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Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) is proud to announce that Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) is the inaugural recipient of the Indigenous Small Business of the Year Award, in recognition of its work creating economic opportunities through Indigenous-led forestry, wildfire rehabilitation and environmental stewardship. CCR is an Indigenous-owned forestry organization representing the communities of Tŝideldel, Tl’etinqox, and Yunesit’in in the Chilcotin region of British Columbia. Established to restore and protect traditional territories while creating sustainable prosperity for Nations, CCR has become a recognized leader in Indigenous-led forestry and land stewardship. “Today, we are demonstrating that Indigenous-led forestry can create jobs, restore forests, help reduce wildfire risk, support economic independence and deliver lasting benefits for communities,” said Percy Guichon, CEO of CCR. “This award reinforces the importance of Indigenous leadership and collaboration in shaping the future of forestry in British Columbia and across Canada.”

Robert Gray

As a fast-growing fire near Pemberton forced an evacuation order and alerts Thursday, a veteran fire ecologist questioned whether the region’s forest-edge communities are as ready as officials say. …Robert Gray, a Chilliwack-based fire ecologist with four decades in the field, said that preparation often falls short because it’s done at too small a scale. Municipalities point to FireSmart programs — assessments that urge homeowners to clear brush, screen vents and strip flammable material from around a house to create “defensible space” — and to fuel treatments, the thinning of dense stands of trees and removal of dead wood that can carry a fire. Gray said both work only when carried out across whole neighbourhoods and the land around them. “You can do everything that’s required and you can still lose your home,” he said, if neighbouring properties and the forest beyond go untreated.

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are calling for the protection of an at-risk forest on Vancouver Island known as the “Jewel of the Tahsish.” According to the old growth advocates, this stand is nationally significant and one of the largest remaining unprotected old-growth karst forests in BC. Karst forests are located in areas where trees grow atop limestone,and are among the rarest, most productive and sensitive old-growth ecosystems in Canada.  The karst forest the AFA are referring to with this call to action is around 235 hectares in size and is located in the upper watershed of the Tahsish River near Cross Lake on northwestern Vancouver Island, within the territories of the Kyuquot/Checleseht and Quatsino First Nations.

Teamwork was key for bolstering an Indigenous forestry operation in central B.C., stakeholders stated at a business conference in Nanaimo. Lake Babine Nation was front and centre at the Seeing the Forest and the Trees panel discussion June 4 at the Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference in Nanaimo, with Duane Crouse, Lake Babine Nation Forestry operations manager; Jeff Mycock, vice-president of Canadian Woodlands for West Fraser Timber Co.; Mike Beck, operations manager of Capacity Forest Management and Mike Hykaway, B.C. Ministry of Forests’ assistant deputy minister of regional operations for the north area, providing insight. A collaborative effort between Lake Babine, West Fraser and the B.C. government, was announced in July 2025, which saw the First Nation’s woodland licence grow by over 120,400 hectares, to 126,000 ha, after a transfer from West Fraser with the harvestable land northeast of Smithers, B.C., according to a B.C. government press release.

Riley Browne ©WCH

West Coast Helicopters general manager Sean Smyth was in his hangar at the company’s ­headquarters in Port McNeill on Tuesday ­morning, about to make his morning coffee, when his cellphone rang. On the other end of the line was West Coast Helicopters’ dispatch. One of the company’s helicopters had crashed in rugged terrain in the remote Loughborough Inlet area, between Knight Inlet and Bute Inlet, which is steep and heavily forested. It was 6:20 a.m. and the crash had taken place just minutes earlier, at about 6:13 a.m. Three men were onboard the Hughes 500 helicopter when it went down: a pilot from West Coast Helicopters named Riley Browne and two forestry engineers from Campbell River-based Crowhurst Forest Management Group. Smyth was told that two of the people involved in the crash were unresponsive. The survivor had radioed the information to the logging camp where the men were based, who then called dispatch.

Also covered in Chek News by Liz Brown: ‘It’s gutting’: North Island community mourns the loss of one of their own following Tuesday’s helicopter crash

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is celebrating the birth of a baby caribou… The male calf was born on June 25, 2026, to mother Mira. He weighed 9.4 kilograms at birth and has since grown to 12.8 kilograms. Mom and baby are currently receiving care behind the scenes while the Zoo’s Animal Care Specialists closely monitor their progress and support this important early bonding period. …“Our Animal Care Specialists are providing Mira and her calf with the time, space and support they need during these important early days,” said Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo. “It is especially meaningful to name this calf Lyall Petrie in honour of Dr. Petrie, whose guidance, generosity and dedication left a lasting mark on so many in the veterinary community.” …The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is proud to support the Caribou Conservation Alliance. 

Old-growth forests are home to a range of trees including older—but not always bigger—trees. Characteristics of old-growth forests vary according to their location, structure and ecosystem characteristics. What counts as old growth depends on where the forest is located. In the coastal and interior wet belt regions of British Columbia (B.C.), trees are considered old growth if they are more than 250 years old. The threshold for interior forests is 140 years, due to harsher, dry conditions. Hear directly from B.C.’s Chief Forester, Shane Berg, as he explains how forests in British Columbia are managed and what that means for wood sourcing. This video provides a clear overview of forest governance, sustainable harvesting practices and the role of science-based decision-making—helping project teams better understand the systems behind responsibly sourced B.C. wood.

Randene Neill

Government is urging people in B.C. to conserve water over the coming weeks as forecasts suggest much of the province will experience elevated drought conditions that may increase water-scarcity risks. “Protecting B.C.’s water resources is a shared responsibility, and the actions we take today will help communities, farmers and businesses manage increasing drought pressures,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “We are working closely with First Nations, local governments, industry and the agricultural sector to support water conservation and long-term water security.” …People are encouraged to reduce water use wherever possible to help protect local watersheds and reduce the risk of water scarcity. Voluntary reductions in water use, along with favourable weather and rainfall, can play a critical role in maintaining stream flows and reducing pressure on watersheds and aquatic ecosystems.