that increased growth and development demands, provincial housing targets, and the recent closure of the Crofton pulp mill have combined to create significant constraints and impacts on North Cowichan’s limited water and sewer servicing, and water-licensing limits. He pointed out that most of Crofton’s water currently comes from the now closed Domtar mill… Domtar has committed to keep the water flowing from the mill’s water systems to Crofton until the end of 2026, but no promises have been made beyond that.

Introducing The Root of It — the official podcast of the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship at UBC. In our debut episode, our host Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Dean, Dr. Rob Kozak, digs deep into the ideas, research and real-world impact shaping environmental stewardship today, with faculty members Dr. Janette Bulkan and Dr. Scott Hinch. From forests and climate to community and resilience, this is where bold conversations take root. This isn’t just a podcast about trees, it’s about the people, science and stories driving change for our planet.

Sqomish Forestry’s special projects superintendent Roger Lewis explained the motives behind the Indigenous company’s latest education initiative in Squamish; that is, to encourage school kids to plant cedar seedlings, and to carve a race canoe. Since 2019, Sqomish Forestry has operated under the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) business arm Nch’ḵay̓. “Sqomish Forestry shared about 1,000 western red cedar and yellow cedar seedlings with our friends and community members at the Squamish Nation’s Nexwsp’áyaḵen ta Úxwumixw (Community Operations), Ta na wa Yúus ta Stitúyntsam̓ (Rights & Title), and Elders teams, the St’a7mes School, and Don Ross Middle School,” Nch’ḵay announced last month. …Nch’ḵay’s vice president of forestry and sustainability Molly Hudson explained that the Nation intend to use their donations of cedar seedlings to rehabilitate sites such as schools as cedar itself has cultural significance with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and other coastal First Nations.

MISSION – Mission-area residents are invited to attend a CutBlock Party and help replant trees at the Mission Municipal Forest later this month. The City of Mission says the event will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to help reforest a recently logged cutblock by planting trees for the future and better understand how the municipality’s sustainable forestry operations support the community. The free event invites community members to enjoy easy guided hikes, try their hand at axe throwing, climb into a massive rock truck and explore the history and future of the forest.

Canada’s drinking water can remain at risk long after wildfires burn out, according to a global review by UBC Faculties of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and Applied Science. It found water-quality impacts often emerge months or years later—not just immediately after a fire. Researchers analyzed 23 studies across 28 watersheds worldwide, comparing pre- and post-fire levels of sediment, nutrients, metals, organic carbon, ions and wildfire-fighting chemicals. Across climates, contamination often intensified over time, particularly when storms or snowmelt washed stored ash and debris into rivers. The findings carry particular weight for Canada, where wildfire activity has intensified. In 2023, over 15 million hectares burned, more than twice the previous national record. …“Canada is entering a new era of wildfire risk,” said Dr. Loretta Li, senior author and UBC civil engineering professor. “If we want to protect drinking water, we have to treat wildfire impacts as long-term, not short-term.”