Region Archives: Canada West

The Last Woodsmen premiere, November 15, 9/8c, Discovery Channel. A new series centered on the real-life lumberjack world made up of crews who risk life and limb for a big payday. Cameras follow these loggers as they venture through the remote wilderness with only axes and hand-held power saws to take down trees, which could be worth up to $70,000 each. At the same time, sustainability is important to them. Loggers will plant three seedlings for every tree harvested with the idea a regenerative forest is a healthy forest. This fascinating look takes viewers into one of the most dangerous jobs with crews braving the elements each day. At the center of the series is Cypress Creek Logging owner and operator Jared Douglas, who puts everything on the line to harvest the largest timber in the world. …The veteran logger must secure $1.1 million in profit or risk losing his house and Campbell River, BC-based company. 

The Squamish Community Forest hosted an open house on November 13. The event offered a space for locals to get the inside scoop on the forest’s first year of operations and share their thoughts on what’s next. In Dec. 2022, the Squamish Community Forest received a 25-year licence from the Province of British Columbia. This licence, called a Community Forest Agreement, gives them the exclusive right to harvest timber in a specific area. They are allowed to cut up to 20,000 cubic metres of timber each year. The licence can be renewed every 10 years, ensuring long-term forest management. According to Sarah Weaver, project manager for the Squamish Community Forest, the community forest operates under an area-based tenure, covering forested lands east of Squamish, including areas near Cat Lake, Garibaldi Park, and the Sea to Sky Gondola. “This is the first-ever collaboration between the municipality and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation,” said Board Chair Armand Hurford.

Ken Kalesnikoff, representing ForestryWorksforBC, presented to Council and highlighted the vital role of the forestry sector in British Columbia, emphasizing its contributions to climate change mitigation, natural disaster prevention and remediation, and economic stability. The City will join other communities in supporting this initiative by sending a letter to the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of State, requesting a meeting to discuss forestry’s impact on the region.

ALBERTA — The controversial logging bridge over the Highwood River in Kananaskis Country has been removed. Back in August West Fraser Timber started removing the bridge and remediating the area after consulting with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The controversy arose because proper approval wasn’t given to Spray Lake Sawmills, the original company that constructed the bridge. …The Highwood River is also a key waterway for Bull trout and Westslope Cutthroat trout. Both are species at risk. The bridge is now approximately 100 metres back from the river with West Fraser planning to remove it at a later date. However, the company is currently engaging stakeholders to refine the draft harvest of trees and is forecasting a new bridge to be put in place by the summer of 2025. West Fraser plans to have the revised plan for public review in the spring of 2025.

The steep forested slope on the west side of Gyro Park is carpeted with a tangle of dry wood and other debris – the perfect wildfire fuel. The City of Nelson’s wildfire resilience program co-ordinator Rob Leland explained that the city is piloting a unique way of removing wildfire fuel in steep urban areas. …Leland showed media and visitors an unusual remote controlled tractor designed to operate safely with a small footprint on steep terrain. It is capable of chipping woody materials in place and transporting the chips out of the treatment area for disposal off-site. The owner of the machine, contractor Joern Wingender of Flow State Adapations, said it is like a Swiss army knife: it’s a motor on tracks that can have various tools, including a chipper or a mulcher attached to it. Using a remote-controlled winch, it can drag bunched debris out of a hard-to-reach location.

With the growing scale of wildfires, many First Nations are demanding a stronger role in wildfire response. Disproportionate impacts on Indigenous communities in Canada are motivating these demands: although approximately 5 % of the population identifies as Indigenous, about 42 % of wildfire evacuation events occur communities that are more than half Indigenous. In BC, new pathways for cooperative wildfire response between First Nations and provincial agencies are emerging. …Our research highlights the diverse existing capacities, priority opportunities, and processes required to enhance cooperative pathways. Within First Nations communities, existing capacities include local knowledge, firefighting experience, equipment, funding, relationships, and leadership – an overlooked but fundamental capacity. Priority opportunities include ways to build capacity within and beyond wildfire response, such as fully equipped response crews, full-time year-round wildfire management crews, Emergency Management Coordinators, First Nations Liaisons, and cross-trained wildland and structural crews. 

The Truck Loggers Association of BC celebrates 80 years in January at their annual convention. Early bird pricing ends tomorrow! This year’s event offers TLA members and non-members an all-inclusive registration pass, granting access to all sessions and events throughout the convention. Tickets to Suppliers Night and Lunch on the Trade Show Floor can be purchased on an individual basis.

ALBERTA — West Fraser Timber released a report this week, entitled “What We Heard,” summarizing public feedback from an open house in Cochrane last May and also what adjustments they’re contemplating to logging plans for West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain. Opponents of any logging activity in the recreational area were not placated by the report. West Fraser has revised the planned 2026-27 cut downward by 37%. …West Fraser’s Chief Forester for Alberta, Richard Briand, told the crowd at the Cochrane meeting, that “Input from folks like you can really be helpful.” West Fraser (formerly Spray Lake Sawmills) had planned to clearcut 900 hectares, near West Bragg Creek and another 450 ha. in the Moose Mountain Trail Networks. The total harvest planned for both areas, slated to start in October 2026 is now 556 ha. …“Bragg Creek Wild believes that the West Bragg Creek/Moose Mountain area should be designated as a provincial park.

The provincial government is seeking contractors to restore hundreds of kilometres of land where fireguards were created during the 2023 wildfire season. The Forestry and Parks Ministry recently issued several requests for proposals, looking to return the land to a near-natural state. The work focuses on sites where large wildfires burned near Edson, Alta., about 200 kilometres west of Edmonton, and in the High Level forest area in northwestern Alberta. “Generally, at the North American level, it’s well understood that rehabilitation of fireguards is a really important thing to do,” said Jed Kaplan, a professor in the University of Calgary’s earth, energy and environment department. …”By reclaiming the land, the province aims to prevent soil erosion, stabilize the area, and encourage new growth, helping the land recover quickly,” said Alexandru Cioban, spokesperson for the ministry.

NANAIMO, BC — Both the federal and provincial governments have committed to protecting 30% of BC’s biodiversity by 2030, but the Nanaimo region’s protected areas currently fall well short of that – less than 2%. …Some of the greatest challenges in our region stem from the E&N land grant of 1887. More than 130 years ago 8,000 square kilometres of Vancouver Island was transferred to private ownership as part of the deal to build the Esquimalt and Nanaimo railway which was a condition for BC to join the Canadian confederation. …Forest companies have been the biggest beneficiaries of the land grant and have realized massive land value increases in the last decade. Mosaic Forest Management manages the planning, operations and product sales for TimberWest and Island Timberlands. Because these lands are private, they fall under the private managed forest land regulations which are less stringent than the B.C. Forest Act which covers crown land.

WILLIAMS LAKE, BC — The BC Wildfire Service and the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District, in collaboration with Alkali Lake Resource Management, will be conducting pile burning above Soda Creek Road and Tolko and West Fraser mills sites. The project, which includes 27.7 hectares of manual labor near private residences, is designed to reduce the wildfire hazard in an area near Williams Lake as well as to help restore grown-in Interior Douglas-fir stands to a more natural state. The scope of the work involves removing the surface and ladder fuels, as well as pruning and thinning out the stand to create crown separation and reduce the risk of high-intensity crown fires. …There is also a project planned for Puntzi Lake Airport. Both projects could begin any day, depending on the weather, and will continue until March 20th of next year.

The City of Nelson is piloting a new remote-controlled technology to reduce wildfire fuels west of Gyro Park. The area, which has been identified as a high-risk location for fuel mitigation, has a steep slope and is challenging to access. The pilot project is necessary because it would be unfeasible and inefficient to use larger conventional chipping equipment on the complex terrain at Gyro Park. Conventional pile-and-burn techniques were also deemed inappropriate in the majority of the area due to the potential for smoke generation in close proximity to Kootenay Lake Hospital. The small-scale forestry machine the city is piloting is capable of accessing steep terrain, chipping woody materials in place and transporting the chips out of the treatment area for disposal off site.

A new Alberta-made innovation is hoping to help protect communities from wildfires. The RainStream by Wildfire Innovations is a large mobile sprinkler that takes just 20 minutes. An up to 100-foot tower can then pump 4,000 litres of water a minute into the surrounding area. “When you have a whole bunch of these together, it can create 10 millimetres of rainfall in under two hours, over a huge area,” explained Rolf Wenzel, the CEO of Wildfire Innovations. The intent is to coat a forest or building with moisture, reducing the risk of a wildfire ember lighting spreading the blaze. “Just trying to help save a life, so that people have a home to come home to,” said Don Hallet, the founder of Wildfire Innovations. …He created the RainStream while watching Alberta’s wildfire situation intensify in recent years, and most recently seeing the difficult situation for firefighters in Jasper.

A Crowther Road resident in the Okeover Inlet area has expressed concerns about logging operations by Mosaic Forest Management taking place in her neighbourhood. In correspondence to the Peak, Diane Moore stated that she was writing regarding activities of a large forestry company currently preparing to log in a residential area north of Powell River. “Mosaic Forest Management has begun logging road construction in the Okeover area, with logging to follow,” stated Moore. …Moore stated that danger to residents and road users resulting from ongoing logging activity is of paramount importance in the event of falling rocks or landslides, with potentially life-threatening consequences. …According to the FAQ section, the entire harvest area is second-growth forest and consists of several small harvest units. “Our professional foresters, biologists and engineers have designed the area taking into consideration safety, terrain, hydrology, visual quality, wildlife, fisheries and much more,” stated Mosaic.

Fred Talen planned to retire in Harrison Hot Springs with his wife. Now he’s the mayor. …A Rockwell Drive project aimed at improving the road for pedestrians, along with all emergency-related initiatives in the village, may be impacted by a report received on Oct. 21 from North Vancouver-based forestry consultant company, B.A. Blackwell & Associates, which emphasized the importance of establishing a secondary emergency route in the community. The report updated a community wildfire resilience plan implemented by the village in 2019. The Blackwell report revised the local wildfire threat to “low to moderate,” a change from its previous classification that had described the region as having a high threat for wildfires. …the downgrading of risk stems from a low likelihood of an out-of-control fire erupting in the community, according to the report. …Talen said the village will further investigate how it will impact future emergency response plans.

The Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as the Interim Manager of the Alex Fraser Research Forest in Williams Lake, BC. This role offers a unique opportunity to manage a multi-faceted research and education facility while working in a vibrant community at the heart of British Columbia’s forestry sector. The Interim Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the research forest, overseeing its operations, and financial health. This includes leading a team of professionals, and managing crown land tenures. The role requires a strong combination of leadership, business acumen, and a passion for forestry education and research.

The Okanagan is increasingly threatened by wildfires due to rising temperatures and drier conditions caused by climate change. To address this growing crisis, the B.C. government has outlined a climate action strategy with several measures that, if tailored to the Okanagan, could effectively mitigate wildfire risks and enhance regional resilience. …The government’s pledge to conserve 30% of B.C.’s lands by 2030 can support wildfire management in regions like the Okanagan, which hosts diverse ecosystems that can serve as natural firebreaks. …Sustainable forestry practices along transportation routes and near communities could help create additional fire barriers. Expanded firefighting resources, such as water reservoirs and aerial capabilities, would improve the region’s response capacity. Protecting watersheds and old-growth forests in the Okanagan is essential, as these ecosystems can act as natural barriers that slow wildfire spread. …Facing heightened wildfire threats due to climate change, the Okanagan has an opportunity to lead with a coordinated, community-driven approach to resilience.

A partnership between the Village of McBride and the Community Forest would return the organization into the tax exempt category, allowing more funds to remain in the community according to Michael Martineau with KPMG, a global organization of independent services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. At the last McBride Village Council meeting on October 22nd, Martineau with KPMG made a presentation regarding a proposed limited partnership between the Village and the McBride Community Forest Corporation. Martineau explained that in August 2022 the federal income tax act changed and the exemption that the village previously relied on no longer exists. The old agreement with the government stated that income from revenue generated from within the boundary of the municipality was exempt. Under the new rules, because the timber is not being sold to the province of British Columbia, that exemption no longer applies. 

A new aerial forest fertilization project in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) aims to sequester carbon dioxide in forests and improve timber volumes for harvesting. From now through November, helicopters will drop urea, a nitrogen fertilizer similar to what goes on lawns, on forests near Lillooet, Pemberton and Squamish, and signage will be placed on roads to inform the public of safety hazards or delays, according to a notice posted by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The plans have been approved by local First Nations, the Ministry of Forests and forest licensees. The project is funded through the province’s Forest Investment Program and administered by B.A. Blackwell & Associates. Jeff McWilliams, a senior associate with B.A. Blackwell, said programs like this have occurred in the Sea to Sky since the early 2000s. …McWilliams explained fertilizer is trucked to designated areas and loaded onto a helicopter that spreads it similarly to a lawn fertilizer.

Additional coverage in the Squamish Reporter: SLRD notice for ‘Aerial Forest Fertilization’ in the Sea to Sky

Thursday marks the end of Alberta’s 2024 wildfire season, although nearly 30 total wildfires — all under control — are burning throughout the province. Alberta Wildfire reported more fires this year compared to the historic 2023 season, but a fraction of area burned, according to a news release the provincial government issued Wednesday. This season highlighted the significant role early preparation plays, and spending on people, resources and technology “proved invaluable,” said Trevor Lamabe, executive director of the government’s wildfire management branch, in the news release. Firefighters responded to more than 1,210 wildfires this year, burning more than 705,000 hectares, according to the Alberta Wildfire status dashboard. The Alberta government declared an early start to the 2024 wildfire season on Feb. 20, as firefighters were still working on 64 zombie fires that carried over from the year before. At the time, the government implemented a fire ban and permit system to prevent further human-caused wildfires.

Ts’il Kaz Koh (Burns Lake Band) hosted a three-day Community to Community forum focused on Wildfire Risk Reduction from October 23-25. Albert L. Gerow, natural resources advisor for Ts’il Kaz Koh, reported that over 33 organizations participated, including representatives from the Village of Burns Lake, the Regional District Bulkley Nechako, the Ministry of Forests, various levels of government, local industries, and organizations such as Burns Lake RCMP, Burns Lake Search & Rescue, the College of New Caledonia, and Indigenous groups like the First Nations Forestry Council. The forum aimed to share wildfire risk reduction plans, fostering collaborative discussions on strategies and best practices. Participants also engaged in a fire smart workshop to educate on applying Fire Smart practices in their communities. Additionally, they identified high-risk community buildings and discussed targeted mitigation measures to protect these structures.