Region Archives: Canada West

Special Feature

William “Bill” Dumont passed away January 25, 2023

Legacy.com
January 29, 2023
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Bill Dumont

William “Bill” Dumont – July 15, 1948 – January 25, 2023. Bill Dumont was born into this world on July 15, 1948, and left it peacefully on January 25, 2023; both earlier and faster than anyone expected. He was B-I-G. Not only in stature, but personality, opinions, his acts of kindness, his love of gardening and travel, life spanning volunteerism and love language of preparing food and serving it to others. Family. Friends. Food. Fun. Faith. Forestry. Fishing. Flowers. Fur-babies. All had his heart, and that heart will dearly be missed by many.

Bill earned a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) from the University of British Columbia in 1971. Next he served as a CUSO Volunteer forester from 1971 to 1973 in Tapah and Ipoh, West Malaysia, with the Perak State Forestry Department. His journey to becoming a Distinguished Professional Forester included being the Chief Forester with Western Forest Products Ltd. for many years. He also served on the Forest Practices Board and was a director and volunteer with many other very worthy organizations, including Indigenous economic development corporations.

A celebration of Bill’s life will take place on February 7, 2023 in Duncan, BC. 

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Opinion / EdiTOADial

The resounding end of mountain pine beetle era for the BC Interior

By David Elstone, Managing Director
The Spar Tree Group
January 30, 2023
Category: Opinion / EdiTOADial
Region: Canada, Canada West

Last week’s announcement by Canfor to restructure its BC operations to better align its manufacturing capacity with the available long-term fibre supply represents a major turning point for the BC forest industry. Canfor’s announcement was part of a long series of government and industry announcements over the last two weeks. Such announcements also included $146 million for various government initiatives. Collectively, these announcements have provided insight into the current and future state of the BC forest industry. … starting in chronological order:

…Canfor’s restructuring is symbolic as it signals the resounding end to the mountain pine beetle era for the BC interior and heralds the start of the so-called ‘paradigm shift’ – for better or for worse. Expect more capacity reductions to come.

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Business & Politics

Kamloops’ Kruger mill ‘situated better than most:’ union

By Michael Reeve
CFJC Today Kamloops
February 2, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

KAMLOOPS — The forestry sector in British Columbia has been struggling with approximately 800 jobs being lost in the past few weeks as three separate mills have announced closures. Other mills have also been forced to enact curtailments or indefinite shutdowns as they wait for a steady supply of logs. Despite those challenges, the pulp mill in Kamloops is still turning a profit according to Kruger officials. Union representative Wes Mitchell was just in Prince George where 300 mill workers will soon be out of a job but agreed the Kamloops plant is in a good spot. “I’m worried about the forest industry in general, but I think we are situated better than most,” agreed Mitchell. “The company has a plan and we are backing them up as much as we can. There are some hurdles with the government… There are lots of promises but we haven’t seen much action yet.”

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MP Taylor Bachrach Calls for Changes to Employment Insurance to Support Sawmill Workers in Houston & Chetwynd

By Jeff Blagden
Canada’s First Nations Radio (CFNR) Network
February 1, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Upcoming closures at two northern sawmills have Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach calling for changes to Employment Insurance. Last week, Canfor announced a restructuring of their operations planned to take effect in April. It includes the permanent closure of their Chetwynd sawmill, and an indefinite suspension of operations in Houston, while they await an investment decision. Combined, those closures will result in the loss of over 400 jobs, which Bachrach says will have a long-lasting impact on the forestry-dependent communities. He is calling for the Federal government to support workers by reinstating temporary changes made to the EI program during the pandemic. Those changes include: shortening the 420-hour entrance requirement, and ensuring negotiated one-time benefits, such as severance, don’t restrict EI qualifications. Bachrach says the same benefits should be applied to the mill workers, at least until the government can fix what he calls a broken system.

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Houston mill closure heralds passing bell of forest industry

By Thom Barker
Smithers Interior News
February 2, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

What’s bad for Houston is bad for Smithers. In fact, Canfor closing its Houston mill, even if it is “temporary” as the company claims, is bad for B.C. This is especially true because it is not an isolated occurrence. …None of this should come as a surprise, however. While the death knell of B.C.’s forest industry may not be tolling quite yet, the current situation can certainly be characterized as its passing bell. …Premier David Eby announced $140 million in “investments” aimed at softening the fall for forestry workers facing unemployment… With the drastic drop off in stumpage fees and ongoing mill closures, where exactly will we be getting that money? From healthcare? New taxes? We don’t want to call the situation dire, but that is exactly what it is. We need better answers as to how B.C. is going to survive the death of forestry.

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Forty under 40 Award winner profile: Sabrina Spencer

Business in Vancouver
February 1, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Sabrina Spencer

BIV is proud to recognize Sabrina Spencer, vice-president, environment and regulatory, at the BC Council of Forest Industries, and 39 exceptional business leaders with 2022 Forty under 40 Awards. Each recipient is featured in BIV‘s annual Forty under 40 Magazine, and will be celebrated at an awards gala Feb. 22. Learn more about Sabrina Spencer in this Q&A story including: What was your toughest business or professional decision?Every career move I have ever made has been a tough decision because I have always been blessed to work with the best colleagues. It’s always tough to leave a team you love working with, but now I’m lucky to call many of those ex-colleagues friends.”

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Kamloops’ Kruger mill thriving as forestry sector struggles

By Michael Reeve
CFJC Today Kamloops
January 31, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

KAMLOOPS — The forestry sector in British Columbia has been dealing with curtailments, realignments and mill closures across the province.  Kruger Specialty Papers acquired the Kamloops pulp mill in June of 2022. At that time officials stated that the pulp mill fit perfectly into their future plans for the company. Fast forward to January 2023, and as mills across B.C. are struggling, Kruger is still turning a profit.  “As you can appreciate, it is a difficult time for the forest product industry here in B.C. — especially given the challenges right now with fiber availability. However, despite that, the Kamloops mill is looking very sound financially, and we really believe it has a strong future,” said Kristin Dangelmaier, Environment and Technical Manger for Kruger Kamloops. …“The Kamloops facility has the assets and the grade-mix and the production line that really fits well with Kruger’s business plan.”

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Business stable for Canoe Forest Products in Salmon Arm despite some industry closures

By Martha Wickett
Penticton Western News
January 31, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

So far, so good at Canoe Forest Products Ltd. in Canoe, one of Salmon Arm’s largest employers. Although B.C. companies such as Canfor and Tolko have been in the news recently due to mill closures or extended shutdowns, Canoe Forest Products, a plywood/veneer plant about five kilometres east of downtown Salmon Arm, has remained stable. For instance, the plant didn’t shut down for any extra time over Christmas, which has happened in the past. “Plywood has held up better than some of the other commodities in terms of volume of sales and pricing,” said Marcello Angelozzi, general manager. “It’s been fairly consistent as far as sales goes. We haven’t seen a big dry spell, knock on wood, but it doesn’t mean we’re immune.” Canoe Forest Products is a member of the Gorman Group of Companies, which also has operations in West Kelowna, Revelstoke, Lumby and Oroville, Washington.

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Municipalities and Industry Join Together in Rail Advocacy Initiative

Alberta Forest Products Association
January 26, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

EDMONTON, Alberta – The Community Rail Advocacy Alliance (CRAA) brings together 20 unique voices across municipalities, industry representatives from agriculture and forestry, and regional economic groups to advocate for better rail service across Alberta and Western Canada. …Previously, members have worked individually to advocate for key legislative and regulatory changes in the rail industry without success. By joining together, members are hopeful that their unified, collaborative voice will be heard by Ottawa, CN, CP, and its regulators. …“The past several years have shown how fragile and vital our supply chains are. We want to see significant investment in our railway network for strengthened infrastructure, rolling stock, and human resources to keep Alberta’s and Canada’s supply chains on track,” stated Brock Mulligan, Senior Vice President of Alberta Forest Products Association. “Despite municipal boundaries, industry goals, or private interests, we all want Alberta to have equitable, reliable railcar access to support our economies and communities.”

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Midway mill clearing out inventory as second round of layoffs approaches

By Sami Islam
Trail Times
January 29, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Immediately after announcing the shutdown of its Midway mill, Vaagen Fibre Canada laid off 35 employees. Since then, it has continued to operate the mill as it clears out its inventory — a process that Dan Macmaster, the company’s fibre supply manager, expects will take them into early February. Once the rest of the mill’s fibre runs out, its “50 or so” employees that remain will also be out of work. The company’s leadership has been in contact with Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell to discuss ways to support the company’s laid-off employees and what might trigger the mill’s re-opening. Both parties agree that the problem has short-term and long-term dimensions that need to be considered. …Vaagen Fibre has maintained that the current shutdown is due to an inability to access wood fibre at an efficient price. A long-term solution to the mill’s shutdown would require significant changes to the milling industry’s current structure.

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Curtailment could be shorter than 3 weeks: Mercer Celgar

By Greg Nesteroff
My Kootenay Now
January 30, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The managing director of the Mercer Celgar pulp mill in Castlegar, Bill MacPherson, says the three weeks of downtime scheduled to begin on March 7 due to a lack of fibre could actually be slightly shorter than expected. We spoke with Bill to learn more about the company’s decision and the state of the pulp industry. What factors went into your decision to take downtown? This goes back to a long time problem emerging over the last number of years but it became more problematic early in November. …So the specific timing had to do with inventory? It had to do with optimizing inventory, and also to get through the winter far enough that you don’t expose the mill to the risk of freeze up if you we have a late winter. …Our real goal would be not to curtail at all if we can find enough affordable fibre. 

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Canfor discusses its economic plans in B.C.

By Carolina de Ryk
CBC Daybreak North
January 30, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Michelle Ward

After announcing hundreds of job losses across northern B.C., Canfor’s Michelle Ward discusses the company’s long-term plans for the region as timber supply declines. Click the Read More to access the On Demand audio program. 

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Association of BC Forest Professionals changing name to Forest Professionals BC

By Christine Gelowitz, RPF, CEO
Forest Professionals of British Columbia
January 30, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Association of BC Forest Professionals is changing its name. Next month, we will operate under a new name, Forest Professionals BC (FPBC), although our legal name will continue to be Association of BC Forest Professionals. As we close the chapter on a proud 75 years of operation, we are moving forward as a refreshed and reinvigorated regulatory body. Council approved the change to the organization’s name in May 2022 after extensive research and discussion. This change is the latest in our evolution under the Professional Governance Act(PGA) from a dual mandate regulatory/membership organization to one with a more singular focus on our professional regulatory mandate. The new name will sharpen our identity and emphasize that professional forestry is a regulated profession and that its governing body is not a lobbyist or advocacy body for the profession’s members. Despite being a professional regulator since 1947, having “association” in the name of the organization has over the years led to a blurring and misunderstanding of the ABCFP’s role. 

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Here is why John Brink is right on BC’s value-added timber

By Russ Cameron
Letter to Tree Frog Editors
January 30, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Russ Cameron

John Brink is right.  That said, it is encouraging to hear Minister Ralston acknowledge that… specialty and secondary processing is the way for the BC public to get the greatest socio-economic benefit per cubic meter harvested from their resource. …45 years ago, the Government of BC recognized that non-tenured mills and remanufacturers required access to a share of the BC public’s forest resource.  In 1978, 13% of the AAC was set aside through the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (SBFEP). …And then came the Forest Renewal Act of 2003.  The government sought to overhaul BC Forest Policy to mitigate allegations of subsidy by US interests. …Whose 20% was going to be used to get the data points necessary to price the non-competitive timber? …From that point on, the SBFEP ceased to exist and it was rebranded as BC Timber Sales with a volume of about 14 million m3.  Believe me, there is no way that a community-based Mom and Pop remanufacturer is going to successfully bid against a big tenured company on a Category Any timber sale.

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Scrap the old BC forest industry, build a new one

By Anthony Britneff
The Times Colonist
January 30, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Anthony Britneff

In two decades, employment in British Columbia’s forest industry has fallen by more than 40,000 direct jobs, and the industry today contributes only two per cent to B.C.’s gross domestic product while employing only two per cent of the province’s workers. Given this, why all the hullabaloo about the loss of 300 Canfor jobs in Prince George? And why another knee-jerk government response in the form of a new subsidy, amounting to $90 million? This is the same old pattern repeating itself, a pattern of subsidization following an industry downturn that has contributed to the decline of the very industry that the subsidies ironically purported to support. …B.C.’s industry as presently constituted needs to fail completely, as must the weak legislative framework that allows it to clear-cut most of the province’s primary and old-growth forests to the detriment of biodiversity, soil, air and water. 

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Huu-ay-aht First Nation says it’s open to investing in closed mill site

By Kendall Hanson
Chek News
January 29, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Huu-ay-aht First Nation says its optimistic members of a working group will be able to come up with a new future for the closed Alberni Pacific Division mill. Western Forest Products which owns the mill announced Friday it will never reopen the mill in its current configuration leaving the 90 people who worked here worried. …The company has struck a working group which includes the union and the Huu-ay-aht First Nation that partially owns Tree Farm Licence 44. The group’s mission is to explore other potential options for the mill site over the next 90 days. …Chief Councillor Robert Dennis Sr., of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation says he’s confident they can find a path forward. …Dennis says the first nation may even be interested in investing in the mill site.

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‘It just guts a small community’: Forestry job cuts take a personal toll

CBC News
January 28, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

It’s been a tough week for small forestry communities in B.C. On Wednesday, Canfor said it would be shutting down its sawmill and pellet plant in Chetwynd, leaving 157 people without jobs in the community, about 300 kilometres northeast of Prince George. The company also announced an extended closure of its mill in Houston, B.C., to re-focus operations on manufacturing, impacting a further 333 employees in the forestry town 300 kilometres west of Prince George. And on Friday, Western Forest Products put 100 more people out of work on Vancouver Island as it announced it will not be restarting its Port Alberni mill. “It’s really tough because it’s been our main industry here, forever,” said Houston mayor Shane Brienen in an interview the day after Canfor’s announcement. “It’s what keeps our town going.” …He spoke to CBC Radio West host Sarah Penton about Canfor’s closure, its impact on their community, and what comes next.

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Working Group to Explore Solutions for Western’s Alberni-Pacific Division

Western Forest Products
January 26, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Vancouver, British Columbia – Western Forest Products Inc. announced that the Company will not restart its Alberni-Pacific Division (APD) facility in its current configuration and has established a multi-party working group to explore potential viable industrial manufacturing solutions for the facility. The mill has been curtailed since fall 2022. In 2022, Western, Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership and Huu-ay-aht First Nations commissioned the Beck Group to look at long-term economically viable primary manufacturing options for APD. The report concludes the options for APD are very limited. Over the next 90 days, the working group, which includes representatives from Western, the United Steelworkers union, Indigenous partners and contractually-aligned business, will explore potential viable industrial manufacturing solutions for the site.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Wood in schools, national guidelines for Whole-building Life Cycle Assessment, BUILDEX Vancouver

naturally:wood
February 1, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

In the February edition of the naturally:wood newsletter find out more about how to incorporate wood into schools. 

  • Wood Use + Design in BC Schools: How can we build educational facilities that promote both mental and physical well-being while reducing environmental impacts? Explore this collection of guides and tools to discover how integrating wood into school design can do just that. 
  • Whole-building Life Cycle Assessment: The National Research Council of Canada, in collaboration with the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, has developed National Guidelines for Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment to harmonize the practice of whole-building life cycle assessment (wbLCA) and assist in interpretation of and compliance with relevant standards. 
  • Showcasing innovation in the built environment at BUILDEX Vancouver: Come and visit us at the BC Wood Pavilion (booth 1525) during BUILDEX Vancouver, on February 15 & 16

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Building schools with wood cuts carbon, saves money and improves seismic performance, report finds

By naturally:wood
Journal of Commerce
February 2, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

For the better part of a decade, B.C.’s schools have featured more innovative, eco-friendly and flexible designs. Today’s schools are more versatile and adaptable, offer ample daylight and are focused on health and well-being, along with safety and better seismic performance. Increasingly these schools are being built with locally supplied wood products and advanced hybrid-mass timber prefabricated construction. That’s the finding of a recent report Wood Use in British Columbia Schools, authored by B.C.-based architecture firm thinkspace and structural engineering firm Fast + Epp. The report highlights several B.C. schools built by an expanding roster of timber experts in the province including architects, engineers, fabricators, contractors and building specialists. The report cites numerous benefits to building schools with wood, especially in B.C. It can be provincially sourced from healthy and certified forests, while also supporting communities across B.C. and the provincial economy.

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Industry cautiously optimistic about year ahead

By Peter Caulfield
Business in Vancouver
January 27, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Construction in B.C. had a better year in 2022, as the economy gradually emerged from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prospects for 2023 are mixed, however. …Helen Goodland, principal and head of research and innovation at SCIUS Advisory Inc. in Vancouver, said a sign of better times is that “we’ve finally realized that building housing is a good thing. The B.C. government realizes that mass timber is a technology in which we can be a world leader,” said Goodland. “Thanks to such initiatives as the Mass Timber Action Plan, mass timber is putting B.C. at the forefront of construction technology. Suddenly, mass timber is everywhere. It shows what can be done with the right combination of effort by government and industry.” …Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association, says the No. 1 problem Canadian construction faces is a continuing labour shortage.

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Forestry

McBride Community Forest board member resigns

By Andrea Arnold
The Rocky Mountain Goat
February 2, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

McBride Community Forest Board of Directors member Sheilagh Foster submitted her letter of resignation from the board on Tues Jan 24. Foster had been on the board of directors since the summer of 2021… She was disheartened to hear that the Village of McBride had voted to remove two of the MCFC board of directors. “(It is) a sad repeat of the history and community trauma endured under previous Village Councils,” said Foster. “I joined the MCFC Board of Directors, hoping that director appointment and management by Village Council was behind us. I hoped MCFC could work toward becoming an independent organization not subject to the political whims of McBride Village Council.” Seeing that the Village has once again stepped in and appointed directors of their own choosing, Foster made the decision to step down. 

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Lower Mainland anti-logging protester sentenced to house arrest, curfew

By Cornelia Naylor
Vancouver is Awesome
February 2, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

A BC provincial court judge declined to grant North Vancouver Save Old Growth organizer Ben Holt, 52, a conditional discharge. Judge Gregory Rideout said it was a “significant aggravating factor” that Holt continued with the protests despite bail conditions banning him from blocking traffic. A protester involved in four anti-logging demonstrations that disrupted traffic in Burnaby, Vancouver and the North Shore has been handed a conditional sentence with house arrest and a curfew to be followed by six months of probation. Benjamin Holt, a 52-year-old computer programmer, was in Vancouver provincial court for sentencing Thursday morning after pleading guilty in December to three counts of mischief and one count of breaching bail conditions. The charges relate to protests with Save Old Growth, a group that has organized major traffic disruptions along the Trans Canada Highway in a bid to end all old-growth logging in B.C.

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Future of the Sector: Gerrit Bittner, Technical Forester in Training

Forest Friendly Communities
January 31, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Gerrit Bittner

Gerrit Bittner is a Technical Forester in Training on the engineering team at Teal Jones. He plays an important role in forest management in the company’s Fraser Valley operation. Gerrit’s days are typically spent out in the field doing block layout, establishing locations for road construction, and determining fish bearing and non-fish bearing waterways. …the information is used in the preparation of Cutting Permits, Road Permits and Road Construction and Logging Plans. Forestry runs deep in Gerrit’s family. A member of the Wuikinuxv First Nation from Oweekeno, he grew up in Bella Coola where his father owns a logging company. Gerrit started his career as a chokerman and worked his way up to be a rigging slinger. Gerrit attributes a lot of his timber harvest and industry knowledge to his father. In 2017, a work colleague told Gerrit about a seasonal position at Teal Jones. He’s worked with the company’s engineering team ever since. 

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Competition Bureau to investigate industry claims of sustainable forestry management

Bob Weber
The Canadian Press in Global News
February 1, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Competition Bureau has opened an inquiry to see if forestry industry claims of sustainable management on vast stretches of Canadian woodlands are false advertising. The inquiry, announced late last year, comes in response to a complaint filed by Ecojustice on behalf of eight environmental groups. Ecojustice says that forest industry ads claiming the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) sets rigorous harvesting standards are dishonest and misleading. …Jason Metnick, for SFI said, “(The initiative) has a forest management standard that is based on objective performance measures and indicators”. At stake is Canada’s most commonly used method of assuring consumers that the wood and paper products they buy are harvested in accordance with modern ecological principles. It is promoted by the Forest Products Association of Canada and purports to certify sustainable forestry on more than 120 million hectares. But the Ecojustice complaint calls on the Competition Bureau to force the industry to retract those claims and pay a $10 million fine. …The Competition Bureau inquiry, which is not conducted in public, has the power to use the courts to compel evidence. 

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Reducing wildfire risk through a holistic approach

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
February 1, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Quesnel, B.C. – the City of Quesnel, a municipality situated between the Fraser River and Quesnel River in the Cariboo Regional District of B.C., has been a trailblazer in making forestry more sustainable by undertaking innovative projects with support from Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) funding. After years of the mountain pine beetle devastating the forests surrounding the city, and the Plateau Fire Complex which consumed 545,150 hectares of forest, the City of Quesnel took the opportunity to learn from the crisis and formed the Forestry Initiatives Program to advocate for the practice of sustainable forestry including proactive wildfire risk reduction. With FESBC funding, the City has now assessed over 1,000 hectares in the surrounding area near Quesnel as outlined in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), prescribed and treated 230 hectares with crews conducting treatments by hand and with machines, and developed 200 hectares of additional “shelf-ready” prescriptions.

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New generation will do better with our forests

Letter by Kit Burke, Chetwynd
Victoria Times Colonist
February 2, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Re: “Scrap the old forest industry, build a new one,” commentary, Jan. 30. I have absolutely had it with retired foresters writing long-winded opinion pieces about how we need to shut the forest industry down. It strikes me as the peak of hypocrisy to spend a career exploiting a resource, then once you are safely retired with a well-funded pension to decide it is time to shut it all down. These individuals spent decades in the industry and got us into the situation we find ourselves in today. …I work in the forest industry because I truly believe that well-managed forests and the products they produce are a key part of addressing climate change, building our province and providing benefits and employment to people in rural B.C. …To suggest that our profession has failed and our jobs should be wholesale “transitioned” because the previous generation mismanaged the resource, leaving us no opportunity to do better, is frankly insulting.

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Parks Canada uses winter months to design wildfire resilient forest in Banff National Park

By Helen Pike
CBC News
February 1, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

After a century of wildfire suppression, the forest in Banff National Park has grown into an ideal fuel source for wildfires. The evergreen trees are all an even age, undisturbed by fire, and have become so dense they choked out other species. It’s one of the big drivers behind why Parks Canada says it needs to return fire to the landscape, and strategically take away that fuel. In a controlled way, fire can be the nexus for biodiversity, and in southern Alberta, cutting down that fuel load is essential to keeping those living in the Bow Valley safe from catastrophic wildfires. …”There’s a lot of modelling … to understand what we need to do to make the valley more resilient, both in terms of reducing the impact to communities but also maintaining a more resilient ecosystem,” fire and vegetation specialist Charlie McLellan said. “Certainly we need to keep doing this proactively.”

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In Coastal B.C., First Nations Have Created Over 1,250 Jobs, 120 Businesses Using Conservation Finance Tool

By Coast Funds
Cision Newswire
January 31, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST, BC – A report released today identifies job creation, economic diversification, and other outcomes from 15 years of First Nations’ investments in stewardship and economic development in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Sustaining People and Place, published by Coast Funds, describes how conservation financing has benefitted communities and supported the protection of rainforest ecosystems that are home to Spirit bears, wild salmon, and coastal wolves. Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led conservation finance organization, was created through the 2006 Great Bear Rainforest agreements to manage $120 million for First Nations’ conservation and economic development initiatives in the region. Between 2008 and 2022, Coast Funds delivered $109.2 million towards 439 stewardship and economic development projects.

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Learn more about the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management

By the Faculty of Forestry
University of British Columbia
February 1, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

On February 7, join the UBC Faculty of Forestry for an online introduction to their Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management program. Learn more about how the MGEM program can equip you with the skills to advance in your career  in this exclusive online presentation and question-and-answer session. Over 9-months, the MGEM provides essential training in the use and application of geospatial tools used to plan, develop, manage, and evaluate programs to protect and regulate natural habitats and renewable natural resources. This interdisciplinary degree blends landscape ecology training and quantitative spatial skills development to prepare graduates to tackle pressing environmental issues across multiple sectors.

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A BC community co-operative takes on wildfire prevention and climate change

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
January 31, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Procter, B.C. – A blazing wildfire in 2003 that prompted an evacuation alert, and grew to nearly 8,000 hectares, was a wake-up call for many Harrop-Procter residents. The community, located in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, was clearly at risk and there was much work to be done to protect homes and watersheds. However, focusing narrowly on wildfire risk reduction work was not sufficient for the residents. With climate change conversations moving to the forefront of public consciousness, the Harrop Procter Community Co-operative (HPCC) developed an approach that is present-mindful, and future-focused, not only with its wildfire risk reduction activities but in how it manages and sustains the forested landbase. The Forest Enhancement Society of BC has funded a handful of projects in the community forest that have a climate adaptation theme. 

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B.C.’s War in the Woods is entering a new phase. Will it be the last?

By Arno Kopecky
The Narwhal
January 30, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Garry Merkel

So far, the new year seems to be extracting the same old headlines … more old-growth logging, more pulp-mill closures and — coming soon — more protests. On Feb. 25, a march for ancient forests will converge outside the legislature in Victoria. …a coalition of 168 organizations called United We Stand are calling on the premier “to implement a paradigm shift in forest stewardship.”  …the notion of a “paradigm shift” comes from the government-commissioned old-growth strategic review. It has become a sort of bible for B.C.’s environmental advocates. …But, more than two years and 1,100 arrests since the strategic review came out, ancient trees are still falling all across the province. All of which begs a question: what gives? Garry Merkel, a Tahltan forester … is one of the old-growth strategic review’s two authors. …Merkel insisted it won’t be a matter of decades, but rather of months before the NDP delivers the very thing protesters are demanding. 

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‘Ambitious’ conservation targets demand agreement between B.C., Ottawa

By Justine Hunter
Globe and Mail
January 30, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The British Columbia government created a major conservation area that it bills as one of the most significant new protected areas in a decade. To meet its lofty environmental goals, it will need to create the equivalent of 175 more over the next seven years. Canada needs B.C. to succeed to meet its own promises at the COP15. Despite the strong political alignment between the two governments, a nature agreement that would fast-track conservation has proved elusive. The federal government has committed to reach 30 per cent protected areas by the year 2030. …British Columbia, with one-10th of the country’s land base and an outsized share of Canada’s biodiversity, has protected a greater share of its lands than any other province or territory. But it still needs to add another 10 million hectares of protected areas to hit its own 30-by-30 target. [Access to this full article requires a subscription to the Globe and Mail]

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Yekooche First Nation declares it is taking over resource management in its territory

Prince George Daily News
January 30, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

British Columbia — After more than 27 years of unsettled treaty negotiations with the Crown, the Yekooche First Nation has issued a declaration affirming their unceded ancestral rights to their lands and resources. By recognizing its Section 35 rights set out in the Constitution, the nation says it is taking back control of its territory and resources, and will be exercising its own laws, customs and resource management systems. “Today, we take back the management and harvesting of our ecosystems – the land, the minerals, the trees, the animals and the water,” sai Chief Mitchell Joseph. “Treaty negotiations have progressed at a snail’s pace over the past 27 years. …It’s 2023 and the Crown should not still control us and our resources. We remain wards of the state. We are a forgotten nation in B.C., ignored by our Crown who is supposed to be duty bound to act honourably and as proper fiduciaries towards us. 

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BC transfers land back to Lake Babine Nation

By Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconcilliation
The Government of BC
January 6, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Murphy Abraham & Murray Rankin

BURNS LAKE, BC — The Province and Lake Babine Nation are taking the next step in the journey to recognize and implement the Nation’s rights and title through the signing of a new land transfer agreement. The agreement will enable Lake Babine Nation to take back control of 20,000 hectares of waterfront and prime forestry lands in their territory… [and] enable the Nation to expand its forestry business and drive economic opportunity in the regional economy. …The Foundation Agreement was signed by Canada, Lake Babine Nation and the Province in September 2020. It is a roadmap for reconciliation, providing a step-by-step guide for how the Nation and the provincial and federal governments will work together in a phased approach to implement Lake Babine self-governance, title and other rights, boost economic development, collaborate on major land and resource decisions, and promote community health and well-being.

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Sharp decline in mountain pine beetle population no reason to let guard down

By Simon Ducatel
MountainView Today Alberta
January 29, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

SUNDRE – While a reportedly sharp decline in Alberta’s mountain pine beetle population is certainly a positive development for the province’s forests and economy, the general manager of Sundre Forest Products – West Fraser said neither the industry nor the government can let down their guard. “You’re never going to get me to say clear skies ahead,” Bruce Alexander said. “I don’t want to downplay the fact that overall, things could be a whole lot worse. The data is showing us a good news standpoint, provincially. But I don’t think we can assume that it’s behind us…” …The unfortunate situation that unfolded in B.C. had a silver lining of offering valuable learning lessons for the industry and government in Alberta, he said… Even at the peak of the pine beetle population boom in Alberta, the area covered under the Sundre mill’s forest management agreement largely dodged the proverbial bullet.  

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Cowichan filmmaker explores the life-giving cedar tree in new film

By Lee Wilson
APTN National News
January 26, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Joe Martin

Filmmaker Harold Joe from Cowichan First Nation is aiming to inspire the next generation to preserve cultural knowledge. His documentary A Cedar is Life weaves together stories of elders, carvers, medicine makers and basket weavers from Vancouver Island to Haida Gwaii in B.C. “When you listen to these older people and these artists, there is a real connection; we have that connection to this tree, this being. I don’t like calling it a tree; I like calling it a being; it was a giver,” says Joe. As the name suggests, his film showcases the cedar tree, which is central to the cultural life of West Coast First Nations. The film speaks with knowledge keepers who explore how all parts of the tree are valuable and the importance of protecting this ancient ancestor. The film follows Joe as he … reflects on his time working in forestry in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

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BC Community Forest Newsletter – January 2023

The BC Community Forest Association
January 27, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The BC Community Forest Association announces 2023 Conference & AGM in Kamloops this June. Registration information is available online. Plan to join us on June 6th for a pre-conference field tour and afternoon recreation options including group biking, hiking and golfing. BCCFA Executive Director, Jennifer Gunter who started the new year off with some field visits, is seen here at Lower North thompson CF’s mill yard with manager Mike Francis and George Brcko, BCCFA President . Jennifer’s tour to Logan Lake CF, accompanied by management team members Adam Sullivan and Garnet Mierau included viewing some of their wildfire risk reduction work. Wells Gray CF in Clearwater was also included in the tour. George Brcko is pictured here with two new board members and some winter logging. Newsletter also includes news, events and essential publications. 

 

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Government of Canada announces $5.2 million to boost. B.C. clean technology sector

By Pacific Economic Development Canada
Cision Newswire
February 1, 2023
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER – British Columbia is home to some of the most innovative clean tech companies in the world. By linking up innovators and adopters, this sector will be well-positioned to grow while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling some of the toughest climate-related challenges we face. Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) announced $5.2 million in funding through PacifiCan, together with $2.3 million from the Province of BC, for Foresight Canada. Foresight Canada will use this funding to establish the BC Net Zero Innovation Network (BCNZIN), bringing together innovators, businesses and stakeholders to accelerate the development of competitive cleantech solutions, and moving them to market. Foresight will initially focus on solutions for B.C.’s forestry, mining and water sectors.

Additional Coverage in BIV by Nelson Bennett: New cleantech match-maker for forestry, mining, water launched

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Health & Safety

Décor Cabinets wins Safety Culture Award

By Rich Christianson
The Woodworking Network
January 30, 2023
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

MORDEN, Manitoba – Safe Work Manitoba honored Décor Cabinets Ltd. with its 2022 Safety Culture Award. Décor Cabinets has more than 500 employees and operates two manufacturing facilities. The company has maintained its SAFE Work Certification since 2018. Safe Work Manitoba cited the leadership team at Décor for playing an active role in promoting a safety culture, including encouraging employees to participate in its HIRTS (Hazard Identification & Reduction Tracking System) program. Through the HIRTS program, employees make safety improvements in their work areas. …In 2020, The Wood Manufacturing Council presented Stan Pauls, owner and CEO of Décor Cabinets with its 2020 HR Award of Distinction.

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