Region Archives: Canada West

Special Feature

Advance Your Career in Wood Processing with BCIT’s Industry-Driven Associate Certificate Programs

BCIT School of Construction and the Environment
May 6, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Professionals working in the lumber and sawmill sector and looking to advance their careers can gain specialized training through BCIT’s Associate Certificate in Industrial Wood Processing, starting June 2025. The IWP program was developed with industry subject matter experts and informed by industry leaders to support upskilling and professional development within the sector. The program is 1-year, delivered online and part-time to allow students to balance work and studies.

What sets the program apart is the expertise behind the scenes—seasoned instructors who bring decades of hands-on experience from across North America. Here’s a look at some of the leading professionals guiding the next generation of wood processing experts: Wayne Horvath – Lumber Fundamentals; Julie Cool – Sawmill Technology; Vahid Nasir – Wood Processing Tools; and Ciprian Pirvu – Quality Control & Kiln Drying.

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Business & Politics

Mountain View County supports forestry industry’s lobby

By Dan Singleton
The Albertan
May 8, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Brock Mulligan

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – Following a recent delegation appearance by Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) and other forestry officials, Mountain View County approved sending a letter of support for the industry to Alberta’s premier. Brock Mulligan, senior vice-president of AFPA appeared as a delegation earlier this spring at county council meeting. Jason Foote, general manager of Sundre Forest Products, was also part of the delegation. “We know there’s some mitigating measures that can be taken, both by the provincial and federal government (in support of the industry),” Milligan said. “We are asking for letters of support from municipalities to push those mitigative measures.” Those mitigating measures could include promoting the use of Alberta wood in construction, promoting market diversification and infrastructure investment, and implement a forestry manufacturing tax credit, he said. 

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B.C. gov’t not expecting immediate deal to end trade war as Carney visits White House

By Sonia Aslam and Jan Schuermann
CityNews Everywhere
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

A high-stakes meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday is being closely watched by politicians in Victoria. Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing and municipal affairs, said the province is being pragmatic… “We’re not expecting an agreement, and we’re also realistic that any agreement made with President Trump can be changed with a tweet the next day,” Kahlon said Tuesday. …Kahlon says the key for B.C. is to rely on its resources and to increase diversified trade with other countries. …Adding that breaking down interprovincial trade barriers will also help. …Meanwhile, B.C.’s forestry minister, Ravi Parmar, says Carney needs to prioritize B.C’s softwood lumber industry during his talk with Trump. …Western Canadian director for the United Steelworkers, Scott Lunny, tells 1130 NewsRadio that if the goal for the Trump administration is to rewrite the free trade agreement, we should “quit the nonsense and get on with that.”

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Fire being held at Pioneer Log Homes log yard near Williams Lake

By Ruth Lloyd
100 Mile Free Press
May 5, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Update: The fire in the log yard at Pioneer Log Homes near Williams Lake is being held. Original: Multiple fire crews are on scene at the Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. compound near Williams Lake Monday, May 5. Log decks are on fire on the west side of the property, the main log home building site for the company, which was featured in the Timber Kings reality television show. Partially constructed homes and the construction crane have so far not been impacted by the blaze. …A prescribed burn took place near the compound last week, but firefighters have not yet provided information on the cause of the fire.

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Eby calls for ‘new era’ of cooperation with feds in letter to Carney

By Simon Little & Richard Zussman
Global News
May 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

David Eby congratulated Mark Carney on his election win and urged him to “commit to a new era of federal-provincial-territorial cooperation.” The missive comes following a campaign in which Carney positioned himself as best prepared to bolster Canada’s economy and sovereignty under the shadow of US President Trump’s tariff and annexation threats. Eby emphasized the need to break down interprovincial trade barriers, along with the need for a national response to Trump’s attacks on the forestry industry. The letter called for a “Team Canada” approach to US softwood lumber duties, which it said represent a serious threat to BC’s economy and workers. Such an approach must support affected workers while seeking to incorporate a new softwood lumber agreement in any trade deals reached with the U.S., it added. “We are under direct attack,” Eby said of the lumber duties, “We are under a national security investigation; it’s ludicrous.”

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Cedar Valley Holdings to close in June

By Abigail Popple
The Rocky Mountain Goat in the Penticton Herald
May 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Valemount-based mill Cedar Valley Holdings will be shutting down its operations at the end of June, employees say. The closure will result in the layoff of 14 employees. In a letter shared with The Goat, employee Christine Pelletier said it has become increasingly difficult to obtain cedar logs from the Valemount Community Forest, with much of the local cedar supply being shipped to pulp mills in Prince George instead. “I was under the impression that The Community Forest [sic.] was there to keep forestry in our community,” Pelletier wrote. “I do believe that trees felled in [the Robson Valley] should remain in this valley for production.” In an interview, owner of the mill Jason Alexander echoed Pelletier’s concerns. He has documented several instances where he believes usable wood was sent to Prince George, with photos of trucks taking wood branded with the Valemount Community Forest name – including old-growth cedar – ranging from July 2023 through March 2025.

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90 Workers to be Laid Off Temporiarily at Quesnel River Pulp

By Teryn Midzain
My Cariboo Now
May 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

There will be a “temporary curtailment” at Millar Western Quesnel River Pulp, which will see around 90 workers laid off. Millar Western says the curtailment will start at the end of the day shift on May 16, until July 2. The company says the curtailment comes from market demand and issues, as well as the pressure from US tariffs. “We had a weakened market to start with for an extended period of time, with lower demand,” Brian McConkey, VP at Millar Western, says. “Then the new tariffs from China have only worsened our overall demand.” McConkey adds that it is not just Quesnel’s pulp mill going into curtailment; the Slave Lake Pulp and Whitecourt Pulp mills in Alberta will also experience temporary curtailment during the same period of time. An estimated over 200 workers between the three pulp mills will laid off temporarily. …McConkey adds Millar Western’s focus is to be back up with normal operations by July 2.

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10 immediate housing policy actions for the new federal government

By Trevor Hargreaves, B.C. Real Estate Association
Business in Vancouver
April 29, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Trevor Hargreaves

The recent federal election was heavily influenced by an array of housing policy platform promises. As the dust settles with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the helm of a newly energized Liberal Party, here are 10 of the most-needed steps the Liberals can take, expanding their pre-election platform from vague concept to winning strategy on the ground.

  1. Major expansion of trades education
  2. Invest in pre-fabricated and modular housing
  3. Establish a permanent National Housing Policy Roundtable
  4. Federal assistance with development cost charges
  5. Reintroduce Multi-Unit Rental Building Program
  6. Tax reform
  7. Policy review
  8. Homelessness
  9. Affordable housing
  10. Work more collectively as three layers of government in cohesive partnership

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Finance & Economics

Western Forest Products reports Q1, 2025 net income of $13.8 million

Western Forest Products Inc.
May 6, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER – Western Forest Products reported improved financial results in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to the same period last year. Net income was $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to a net loss of $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, and a net loss of $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. …lumber production of 134 million board feet (versus 145 million board feet in Q1 2024); average lumber selling price of $1,533 per mfbm. …North American markets are expected to be volatile due to concerns around the economic impact caused by potential further US tariffs and retaliatory tariffs. The spring building season which typically leads to gains in softwood lumber demand could be more muted. …In Japan, the spring housing demand is stronger than expected and channel inventories have declined. …Demand for our Industrial lumber products in North America are expected to strengthen as supply remains tight across all species.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Mass timber passive house in Courtenay setting a new standard

By Dean Stoltz
Chek News
May 7, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

Tom Grimmer built his first passive house in Comox about seven years ago. It was among a small handful of passive homes on the Island at the time. Now, he’s building another one in Courtenay. This time, it’s a mass timber passive house, possibly the first on the Island. Mass timber is described as “a family of engineered wood products known for their strength, durability, versatility and sustainability,” according to naturallywood.com. …The house is built air-tight to the highest standard in the world, resulting in high efficiency. …The house will cost about $400 per square foot to build because much of it is prefabricated overseas and then shipped to Vancouver Island. But Grimmer says he hopes to see local demand increase and maybe someday see local facilities built to make the pieces.

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Forestry

Okanagan Forest Task Force founder uses thermal imaging drone to help prevent wildfires

By Rob Gibson
Castanet
May 7, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

When Kane Blake, founder of the Okanagan Forest Task Force, isn’t busy cleaning up the backcountry he uses a night drone looking for unattended campfires. Blake has spotted and doused hundreds of fires. “My truck has big water tanks on it. When it gets dry and we’re doing cleanups, dragging cars and heavy things across rocks — I want our group to be safe — I don’t want to be the group that started a fire,” Blake said. He uses a drone with thermal imaging to spot fires and he’s even able to see people light up with the technology. …According to the BC Wildfire Service, anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.

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From Langford to Leadership: Honourable Ravi Parmar’s Journey in B.C. Politics

By Chief Dallas Smith
Rez Dog Walkers
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Join us live from Penticton as we dive into an engaging conversation with the Honourable Ravi Parmar, the Minister of Forests! In this episode, we explore the exciting changes happening in British Columbia’s forestry sector, including the recent timber review and the ongoing softwood lumber issues. Ravi shares his journey from a young political enthusiast to a minister, reflecting on his experiences with mentors like John Horgan and the importance of building relationships across party lines. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in forestry, the significance of reconciliation, and how First Nations are taking a leading role in resource management. Tune in for insights on the future of forestry in B.C., the importance of community engagement, and the collaborative efforts needed to ensure a sustainable and inclusive approach to resource management. Whether you’re a forestry professional, a community member, or just curious about the political landscape, this episode is for you.

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Sundre council adds voice to forestry advocacy

By Simon Ducatel
The Albertan
May 8, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Forrest Battjes

SUNDRE – The Town of Sundre’s council has agreed to add its voice in support of the forest sector’s advocacy in the face of U.S. tariff threats as well as what the industry considers regulatory hurdles at home. Forrest Battjes, a forestry educator with the Alberta Forest Products Association, presented to council on April 7 during a regular meeting. The association represents companies across the province from High Level down to Crowsnest Pass including operations ranging from pulp and bio-energy to engineered wood products. The sector reportedly supports approximately 30,000 jobs across Alberta and in some communities like Sundre, home to West Fraser ­– Sundre Forest Products, is among the largest local employers. Battjes discussed trade barriers in Alberta’s industry as a whole as well as some proposed solutions to face the challenges. “The stakes are high right now for our industry,” said Battjes.

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Mosaic Seeks Public Input on Responsible Recreation

Mosaic Forest Management
May 1, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A survey launched by Mosaic Forest Management on May 1st seeks to gather public input on a range of topics related to responsible recreation including illegal dumping, wildfire risks, impacts on wildlife, and gates. Mosaic welcomes responses from those who have camped, cut firewood, or recreated on Mosaic managed land located on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, and from those who may have never done so but have thoughts on outdoor recreation. The eight-minute online survey is open until May 23. Afterward, Mosaic will compile its findings and report back on what the public had to say. “This survey will guide Mosaic’s commitment to responsible forest stewardship—balancing public recreation with environmental protection,” said Steve Mjaaland, Manager of Forest Protection at Mosaic. For anyone interested in sharing their take on responsible recreation, gates and all, visit MosaicForests.com/Survey from now until May 23.

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Students learn to lead on the land in ground-breaking university program

By Sonal Gupta
National Observer
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Garry Merkel

Canada’s first Indigenous land stewardship degree puts Indigenous law, governance and connection to land at the heart of environmental education. Hayley Toderian, 29, waited two years to enrol. Now, she’s part of the inaugural class in a groundbreaking undergraduate program at the University of British Columbia, the first of its kind. The four-year degree was created in response to growing recognition of the need for Indigenous-led approaches to land management and environmental challenges, land reclamation and environmental policy. …The program, housed within UBC Forestry, goes beyond ecological practices to include the political, legal and ethical frameworks of Indigenous land stewardship. …Garry Merkel, a Tahltan forester and the director of the Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship at UBC Forestry, said students explore Indigenous systems of land tenure, resource allocation and dispute resolution — frameworks developed and maintained by communities over centuries.

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Forests taking longer to recover from severe ‘megafires’ since 2010

By Orla Dwyer
Carbon Brief
May 5, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, finds a “significant increase” in the severity of forest fires from 2001-10 to 2010-21 – especially in western North America, parts of Siberia and south-eastern Australia. It also finds that recovery from large fires has become “more difficult” for forests in recent years, particularly in the boreal forests of the far-northern latitudes.  Furthermore, fewer than one-third of all forests studied recovered successfully within seven years of a “megafire” – a broad term used to refer to extreme fires. A “surprising discovery” was that fire severity had the largest impact on forest recovery – even more than climate change, one of the study authors tells Carbon Brief. One researcher, who was not involved in the study, notes that the findings are “expected, but not previously reported on such a large scale”.

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Walk the Vanier Nature Park Garry Oak Restoration Project

Comox Valley Record
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Comox Valley Naturalists (CVN) invites the public to a forest of knowledge and a natural urban adventure on Saturday May 17 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. A series of one hour guided walks will take place in the City of Courtenay Vanier Nature Park off Vanier Drive, where a new Garry oak restoration project is underway. This project is being co-managed by CVN and the City of Courtenay. Choose between three walk times that each have a different leader who will share their expertise about Garry oak trees, forest ecosystems and the ongoing work in the park. This project has funding from CVN, the City of Courtenay and Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

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FREE Mini Conference WildFire Risk Reduction for Golden and Area A

Golden and Area A Firesmart
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Join us for field site visits on May 13 and an action packed day. Guests are welcome to come to one, some or all of the events listed below!

12:30 to 1:15 PM — Meet at the Golden Civic Centre to Register for Field Site Options. Locations will showcase examples of wildfire risk reduction treatments. Speak to experts about the treatments, the challenges and outcomes.
3:00 to 6:00 PM — Open House Golden Civic Centre. Your local government Firesmart coordinators, Wildfire Risk Reduction practitioners and local businesses will showcase how they are helping to ready Golden and Area A in case of wildfire.
7:00 to 9:00 PM — Speaker’s Panel at the Golden Civic Centre. Landscape Ecologist, Paul Hessburg ; UBC’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, Jennifer Baron; Professional Forester Lindsay Hill, of Forsite Consultants; and Superintendent-Cultural and Prescribed Fire Program with the BC Wildfire Service, Fons Raedschelders.

For updates and information – Please visit the Golden and Area A, Community FireSmart Facebook Page

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Calgary continues efforts to plant nearly a million trees, and better balance local canopy

By Andrew Jeffrey
CBC News
May 4, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

After a major influx of federal dollars last fall, Calgary’s efforts to plant more trees continues this spring. Since 2023, Calgary has planted 200,000 trees. Looking further ahead, Calgary, a city of roughly seven million trees, aims to nearly double its urban canopy coverage from 8.25%, as measured in 2022, to 16% by 2060. The local effort was bolstered by nearly $61 million from the federal government last fall. The funding is part of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program, a national effort to improve urban spaces, provide cleaner air and help the country adapt to climate change. But where Calgary’s new trees will go is a pressing question surrounding this project. …Paul Atkinson, the city’s acting urban forestry lead, said Calgary targets areas with less trees per hectare of public land. Some areas need soil rehabilitation, which can be expensive, while other neighbourhoods weren’t developed with enough space for trees.

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‘Leaders in the province’: Langford praised by B.C. forests minister at wildfire preparedness Saturday

By Liz Brown
Chek News
May 3, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Langford received recognition for its wildfire preparedness initiatives from B.C.’s minister of forests on Saturday, who attended the City’s Community Wildfire Preparedness Day. Community Wildfire Preparedness Day is an annual national campaign that focuses on wildfire preparedness initiatives at the community level, ahead of each year’s wildfire season. B.C.’s Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar lives in the neighbourhood and was in Langford for the Thetis Heights event. …The day included FireSmart and BC Wildfire initiatives that focused on wildfire awareness, preparedness, education, safety and community resilience. …“We’re just seeing a glimpse this weekend of the impact the wildfires are having on communities right throughout the province,” said Parmar, referencing the wildfire that started in Northern B.C.’s Hixon on Friday. …Across Canada, the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national campaign that encourages people to take actions that increase the resiliency of their home, neighbourhood and community to wildfires.

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Help track Kitimat’s forest giants

By Quinn Bender
Northern Sentinel
May 3, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Towering trunks and thick canopies will be the focus of a new community initiative starting May 10, as Kitimat-area residents are invited to join volunteer-led hikes to explore and record some of the oldest trees in the Kitimat River valley. The Big Tree Quest begins with two guided hikes on May 10 and May 31… These free public events aim to teach simple techniques for measuring tree height, circumference and canopy — skills that allow participants to contribute entries to the UBC Big Tree Registry. …The UBC Big Tree Registry is a province-wide initiative to identify, document, monitor and protect the largest known trees of each species in British Columbia, while engaging the public in conservation efforts. Originally established in 1986 by the B.C. Forestry Association … the registry has changed hands several times before finding a permanent home in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia in 2010.

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New funding supports fight against BC’s invasive plants

By Ministry of Forests
The Province of BC
May 1, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

May is Invasive Species Action Month and 33 organizations throughout BC will be able to continue their work fighting invasive plants, due in part to a funding boost. …Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests said “No one person, group, agency or government can effectively control invasive plant species alone, and collaboration is critical to everyone’s success. The work these groups do is crucial in our fight to ensure BC’s environments remain healthy and vibrant.” …Nearly $3 million will go toward groups, such as regional invasive species committees, local governments, environmental groups, researchers and the Invasive Species Council of BC, to continue collaboration and support of invasive plant programs and management actions. …Gail Wallin, executive director, Invasive Species Council of British Columbia said, “Invasive plants are estimated to cost us over $2 billion in losses annually.”

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Use caution, be fire safe this weekend

By Ministry of Forests
Government of British Columbia
May 1, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

People are asked to use caution over the next several days as a combination of warm, dry conditions and strong winds in much of southern B.C. are adding to elevated wildfire danger. The BC Wildfire Service urges people to postpone any open burning until the windy conditions pass and to use extra caution when camping in the backcountry. “We are expecting active weather in the coming days that could set the stage for dangerous wildfire conditions across the province,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “This is the time of year when we’re at the most risk for human-caused wildfires in B.C., most of which are entirely preventable.” People planning to have campfires should do so safely, following any local prohibitions.

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First Nation makes bold steps toward forest tenure purchase

The North Island Gazette
May 2, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation (KHFN), along with their economic development company, T’Se’kame’ Forestry Limited Partnership, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of Forest Licence A98746 from Interfor, effective March 19. The forest licence grants T’Se’kame’ a volume-based licence for 50,000 cubic metres of timber per year. The transfer of the forest licence comes after years of dedicated work, including comprehensive risk assessments, legal consultations, and community engagement. The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis have creation stories that link them to Gilford Island, other islands in the Broughton Archipelago, and the adjacent mainland, including Wakeman Sound, Holden Creek, Hada (Bond Sound), and Kakweikan (Thompson Sound). Access to G̱wa’yasda̱m’s, the main settlement, about 35 kilometres northeast of north Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is by boat or float plane. “We are excited about the future of our community,” said Rick Johnson, Elected and Hereditary Chief of the Ḵwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation. 

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Power could be proactively shut off during the Southern Interior wildfire season

By Alexander Vaz
BlackPress News
April 30, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

With the Southern Interior’s hottest months just around the corner, FortisBC is putting important safety measures into place to help protect communities and its electricity system against wildfires, which includes adding extra precautions that could result in power outages. To further enhance its wildfire safety practices, FortisBC has introduced a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) policy, a new precautionary measure where electricity is proactively shut off in selected areas in advance of extreme weather. FortisBC is advising its customers to be prepared for these potential outages that help reduce potential ignition sources. …According to FortisBC, customers should always be prepared to be without electricity for at least 72 hours, especially during wildfire season.

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Sustainable Biomass Program Publishes Two Interim Regional Risk Assessments

By Melanie Wedgbury
Sustainable Biomass Program
May 5, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has today announced the publication of two Interim Regional Risk Assessments (RRAs), covering British Columbia and Alberta Forests, Canada (available here). These Interim RRAs developed in accordance with the RRA Procedure v2.0, will support Certificate Holders in implementing risk mitigation measures and enable Certification Bodies to certify them until SBP-endorsed RRAs for these regions are available. The publication of these Interim RRAs is a direct outcome of SBP’s Standards Development Process, launched in May 2020, which led to the revision of SBP Standards 1 and 2. This revision necessitated a review of all existing SBP-endorsed RRAs and initiated the development of new ones.

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BC Admits It Won’t Come Close to 2025 and 2030 Climate Goals

By Zoe Yunker
The Tyee
May 1, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

Almost two decades after B.C. committed to slash greenhouse gas emissions, the provincial government reported one of the largest annual increases in decades and conceded that it won’t meet its 2025 target. …It shows emissions spiking thanks to increases in sectors like gas fracking and transportation. The province now estimates it will miss its emissions reduction target for this year and fall far short of its promised reductions by 2030. “The purpose of the report is to be absolutely clear on these points that we are not on track to meet our near-term 2030 goals,” said Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix. Last year’s accountability report painted a far rosier picture. The government forecast that its CleanBC plan, if implemented, would result in the province almost meeting its 2030 target. …This year’s accountability report cut out some of that aspirational modelling, revealing a major gap in B.C.’s climate action.

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Applications open for the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program

By the Ministry of Forests
Government of British Columbia
April 30, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program (IFBP) collaborates with Indigenous partners across the province to promote community resilience within an increasingly competitive global forest sector. The program offers funding that supports Indigenous partners to lead the development of a forest bioeconomy. Growing B.C.’s forest bioeconomy will result in economic, social and environmental benefits for Indigenous communities across the province. Eligible projects include innovative or value-added wood products, use of residual fibre left over from conventional forestry processes, or the development of non-timber forest products (e.g., berries, flora, bark). Program funding is provided entirely outside of accommodation agreements. The Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program is accepting applications for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Applications will be accepted until 4:30 pm on May 16, 2025.

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Health & Safety

B.C. minister urges personal preparedness to best respond to emergencies

Comox Valley Record
May 7, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

B.C.’s Emergency Management Kelly Greene says personal preparedness goes such a long way in making sure people and their families can bounce back in the face of emergencies. May 4 to 10 is Emergency Preparedness Week across the country, and Greene said it’s a great time to think about what your household needs to be prepared for an emergency. “We know that in British Columbia, we’re facing escalating impacts from climate-fuelled weather events, and so thinking about what you might need for your household like a grab-and-go bag, updating your home insurance, renter’s insurance, making sure that you’re ready for whatever the year might throw at you,” Greene said in an interview with Black Press Media. Greene said the province is “always ready to respond to emergencies.” She added emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca has active emergency information on it and is updated 24 hours a day.

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Forest Fires

Wildfire near Fort Nelson River grows to 55 hectares

By Steven Berard
Energetic City
May 6, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

FORT NELSON, B.C. — A holdover fire near Fort Nelson has grown by more than 50 hectares. According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) website, the fire – located northwest of the Fort Nelson river – has now burned a total of 55 hectares. The blaze – a holdover wildfire from last year – was initially measured as having burned just 0.5 hectares when it was first rediscovered on Saturday, May 3rd. Despite being a holdover, the BCWS listed it as if it were a new fire due to it becoming more active. It’s currently “out of control,” meaning it’s anticipated to continue spreading. According to BCWS, crews are currently on site to assess whether or not the fire will stay within the area that it burned last year, and firefighters are ready to respond if it does.

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Out-of-control wildfire sparks Sturgeon County to declare local state of emergency

By Nicholas Frew
CBC News
May 4, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

An out-of-control wildfire in Sturgeon County, Alta., has burned down one house, scattered animals and forced residents to standby ready to evacuate. The county issued an evacuation notice Saturday evening, warning residents to prepare to flee in case conditions worsen. Shortly after midnight, the county declared a state of local emergency. “We’re just keeping people safe and trying to protect property,” Mayor Alanna Hnatiw told CBC Radio’s Daybreak Alberta on Sunday. The evacuation notice affects people living around the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, about 60 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Late Saturday night, RCMP issued news releases saying officers from multiple departments were responding. Emergency personnel were helping people evacuate, but police didn’t specify how many.

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Evacuations underway due to wildfire in the regional municipality of Garden River

By Jason Kerr
The Prince Albert Daily Herald
May 5, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

Saskatchewan—A few evacuations are taking place and Hwy 55 has been closed in both directions due to a wildfire that started in the west side of the RM of Garden River on Monday. The majority of the fire is in the Nisbet Forest up to Hwy 55, RM of Garden River reeve Ryan Scragg said during a brief interview Monday evening. “(The) conditions are really windy and it’s developing very quickly here,” Scragg said. “Some evacuations have been ordered and they’re being carried out by the RCMP.” Scragg said the conditions are ripe for a fire. Fire bans are in place for the RM of Garden River, the RM of Buckland, and the RM of Prince Albert. The City of Prince Albert has also issued a fire ban for areas within city limits north of the river. Scragg said it was difficult to estimate the number of firefighters they have on scene.

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Uptick in active wildfires is caused by ‘spring dip,’ say B.C. fire officers

Canadian Press in CBC News
May 5, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

The number of wildfires in British Columbia has roughly doubled over the past several days, but an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service says the activity can be attributed to the annual “spring dip.” Amanda Graves says the phenomenon is caused by a decrease in moisture in the needles of coniferous trees. She says it comes shortly after the snow has melted, but before vegetation “begins to get really green.” But Graves says it’s too soon to say whether recent fires are an indicator of what’s to come this wildfire season. The BC Wildfire Service dashboard shows there were 46 active fires as of midday Monday, six of which started in the previous 24 hours and 80 per cent of which were human-caused. Graves noted that B.C. doesn’t typically get much lightning at this time of year, which explains why most fires in the spring are human-caused.

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Wildfire evacuees in Fort St. John, BC, allowed to return home

By Brenna Owen
The Canadian Press in The Chronicle Journal
May 3, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

The City of Fort St. John, B.C., says people evacuated due to a wildfire on the outskirts of the community have been allowed to return home. An update posted to the city’s Facebook page at 8:45 a.m. says the fire in the Fish Creek Community Forest was moving northeast, away from the city. The fire discovered Thursday had prompted evacuations, but the city has since said the fire was not actively threatening any structures. The BC Wildfire Service website lists the fire as burning out of control and spanning 56 hectares as of 1:39 p.m. The service says it has two helicopters and 12 firefighters responding to the blaze alongside others from the local fire department. … The suspected cause of the fire is human activity.

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Extreme danger: Wildfires ignite in forest protection area west of Sundre

The Albertan
May 3, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY, Alberta – Provincial officials elevated the wildfire danger rating to extreme across the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Saturday after five new wildfires ignited in the area in recent days. Parts of Mountain View County are included in the forest area, namely west of Sundre and Bergen, covering Coal Camp and Bearberry west of Range Road 60 from Township Road 312 to the north boundary of the county. “The wildfire danger is now extreme in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area,” the province said in its May 3 update for the forest protection area. “Dead and dry vegetation continues to be a major concern, as it is highly flammable and provides an easily available fuel source for wildfires.” …On Thursday, two wildfires were discovered in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area while three more were discovered on Friday.

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Several ‘overwintering’ fires are becoming more active in BC’s north

By Nicholas Johansen
Castanet
May 4, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

As conditions across BC continue to warm up, some of the massive wildfires that burned in the province’s north last season are beginning to become active once again. Known as “overwintering fires,” these burn deep underground into the organic matter of the forest floor through the winter months, covered by snow, before resurfacing in the spring time. The BC Wildfire Service says several overwintering fires in Northern B.C. have become more active and are producing smoke. Two of the fires that crews are focusing their efforts on include one along Highway 77, north of Fort Nelson, and another along the Fort Nelson River. “Response officers are assessing whether the fire will stay within last year’s burn area or could spread further.  …These overwintering fires come as crews are also responding to a number of other fires in the northern half of the province.

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City of Fort St. John to investigate cause of Fish Creek Community Forest wildfire

By Max Bowder
Energetic City
May 2, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John says it is investigating the cause of the Fish Creek Community Forest wildfire. On May 2nd, the city released a statement saying it is in the early stages of investigating the blaze and the cause has yet to be determined. The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) suspects human activity ignited the flames. The fire started on Thursday, May 1st at approximately 3:25 p.m. in the general area of the Fish Creek Community Forest before it moved northeast toward Cecil Lake. BCWS says the fire is currently 56 hectares and ‘out of control.’ “At present, it is believed that no structures have been impacted,” said the release. …As of May 2nd, BCWS and the City of Fort St. John Fire Department are managing the fire cooperatively.

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Wildfire prompts evacuations in Fort St. John, city says

By Brenna Owen
The Canadian Press in the Vancouver Sun
May 1, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

Firefighters from Fort St. John and the B.C. Wildfire Service were battling a blaze that prompted evacuations late Thursday, the city said. The fire is in the Fish Creek Community Forest on the northern outskirts of the city. …The wildfire service website indicates the out-of-control blaze was discovered Thursday and spanned an estimated 0.56 square kilometres — about four times the size of Granville Island in Vancouver — as of 7:32 p.m. The suspected cause of the fire is human activity. The fire is one of nearly two dozen active across BC on Thursday, as the provincial government warned that a combination of warm, dry conditions and strong winds would raise the fire risk in southern parts of B.C. It’s one of two blazes classified as burning out of control, the other being a 1.85-square-kilometre blaze that began as two separate fires about 30 kilometres southwest of Dawson Creek, which is south of Fort St. John.

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Wildfire knocks out internet and phone service in Tumbler Ridge

By Simon Little
Global News
May 1, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

It might only be May 1, but wildfires are already causing problems in northeastern B.C. In one case, a cluster of fires about 30 km southwest of Dawson Creek has destroyed fibre optic cable, severing cellphone, radio and internet connections to the community of Tumbler Ridge — knocking out communications to the RCMP detachment. “Anyone in the area, or travelling through, will need to physically attend the RCMP detachment to report any issues. It is not known when the repairs will be made,” RCMP said. The fire was first discovered on Wednesday and has grown to 35 hectares in size, and is believed to have been human-caused, according to the BC Wildfire Service. It is also affecting Highway 52N, which has been reduced to single-lane alternating traffic. The BC Wildfire Service and municipal fire crews have also been deployed to deal with a new fire just outside Fort St. John.

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Forest History & Archives

Historical photos show logging in Vancouver neighbourhoods more than 130 years ago

By Brendan Kergin
Vancouver is Awesome
May 2, 2025
Category: Forest History & Archives
Region: Canada West

Georgia Street 1886

Logging, literally and metaphorically, built Vancouver. The first settlers here started a mill. Gastown, the first settlement in what would become Vancouver, was built around Hastings Sawmill. That meant plenty of quality lumber to build new structures and jobs. While there isn’t really any old-growth forest left in the city now, it once had a fairly dense forest with truly massive trees. Nowadays most of B.C.’s lumber industry operates in more remote locations around the province, but in the 1860s, 70s, 80s and 90s, there were still large trees around Vancouver, so lumberjacks didn’t have to go far to find what they were looking for, especially with how difficult it was to move trees.

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