Region Archives: Canada West

Special Feature

Invest in Visibility and Connection: The Value of Sponsoring or Exhibiting at the TLA Convention

By Sarah O’Dea, director of events
BC Truck Loggers Association
November 21, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

For more than 80 years, the annual TLA Convention + Trade Show has been the premier gathering place for forestry’s top decision-makers. Whether you choose to sponsor the convention or exhibit at the trade show, your participation offers unmatched opportunities to connect, showcase, and grow your business. Unparalleled Networking: The TLA Convention + Trade Show brings together the leaders who shape the future of BC’s forest industry. As a sponsor or exhibitor, you’ll gain direct access to influential professionals—contractors, suppliers, government representatives, and business owners—all in one place. …Premium Brand Exposure: Visibility at the TLA Convention & Trade Show extends well beyond the event.Sponsors enjoy high-profile recognition before, during, and after the convention, ensuring your brand stays top of mind among key industry players. Tracey Russell, Vice President-Equipment, Inland Truck & Equipment Ltd. is a regular at the Convention, “We sponsor the TLA Convention + Trade Show every year because it’s one of the best opportunities for exposure and relationship building – connections that have made a lasting impact on our business and our brand.”

Read More

Business & Politics

Programs to help advance your career in the lumber and sawmill sector

By Linh Tran
BC Institute of Technology
November 21, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

“The BCIT School of Construction and the Environment offers two Associate Certificate programs designed to support workforce development in the North American lumber and sawmill sector: Industrial Wood Processing (IWP) and Business of Sawmilling (BOS). The programs were developed in collaboration with industry experts to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to advance their careers while meeting the evolving demands of the sector. Both programs are delivered online, on a part-time basis, and over 12 months. The programs are designed to allow working professionals to gain practical, job-relevant skills through formal education while balancing their workplace responsibilities. Registration is now open for IWP January 2026 intake.”

Read More

Large fire breaks out at former sawmill on banks of Fraser River in Delta, BC

By Cheryl Chan
The Vancouver Sun
November 20, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER, BC — A large fire broke out on the banks of the Fraser River in Delta on Thursday morning. Fire crews from Delta and Surrey were called between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. to the former sawmill under demolition north of the Alex Fraser Bridge on Alaska Way. The land is owned by the Port of Vancouver and the organization confirmed the fire is at the site of the former mill. There are currently no impacts to port operations. …The fire broke out on the site of the former Acorn mill, which stopped operations after a blaze in April 2024. The sawmill was built in 1963 and was acquired by forestry giant Interfor in 2001. It was used primarily to cut specialty timber for traditional Japanese home construction. In 2022, the mill was purchased by San Group, a Langley-based forestry firm. The company filed for creditor protection last November.

Read More

The fault lines in B.C.’s ‘Go West’ economic plan

By Kirk LaPointe
Business in Vancouver
November 20, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The BC NDP’s new Go West agenda bills itself as the most ambitious economic strategy in a generation. It purports to be a 10-year sprint for “nation-building” projects, a magnet for $200 billion in private investment, swifter permits and a pipeline of skilled workers to fill the gaps. On paper, it suggests a province ready to grow up economically, and not a moment too soon. Public finances are a shambles. Investment eludes us. As critical industries, mining is mired, energy is enervated, forestry is forlorn. …Premier David Eby calls Look West part of his new “relentless and remorseless” approach. …The problem is how development actually works in a province bound by geography, litigation and a fragile relationship with Indigenous nations. …Many of the promised terminals, ports, transmission lines and mining corridors have been queued for years. …Bill 15, which lets cabinet declare “provincially significant” projects, might speed things up but raises legal risks.

Read More

Building momentum through forestry trade mission

By Ministry of Forests
Government of British Columbia
November 19, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Delegates from B.C.’s largest forestry trade mission to Asia have returned home, bringing back business deals, signed agreements and deeper ties with key trading partners in Japan and South Korea, driving growth and investment for B.C.

Summary:

  • More than 60 delegates travelled throughout Japan and South Korea as part of the largest forestry trade mission
  • Three memoranda of understanding signed
  • Twenty site visits, tours and meetings

The trade mission strengthened B.C.’s forestry relationships with existing trade partners and opened new doors to growing markets in both Japan and South Korea. It also highlighted how B.C. plays a pivotal role in expanding wood construction markets in other countries through sharing research and development in wood construction, building designs and safety codes to help inform policy, and accelerating the adoption of wood construction in homes, offices and public spaces.

Read More

Fraser Valley has prefab potential despite slow market, says board

By Jami Makan
The Richmond News
November 18, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

©Fast+Epp

The Fraser Valley is in pole position to adopt prefabrication and other innovative construction methods despite the current market downturn, says a new report. There is a fundamental need for faster, “smarter” housing delivery, according to an Oct. 30 report by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB). …The FVREB report gives nine policy recommendations to accelerate prefab adoption. Chief among them is the need to harmonize municipal zoning. …The FVREB report highlights mass timber prefabrication as a particularly promising technology, saying it’s “a key component in off-site building methods.” One Metro Vancouver mass timber company with Fraser Valley projects says benefits include sustainability, suitability for prefabrication and quicker installation. But challenges include the need for wider education about how mass timber works differently as a structural system. …Coquitlam-based Seagate Mass Timber’s current projects in the Fraser Valley include a 92,000-square-foot covered soccer field.

Read More

Millworkers heartbroken over West Fraser-100 Mile Lumber closure

By Patrick Davies
100 Mile House Free Press
November 18, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

West Fraser-100 Mile Lumber employees like Kris Taylor are taking each day as it comes, following the announcement of the closure of their mill. Taylor is one of 165 West Fraser employees who were informed that they’ll be losing their jobs by the end of the year. He said receiving the news was absolutely devastating for him and his coworkers. …Despite how it’s ending, Taylor said he still looks back on his time with West Fraser fondly. …“I would like to thank West Fraser for giving me the opportunities I dreamt of”. …Taylor said for those who have been there for more than 40 years, he predicts they’ll just retire early. People like him, who still have families, will struggle with this change. …He did note that West Fraser is working to come up with a list of jobs at other mills they could potentially transfer to. 

Read More

Prince Albert pulp mill will not re-open, OSB plant still looking to build on the site

By Lisa Risom
CBC News
November 18, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan — The sale of a defunct Prince Albert pulp and paper mill from Domtar to the Ontario-based BMI Group has ended plans to re-open the mill and sparked a search for industrial business tenants for the site. “The site will never be a pulp mill again. That is for sure,” said Chris Rickett, BMI Group’s head of government and community relations. After eight months of negotiations, BMI purchased the former Weyerhaeuser Prince Albert pulp mill site and buildings from Domtar, Canada’s largest pulp and paper company. …The former Weyerhauser Prince Albert Pulp and Paper Mill ceased operations in 2006. Approximately 700 workers at the mill lost their jobs, with further indirect job losses in the forestry industry. A spokesperson for the One Sky Forest Products said it is gathering investors to build an oriented strand board (OSB) manufacturing plant on the former mill site. 

Read More

The Forest Practices Board is seeking its next Chair

BC Forest Practices Board
November 18, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

This is a rare opportunity to lead highly respected, independent oversight in one of the province’s most important and visible sectors. The Chair plays a pivotal role in strengthening public confidence in forest and range practices across BC. Ideal candidates bring strong governance experience, a background in forestry, and a commitment to transparent oversight. The Chair is a flexible, full-time role leading BC’s independent watchdog for forest and range practices. The Chair plays a key role in strengthening public trust in how the province’s forests and rangelands are managed. The Chair provides strategic leadership, oversees audits and investigations, approves reports, and represents the Board in engagements with Indigenous governments, provincial agencies, stakeholders, and the media. The role is well suited for someone with strong governance experience, sound judgment, and a balanced understanding of BC’s natural resource sector. Appointed by Order-in-Council for an initial term of 3 to 5 years the position may be re-appointed for additional terms of up to 5 years. Closing Date: December 11, 2025

Read More

Delivering prosperity, good jobs for B.C., Canada

Government of British Columbia
November 17, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Government has launched Look West, a strategic plan to deliver major projects faster, expand skills training and grow key sectors to strengthen B.C.’s economy, creating good jobs and opportunities for people and businesses, and benefiting all of Canada. “British Columbia can get big things done – which is why our province is vastly overrepresented in the list of major projects Ottawa is fast-tracking,” said Premier David Eby. “This plan sets big goals as we make B.C. the economic powerhouse of Canada to create great jobs and drive prosperity in every corner of the province.” Look West rises to the challenges brought on by U.S. tariffs. The strategy sets a 10-year vision to strengthen B.C.’s economy, including continuing work to speed up permitting and diversify key sectors, so B.C.’s economy is less reliant on the United States.

From My Cowichan Now: “To support the forestry sector, the provincial strategy aims to triple the amount of B.C. wood used in construction by 2035.”

Read More

Interfor expects continued volatility amid U.S. tariffs

By Karen McKinley
The Trail Times
November 14, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

GRAND FORKS, BC — Interfor’s Grand Forks sawmill will be partially returning to operations this week, with one shift a day, according to the Mayor Everett Baker. On Friday afternoon that he had received a call from Interfor, informing that one shift will be starting as of Nov. 12, with 68 employees returning. Last month, Interfor announced it was shutting down the sawmill indefinitely due to market conditions amid another 10 per cent duty on softwood lumber, bringing the tarriff to 45%. …Despite the headwinds, Interfor noted that only about 25% of its lumber is exported from Canada to the US, limiting its exposure to the tariffs. …Over the mid-term, Interfor said it expects Canadian lumber to remain a key supply source for the U.S. market, but warned that growth in U.S. production will be constrained by labour shortages, equipment delays and other challenges. 

Read More

Port McNeill mayor underscores the resilience and the challenges of small forestry towns

Resource Works
November 16, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

James Furney

On federal budget day 2025, Port McNeill Mayor James Furney—one of the founding signatories of the Alliance of Resource Communities—joined CBC Radio’s The House to discuss challenges and hopes for rural Canada’s forestry towns. Furney began by reflecting on the effects of the 45% US tariff on Canadian lumber imposed by US president Trump. Yet, he emphasized optimism in exploring new markets, particularly in Asia, to revitalize the region’s forestry industry. …While acknowledging that tax incentives in the 2025 federal budget could offer some relief, Furney cautioned that they might not be enough to attract major investments back into small-town forestry. “The forest industry has not been an attractive place for investment for a long time,” he explained. “We’ve lost the majority of our large company investments to the U.S., where they’re much better received.” Despite the economic uncertainty, Furney described a community that remains resilient and hopeful.

Read More

West Fraser answers questions on 100 Mile House mill closure

By Patrick Davies
The Williams Lake Tribune
November 13, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Members of the management team for West Fraser’s 100 Mile Lumber appeared in front of the District of 100 Mile House Council to answer questions about the permanent closure of their 100 Mile House mill by the end of December. …Mayor Maureen Pinkney began the meeting, noting that the closure is sad news and that she was surprised they were going straight to closure without any curtailment. …Rob Baron, West Fraser’s regional manager of operations, said “The conditions that precipitated the decision to go to permanent closure are really entirely related to long-term viability related to the high cost of saw logs coming to this mill”. …They’re currently getting their shutdown coordinator set up and have resources on site to help their employees through the transition. …Baron said West Fraser doesn’t have any plans for what they’ll be doing with the property in the future, but welcomes anyone interested in the facility to contact them.

Read More

Canadian Pacific Kansas City reaches tentative collective agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

By Canadian Pacific Kansas City
Cision Newswire
November 13, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

CALGARY, AB – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said it has reached a new tentative five-year collective agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). The tentative agreement providing increased wages and more flexible work rules covers approximately 300 locomotive engineers on the Soo Line property operating trains in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. …Last week, CPKC announced a series of 13 tentative five-year collective agreements with various unions representing approximately 360 employees across the United States. All the tentative agreements announced this month are pending ratification by the unions’ membership.

Read More

Wood, Paper & Green Building

Online toolkit helps build homes faster as rents fall

By Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Government of British Columbia
November 20, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

More people will find their place in a community they love as B.C. continues rolling out new innovations that are making it easier and faster to build affordable homes, helping contribute to the decline in the asking price for rent in communities throughout B.C. A new online platform called DASH, Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing, is helping developers and non-profit organizations design and construct three- to six-storey buildings more quickly and at lower cost using products manufactured in B.C. DASH replaces traditional review and construction methods with a modern, industrialized approach built around standardized building components and designs, digital co-ordination and prefabrication.  For example, developers, builders or non-profit organizations designing a wood-frame, multi-family structure can enter details, including land parcel shape and size, planned building storeys, unit bedroom counts, and so on. New construction techniques, such as mass timber and off-site building, are helping reduce waste and deliver homes faster.

Read More

Wood Connections November Newsletter

BC Wood Specialties Group
November 19, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

In this newsletter you’ll find these headlines and more:

  • Minister Parmar Kicks Off BC Wood’s B2B Speed-dating Lumber Mission in Japan — BC Wood organized a formal industry mission to Japan. This was based on requests from members to have targeted and more intimate B2B networking sessions as a supplement to our major trade show events.
  • Save the Date: 2026 RAIC Conference on Architecture — May 5-8 in Vancouver. Canada’s largest annual gathering of architecture professionals
  • BC Wood to Exhibit at The Buildings Show and IDS Toronto This Winter — two great opportunities to connect with builders and designers in Ontario
  • Exhibit in the BC Wood Pavilion at BUILDEX VANCOUVER — February 11-12 in Vancouver. Western Canada’s largest forum to provide Architecture & Engineering, Construction, Interior Design and Property Management professionals a meaningful platform to build community and gain industry advancement 
  • Join the BC Wood Pavilion at the Spring Cottage Life Show — March 26-29 in Toronto. Over 28,000 people attended in 2025!

Read More

UBC Certificate Program in Industrial Wood Finishing

By Jason Chiu
UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing
November 19, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) is please to announce the schedule for the 2026 Industrial Wood Finishing Certificate Program.  This part-time online training program with a one-week hands-on practical session is North America’s most comprehensive wood finishing certificate program. The certificate program provides participants with a broad understanding of the field of wood finishing.  It’s designed for individuals who have some general experience in wood finishing and would like to expand their knowledge. Once completed, learners will have knowledge and experience to do the following: Understand why finish is applied to wood and how wood properties affect finishing; To be able to identify the best finishing system based on the end use; Trouble-shoot wood finishing problems; and Design a safe and efficient finishing facility. This course will provide you with the knowledge and tools to start a finishing business or to improve an existing one.

Read More

Forestry Innovation Investment 2026-27 Call for Proposals

BC Forestry Innovation Investment
November 20, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

The 2026-27 Calls for Proposals for the Market Initiatives and Wood First programs are now open. Between these programs, delivered in partnership with the forest industry and other funders, a total of $7.5 million in funding from FII is available. This support helps advance market development initiatives that diversify and strengthen the B.C. forest sector and provincial economy. The Market Initiatives program is primarily focused on advancing opportunities in existing markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam and the UK, where the greatest short- and medium-term opportunities exist for the sector. Planning and delivery of the Wood First program is a collaborative effort involving the building construction industry, government and the forest sector. FII develops an investment plan that allocates funding on an annual basis. All funding proposals must be complete and submitted through the FMS by 17:00 PST on January 15, 2026.

Read More

MycoToilet: Behind UBC’s Mushroom-Powered, Waterless Toilet

By James Darley
Sustainability Magazine
November 17, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

A group of researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have launched a new prototype for a waterless toilet, which uses mushroom root networks to decompose human waste into compost. The MycoToilet, which opened for use on 26 September in the university’s Botanical Gardens, is the result of several years of development by lead researcher Joseph Dahmen and his team. …The system uses mycelia, the underground networks of fungi, to break down solid waste in lined compartments while separating liquid waste for use as fertiliser. “Fungi are very good at breaking down biomass, including human and animal waste,” says Dr Steven Hallam, a Professor in UBC’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “No added water, electricity or chemicals are required.” …”If successful, the MycoToilet could provide a self-contained, cost-effective solution for managing waste in parks, municipalities, remote communities and developing regions,” Joseph says.

Read More

Forestry

Woodlot Tools Readily Available

Woodlots BC
November 21, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Woodlotters, foresters, contractors and consultants alike can now easily access all Woodlots BC Guides and Tools. These valuable resources used to be located in the Members area of the website. With organizational changes over the past two years and continual website upgrades, it became evident that there was no need for the guides and tools to be kept in the members area. If you are looking for items like the cut control guide, CP reminders list or the woodlot licence plan template, you can go to the Resources menu on the Woodlots BC website and choose “Woodlot Licensee Guides and Tools”. From there you find dropdown menus for a variety of topics. Please note the disclaimer that all the reference materials contain information to assist with the management and administration of Woodlot Licences. It is not legal advice or professional guidance.

Read More

North Cowichan backs off harvesting of municipal forests

By Robert Barron
Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle
November 20, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

North Cowichan council reaffirmed its commitment to the development of a co-management plan for the 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve with the Quw’utsun Nation at its meeting on Nov. 19, and to prioritize ecological and conservation principles in response to public feedback [see North Cowichan Council Press Release]. In August, council adopted a direction to pursue five new strategic priorities … which included resuming forestry harvesting in the MFR, were endorsed in a 4-3 vote… In May, a consultant was selected to lead the North Cowichan/Quw’utsun Nation co-management framework process, but Quw’utsun Nation members signalled a pause in this process following the August announcement regarding the resumption of forest harvesting in the MFR. The decision to make harvesting one of the strategic priorities without consulting the Quw’utsun Nation … raised concerns. …Following a discussion, council voted to complete the co-management framework and plan in partnership with Quw’utsun Nation prior to reconsidering forest harvesting as a strategic priority.

Additional coverage, letter by Bryan Senft, Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle: Logging to offset taxes will not work

Read More

City confirms second case of Dutch elm disease in 2025

By Ramin Ostad
The Edmonton Journal
November 19, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The City of Edmonton has confirmed that an elm tree removed in October from the Glengarry neighbourhood has tested positive for Dutch elm disease (DED), the second confirmed case in 2025. City arborists inspected a declining tree in October and decided to remove it, the City of Edmonton said in a Wednesday news release. The tree initially tested negative for DED, but fungal collections from the tree appeared to match DED under a microscope and were submitted for more tests, where the results confirmed DED. A total of seven trees have tested positive since August 2024, when the disease was first detected. …Elm trees make up nearly 22 per cent of Edmonton’s boulevard and open-space trees, with an estimated population of around 90,000 trees. The city has conducted 185,510 visual surveys and submitted 57 samples for testing this year.

Read More

David Suzuki headlines B.C.’s Broken Promises rally for old growth, watersheds

By Bill Metcalfe
Vernon Morning Star
November 19, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The crowd stretched from the doors of City Hall to the Ward Street sidewalk in Nelson to hear guest speaker David Suzuki and other forest ecology advocates at a rally held Nov. 18 in Nelson. …The Broken Promises rally was held simultaneously in Nelson, Victoria, Vernon, Revelstoke, Smithers, Courtenay, Parksville, and Powell River to protest what is seen as provincial government backtracking on the protection of old growth forests, biodiversity and watersheds, and continuing with timber volume as the only priority. …Speaker Suzanne Simard said failure to use that foresight, to respect all life and give back more than we receive, has resulted in climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. …She said the province should stop clearcutting and creating tree plantations that are flammable and subject to erosion. …Slocan Valley ecologist and forester Herb Hammond spoke about secondary forests… That’s where we should get our wood and our employment…

Read More

Forests minister defends B.C. logging. Experts say clearcuts are still a problem

By Shannon Waters
The Narwhal
November 20, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Younes Alila

In early September 2025 … Forests Minister Ravi Parmar was asked about a study from the University of British Columbia which found clear-cut logging can make catastrophic floods larger and much more likely. “The clear-cut logging that I think people would assume is leading to that is 1950s-style harvesting,” Parmar said. “I don’t think that’s happening in British Columbia anymore. We lead with world-class silviculture practices.” That statement might come as a surprise to some who have seen recent photos of logged areas of Vancouver Island’s Walbran Valley, which show once-dense forests cut down to nothing. The minister’s comments came as a shock to Younes Alila, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Forest Resources Management and the lead author of the study Parmar was asked about. …B.C.’s current forestry practices balance environmental considerations and the needs of the provincial forestry industry, according to Parmar. Alila disagrees.

Read More

Protests held province-wide urging forestry reform, targeting B.C. Timber Sales

By Tom Summer
CBC News
November 18, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

©SaveOldGrowthForests

©WestKootenayH20shed

BC non-profits calling for protection of old growth organized protests across the province Tuesday. …They feel the status quo, and the logging of old-growth forests in particular, increases wildfire and flood risk. Rallies were held by environmentalist groups in 10 communities, including Save What’s Left Conservation Society in Nelson and Conservation North in Prince George. …Michelle Connolly, at Conservation North, says logging in old-growth deferral areas has been more aggressive. “It’s almost like it was targeted. …UBC forestry professor Lori Daniels feels there still needs to be some management in old growth and primary forest to remove fuels that increase wildfire risk. …The Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society has proposed what they call the “New Forestry Act” — a framework that would dramatically reduce the AAC to just 20 million cubic metres. …Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said he’s “proud of the work that we’re doing to strike the balance.

In related news:

Read More

BC Wildland Firefighter Awards: Nominations Now Open!

FireSmart BC
November 19, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

We are thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 BC Wildland Firefighter Awards! In recognition of the critical role that wildland firefighters play in keeping the province safe, FireSmart BC, the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society, and BC Wildfire Service have partnered to create the BC Wildland Firefighter Awards. These awards will recognize four outstanding firefighters, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, during the Wildfire Resiliency & Training Summit (WRTS) taking place from April 8-12, 2026, in Victoria, BC. Each recipient will receive a personalized award plus a $1000 grant towards furthering wildfire resiliency efforts. Individuals will be notified of their nomination in advance and encouraged to attend the WRTS. Event registration and travel expenses will be covered for the four award recipients plus one guest each. Four awards will recognize both long-standing and early-career firefighters: Vanguard Award (early career firefighter: less than 10 years), and Guardian Award (long-standing firefighter: over 10 years).

Read More

BC Green Party leader joins Prince George protest against old-growth logging

By Matthew Hillier
The Prince George Citizen
November 19, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Emily Lowan

PRINCE GEORGE, BC — More than 30 people took part in a demonstration outside the BC Ministry of Forests office in Prince George on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to show their animosity toward the continued logging of old-growth forests in the province. Among the protesters at the Ospika Bouleveard office was BC Green Party Leader Emily Lowan. …“We’ve seen massive backsliding from the province,” said Lowan. “From the minister of forests on the protection of primary forests. We’re seeing a continuation of decades of neglect, of a rip-it-and-ship-it mentality in the province that is purely driven by the profit motive rather than protecting critical primary and old-growth forests.” …Lowan emphasized how large forestry monopolies and the province’s continued old-growth cutting may have further consequences for small and medium-sized forestry businesses in the North.

Read More

Leaked report claims B.C. timber harvest is vastly overestimated

By Stefan Labbé
Business in Vancouver
November 19, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A leaked technical review prepared for a group of First Nations claims British Columbia is greatly overestimating how much timber it can sustainably harvest in a push for short-term economic gains. The previously unreleased report charges that the methods the province uses to calculate how many trees are on the landscape—and therefore how much can be logged—is fundamentally flawed and based on “wildly extreme assumptions” that hurt the long-term health of B.C.’s forests. The report’s authors … only agreed to speak with BIV after it independently obtained a 572-page draft of the report originally dated September 2024. “There’s a strong likelihood that throughout the province we’re cutting almost at twice the rate of what is considered sustainable,” said co-author Dave Radies. The report focuses on the Mackenzie timber supply area… The analysis challenges the methods B.C. uses to determine the annual allowable cut …concluding their numbers are likely double what can be harvested without causing significant long-term damage.

Read More

Lynn Orstad Award: Nominations Now Open!

FireSmart BC
November 18, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

We are thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Lynn Orstad Award: Women in Wildfire Resiliency! In memory of Lynn, FireSmart BC, FireSmart Alberta, and Co-operators are honouring women across Canada who have made significant contributions to enhancing wildfire resiliency within their community, agency, or province. Lynn Orstad was a respected advocate and leader in fire safety, deeply committed to advancing wildfire resiliency. This award was created to recognize and elevate the outstanding female leaders who work tirelessly to make our communities safer and improve fire management practices. The 2026 award winners will be revealed at the Wildfire Resiliency & Training Summit, taking place from April 8-12, 2026, in Victoria, BC. If you know a woman who exemplifies Lynn’s values and legacy, we encourage you to nominate them by clicking the link below.

Read More

Group works to raise over $7 million to conserve Discovery Islands gem

By Robin Grant
Victoria News
November 17, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island Society is working to purchase 261 acres of old and second-growth forest valued at $6.8 million on the northwestern side of Cortes Island in the Discovery Islands. According to the society, an agreement with Mosaic Forest Management has been reached to purchase what they propose to call the Children’s Forest, but they must secure the funds by Nov. 19. Chris Dragseth, with the trust, said the forest has incredible ecological value and its role in safeguarding several at-risk species. He said for the children who have either grown up on or visited Cortes Island, the forest’s influence on their lives has been profound. …The society has set a fundraising goal of $7.5 million to cover purchase and closing costs, as well as to establish an endowment to cover future ownership and maintenance expenses.

Read More

B.C.-wide ‘broken promises’ forestry protest comes to Nelson

By Save What’s Left Conservation Society
The Nelson Star
November 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Save What’s Left Conservation Society is calling on all those who are concerned about B.C.’s forests to join the province-wide Broken Promises Protest on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from noon to 2 p.m. The Nelson action will gather at City Hall, then at 1 p.m. march up Ward Street to Baker Street, stopping outside MLA Brittny Anderson’s office. Two of Canada’s most respected science voices will headline both the protest and an evening speaking event: Suzanne Simard, the University of British Columbia forest ecologist named to TIME magazine’s 2024 list of the world’s most influential people, and David Suzuki, the venerable 89-year-old scientist, activist and national icon.

Read More

Smithers embraces cleaner air and safer forests with innovative waste-burning technology

By Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation
The Interior News
November 17, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

In the heart of Wet’suwet’en territory just outside Smithers, the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation (WCFC) is reshaping how communities think about forest stewardship.  Managing more than 30,000 hectares of mixed forest and alpine terrain, WCFC works to balance environmental health, local economic opportunity and cultural responsibility – a model of sustainable forest management rooted in collaboration and respect.  “Our main goal is to reduce waste as much as we can,” says General Manager Sam Coggins. “We wanted a method that was safe, efficient and respected both the land and the people who live here.”  For decades, the standard practice for disposing of forestry waste was open pile burning. – While effective, locals expressed concerns about air quality impacts. …Determined to find a cleaner solution, WCFC introduced an innovative new technology to the Bulkley Valley: the Air Curtain Burner – a pollution-control system that transforms how forest waste is managed.

Read More

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation calls for better funding of smart forestry practices

By Andie Mollins
The Quesnel Cariboo Observer
November 18, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR) is calling on provincial and federal governments to dedicate more funding to smart forest management. “(There is a) very important window when trees are between 15 to 25 years old when you want to go in and do treatment, otherwise they’ll respond a lot slower,” said Daniel Persson, a registered professional forester and the forestry superintendent of CCR. A joint venture between three Tsilhqot’in communities in B.C.’s Chilcotin, CCR coordinates and implements forest rehabilitation and management within the nation’s territory. By supporting the growth of healthy, resilient forests when they need it most, Persson said CCR helps ensure local communities as well as the country will continue to have a forest economy into the future. …A strong, long-lasting forest economy requires healthy forests, and CCR’s job is to step in when a forest needs help to flourish.

Read More

Drift logs destroying intertidal ecosystems

University of Victoria News
November 13, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Logs are a familiar sight on the beaches along the coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii and are often viewed positively, as they can stabilize the banks, be used for firewood or act as benches by beach-goers. However, new research from the University of Victoria (UVic) shows that these logs are not as innocuous as they seem. According to a study published by UVic biologist Tom Reimchen and two of his students, free-floating logs that wash ashore, referred to as drift logs, are causing widespread destruction of rocky intertidal ecosystems communities along the coast of Western Canada. …While drift logs may seem rather stable to the casual observer, more than 90 per cent of logs are displaced annually, and log movement during storms is frequent and extensive. This movement disrupts the ecological environment in the intertidal zone—the stretch of beach between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide. …This research was published in Marine Ecology.

Read More

Squamish Community Forest reinforces commitment to cultural values

By Ina Pace
The Squamish Chief
November 16, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

At a recent public open house, the Squamish Community Forest unveiled its vision for sustainable land use, cultural preservation, and wildfire mitigation over the next five years. The Squamish Community Forest functions on a Community Forest Agreement (CFA) and equal shareholding between Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and District of Squamish. This was their first ever partnership, as Squamish mayor and Community Forest chair Armand Hurford confirmed. The discussion that followed was centred around the sustainability and balance of cultural and environmental values. This year, the Community Forest has been given a $40,000 grant from the Silviculture Innovation Program (SIP) to implement silviculture in collaboration with the Nation’s Rights and Title and Cultural teams—a part of the Community Forest’s imminent five-year plan.

Read More

Alberta government fast-tracks logging near Hinton to reduce wildfire threat

By Maggie Kirk
CBC News
November 16, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The landscape surrounding the west-central Alberta mountain town of Hinton is going to change in the coming years as the Alberta government launches a major project that aims to reduce wildfire risk. Through the Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction (CHFR) program, the provincial government has directed West Fraser Timber Co.  to shift its planned harvest toward high-risk areas that pose a wildfire threat to Hinton. Work begins this month. The first visible changes in the area will appear southwest of town from Highway 40 South from Hinton heading towards Cadomin. The harvest is part of a larger provincial program that identified 32 communities that are at a high risk of wildfire. …Warren Kehr, a Hinton local with 50 years’ experience in forestry, told CBC that the deforestation is a necessary trade-off.  “We’re sitting on a powder keg,” said Kehr.

Read More

Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Nanaimo city council interested in limiting ‘emissions-intense’ industry

By Chris Bush
Nanaimo Bulletin
November 19, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada West

Nanaimo city council Coun. Paul Manly tabled a motion that asked staff to prepare a report with options for a zoning amendment for industrial lands that would exclude emissions-intense heavy industry such as “waste energy, incinerators, chemical plants, thermal electrical generators, petroleum refineries and [liquefied] natural gas export facilities” from existing industrial zones in order to require site-specific zoning. …Ryan Prontack, a manager for Harmac Pacific, Nanaimo Forest Products, also appeared as a delegation. He said Harmac is looking to diversify its operations and has about 61 hectares of industrial-zoned land ready to develop. “While this motion represents many different activities we currently do, it also represent many that we have plans to diversify in the future,” Protack said. Manly said the motion does not affect Harmac’s current operations and is not about “blocking industry uses in perpetuity” but is about ensuring the city has a democratic process to evaluate project proposals.

Read More

Health & Safety

WorkSafeBC November Health & Safety Updates

WorkSafeBC
November 19, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

In this newsletter you find these stories and more:

  • Multiculturalism Week in BC supporting new workers: We’re proud to honour the diverse cultures and communities that make up workplaces across the province. WorkSafeBC research shows that workers who have been in Canada for five years or less are significantly less likely to speak up about workplace health and safety and are less aware of their right to file a claim if they’re injured on the job.
  • New videos: Return-to-work information for workers and employers: Do you and your workers know what to do after a workplace injury? Our videos highlight what to expect after an injury and the responsibility of employers and workers to collaborate for a safe return to work. 
  • WorkSafeBC inspections: Helping you create a healthier and safer workplace: Learn how inspections support your health and safety program and what to expect when a prevention officer visits.

Read More

Celebrating the 2025 Leadership in Safety Award Winners

By Michele Fry
BC Forest Safety Council
November 17, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

Each year, the BC Forest Safety Council honours individuals who go above and beyond to make forestry safer for everyone. Since 2008, the Leadership in Safety Awards have recognised outstanding contributions in three key areas: harvesting, manufacturing and lifetime achievement. These awards honour people who lead by example—those who bring fresh ideas, foster a strong safety culture and consistently put the well-being of others first. …Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients! Your leadership, care and commitment continue to make BC’s forestry industry safer and stronger. Nominations for the 2026 Leadership in Safety Awards open on January 12, 2026.

2025 Award Recipients

  • Cary White Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award: Bjarne Nielsen – Bear Safety Services Ltd.
  • Forest Safety Most Valuable Player Award: Dale Jones – Operations Superintendent, Tolko Industries Ltd – Heffley Creek
  • Manufacturing Safety Most Valuable Player Award: Shane Norbury – Red Seal Millwright, Western Forest Products – Chemainus Sawmill Division

Read More

In the Bowels of the Pulp Mill

By Jane Byers
The Tyee
November 14, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

Informed by her observations and evaluations of hundreds of jobs, ergonomist Jane Byers’ Coming Home From The Candy Factory shines a spotlight on the physical labour that often leads to workplace injuries. The book is fueled by Byers’ drive to make the workplace safer but also inspired by her working-class background and her father’s work in a power plant. Byers takes on the forgotten labour of women, whose unpaid housework and child-rearing is often not considered work at all. “I donned the high-tech turnout gear. My get-up, including fire-retardant boots, a self-contained breathing apparatus, flash hood and helmet, was safety-checked ahead of time. I was given a crash course on using the breathing apparatus by the trainer before I walked into the burn house. …The “fireman” job in the bowels of the pulp mill is a far cry from that of the revered structural firefighters. In fact, it’s one of the worst jobs I have ever observed.”

Read More