Category Archives: Special Feature

Special Feature

Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to protect and transform Canada’s steel and lumber industries

The Office of the Prime Minister
November 26, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada

Canada’s government has moved quickly to protect and strengthen the sectors most affected by U.S. tariffs – introducing new measures to help workers gain new skills, support businesses as they modernise and diversify, and boost domestic demand for Canadian goods. Building on previously announced measures to help transform the Canadian steel and softwood lumber industries, the following new initiatives were announced:

  1. Further limit foreign steel imports
     
  2. Make it easier to build with Canadian steel and Canadian lumber
    • Canada will work with railway companies to cut freight rates for transporting Canadian steel and lumber interprovincially by 50%.
    • To maximise the use of Canadian softwood lumber in housing, Build Canada Homes will prioritise shovel-ready, multi-year projects.
    • Canada will implement our Buy Canadian Policy later this year, which requires that all contracts worth over $25 million prioritise Canadian materials – including steel and lumber.
       
  3. Increase protections for Canadian steel and lumber workers and businesses
    • Canada will earmark more than $100 million to provide support in all sectors with an active Work-Sharing agreement.
    • Canada will provide an additional $500 million to the BDC Softwood Lumber Guarantee Program.
    • For softwood lumber firms facing liquidity pressures, Canada will earmark $500 million under the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility.
    • Canada will launch a Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force. 

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Why US protectionism isn’t a phase—and how Canadian forest companies can adapt

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
October 20, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States

Robert McKellar

Friday’s Tree Frog interview with political risk expert Robert McKellar drew exceptional interest—and for good reason. Given reader response and the ongoing fallout from Trump’s trade policies, we’re featuring it again for those who missed it. McKellar, who divides his time between Turkey and Canada, brings an international perspective to his analysis of Trump’s second-term trade environment and its implications for Canada’s forest sector. His message is clear: US protectionism is not a passing phase. The current tariff and duty structure reflects a broader nationalist realignment that will persist well beyond the Trump presidency. He notes it is unlikely that the upcoming USMCA review will restore pre-Trump-2 market access, and that while Washington is betting tariffs will attract new foreign investment, the result has instead been greater political risk.

McKellar also examines the recent US–China flare-up, concluding it is unlikely to reignite a full-scale trade war. Within the US, he observes that political momentum currently favours the US Lumber Coalition over homebuilders, but that balance could shift if housing affordability again becomes a political flashpoint. Should the housing crisis deepen, Trump has shown he’s willing to adjust course when broader political pressures outweigh protectionist instincts. For Canadian producers, diversification and value-added strategies remain essential—but slow to materialize. That reality underpins McKellar’s central question: “If that’s true—then what?” His answer calls for a fundamental shift in mindset—challenging the sector to rethink its future and chart a course less dependent on the US market. He concludes that companies should view political-risk awareness as a practical framework—linking foresight, market intelligence, and decision-making into a continuous process of adaptation. The tools already exist within most organizations, he says; the opportunity lies in using them more deliberately as part of everyday business planning.

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Trump’s Second Term And Political Risk In the Canadian Forest Sector

By Kelly McCloskey and Robert McKellar
Tree Frog Forestry News
October 17, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States

Kelly McCloskey

Robert McKellar

Earlier this year, Tree Frog reached out to political risk expert Robert McKellar for a two-part op-ed, titled Trump’s Re-Emergence and Political Risk in the Canadian Forest Sector. Robert set the stage by looking at Trump’s leadership style and his approach to business, and outlined how forest product companies can assess and manage political risk. He also highlighted four challenges facing Canadian producers: tariffs, duties, economic nationalist treatment of Canadian subsidiaries, and the impact of US-China trade tensions on lumber sales.

Since that series was published, many of those risks have materialized. The Trump administration has imposed the expected softwood lumber duties—higher than feared—and added a 10% Section 232 tariff. Combined, these measures amount to a staggering 45% levy on Canadian softwood exports. Meanwhile, lumber prices have remained low, production curtailments are mounting, and the sector is entering one of its most challenging periods in decades. While the Canadian government has provided interim support and is attempting to re-engage the US on a broader trade deal, lumber is not currently on the table. As a result, companies face not only a deepening financial crisis but a structural one.

With that context, we sought Robert’s perspective again—not as an extension of our earlier conversation, but as a fresh stock-taking and forward-looking reflection. His earlier analysis anticipated many of the outcomes now unfolding, and given what we now know—we asked him to weigh in on the core issues shaping the sector’s future and how Canadian companies can better prepare. In this new long-read feature, Robert addresses those questions head-on—offering his take on what may or may not change under the current US administration, the rise of protectionism and political risk south of the border, and the renewed China-US rift that continues to influence global markets. It’s a thoughtful, in-depth read for anyone trying to make sense of what comes next for Canada’s forest sector.

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The 22nd Global Buyers Mission kicks off in Whistler tomorrow—uniting wood manufacturers and buyers

BC Wood Specialties Group
September 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada

BC Wood is set to welcome delegates and buyers from British Columbia and around the world to the 22nd Annual Global Buyers Mission (GBM), kicking off tomorrow in Whistler, BC. This signature event brings Canadian wood manufacturers together with pre-qualified international buyers in an exclusive, business-focused environment. The GBM opens with a welcome breakfast, where Premier David Eby will address participants and officially launch the trade show. His presence underscores the critical role of BC’s wood and forestry sector in driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. Nearly 800 attendees are expected, a testament to the GBM’s significance in connecting Canadian producers with global markets.

New this year, a high-profile panel will analyze the impact of escalating U.S. softwood lumber duties, now raised to over 35%. Introduced by Forest Minister Parmar, the panel features Mo Amir, Nick Arkle, Liz Kovach, and Kurt Niquidet, who will provide insights on how these tariffs could disrupt supply chains, inflate costs, and reshape the industry.

On the tradeshow floor, buyers will discover Canada’s diverse range of value-added wood products, from mass timber to specialty lumber. Networking continues into the evening, with a reception at Whistler’s Roundhouse Lodge, set against the stunning mountain backdrop.

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Summary Wrap-UP: International Pulp Week 2025

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
June 11, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States, International

The Tree Frog News featured the panels and speakers from last week’s International Pulp Week. In today’s Tree Frog News are links to all of the conference sessions in chronological order. 

Day One – June 1, 2025

  • Registration and Wecome Cocktail

Day Two – June 2, 2025

Day Two – June 3, 2025

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Navigating the Shifting Landscape of US Tariffs: Robert Mckellar

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
June 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States

Robert McKellar

At International Pulp Week, political risk expert Robert McKellar delivered a timely and unconventional keynote that used a real-world policy shift to test a scenario-based approach to geopolitical uncertainty. Titled “Managing Geopolitical Uncertainty and Its Challenges,” the presentation featured a hypothetical pulp company navigating a shifting landscape of US tariffs, culminating in an unexpected twist: a policy reversal on tariffs the day after the analysis was completed. McKellar, Director of Harmattan Risk, emphasized from the outset that his session was not about delivering forecasts or policy advice, but about helping companies become more comfortable working with uncertainty. The tool he introduced—a scenario-based assessment—was less about pinpoint accuracy and more about creating a “living intelligence picture” to guide decisions in real time.

The unique twist, however, was that McKellar’s own process of preparing for the keynote presentation mimicked the very conditions of uncertainty he was seeking to illustrate. As he developed the ‘fictional company’ Thor Wood Pulp AB’s case study throughout late March and early April, the global trade landscape kept shifting. His assessment was finalized on April 8. On April 9, the Trump administration abruptly announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. This reversal not only disrupted his planned narrative, but underscored his entire thesis: in volatile times, any analytical framework must remain adaptive, fluid, and responsive. …In a world of rapid political change, pulp producers and global businesses don’t need perfect foresight. What they need is a way to stay balanced, make timely decisions, and keep moving forward—even when the path ahead is constantly shifting.

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Looking Back, Moving Forward: 20 Years of Industry Insights at IPW 2025

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
June 2, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States, International

International Pulp Week 2025 opened in Vancouver with a note of celebration and reflection as delegates marked the event’s 20th anniversary. “After decades of being in Montreal in January… we decided to move the event to Vancouver and into the spring and summer months,” said Tim Brown, Vice-President at Numera Analytics. Over the years, Brown noted, the event has drawn participants from more than 50 countries and consistently focused on the industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. “It’s an industry that has innovated, adapted, and is one that itself is smarter and more sustainable.” Following Brown’s welcome, he introduced Kevin Mason, Managing Director of ERA Forest Products Research, who returned to the IPW stage to reflect on two decades of transformation in the global pulp sector—and to look ahead.

…Mason highlighting four key developments that have defined the past two decades: “A dramatic rise in demand for market pulp from China… Chinese demand met by massive growth in hardwood capacity in Latin America… hardwood steadily gained share versus softwood… and tissue expanded while printing and writing papers contracted.” Looking ahead, Mason projected the estimated end-use composition of pulp demand in 2040: tissue at 54%, specialty papers at 24%, packaging at 12%, fluff-based products at 7%, and graphic paper at 3%. He also shared a slide titled “Potential Developments Over the Next 20 Years,” listing several scenarios: continued expansion of domestic pulp capacity in China; hardwood gaining further share over softwood (though possibly nearing saturation); and the potential for dramatic growth in specialty papers and packaging—if government policy supports a shift away from plastics.

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Forest Professionals BC Honours Seven Outstanding Forest Professionals

Forest Professionals British Columbia
February 11, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Vancouver — Forest Professionals British Columbia (FPBC) honoured seven individuals as part of its recognition program in Vancouver on February 5. Forest Professionals BC recognized three Distinguished Forest Professionals, one Forest Professional of the Year, one Jim Rodney Memorial Volunteer of the Year, and two authors for BC Forest Professional Magazine Best Article at the 78th Forest Professionals BC forestry conference recognition banquet. Jeff Fisher (North Vancouver), BSF, RPF, Christopher Vukovic (Qualicum Beach), HBScF, RPF(Ret), and John Walker (Williams Lake), RPF, were honoured as Distinguished Forest Professionals for 2025. This category recognizes significant accomplishments over a career, for providing outstanding service to the profession of forestry and for furthering the principles of Forest Professionals BC. It is the profession’s highest honour for a registrant. Peter Flett, MSFM, RPF, of Penticton is the 2025 Forest Professional of the Year. Margaret Symon, RPF, PCP, of Duncan is the 2025 Jim Rodney Memorial Volunteer of the Year. Lastly, Vanessa Fetterly, BSc, RPBio, and Carl Pollard, BSc, RPF, collaborated on the 2025 BC Forest Professional Magazine Best Article.

Additional coverage:

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BC Foresters awarded the University of British Columbia Alumni Builder Awards

University of British Columbia
January 23, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

The UBC Alumni Builder Awards recognize alumni who have significantly contributed to the university and enriched the lives of others, and in doing so, have supported alumni UBC’s vision of a global alumni community for an exceptional UBC and a better world. We are proud to honour this year’s Alumni Builder Awards recipients whose generous contributions have been recognized by their UBC faculty.

Nick Arkle, BSF’84, and Louise Arkle, BA’82, MA’85
Office of the Principal and Deputy Vice – Chancellor

Nick and Louise Arkle are community leaders and philanthropists whose dedication has strengthened UBC Okanagan and the broader region. As CEO of Gorman Group, Nick has advanced BC’s forestry sector while providing influential leadership across the profession, championing initiatives that strengthen industry and trade. He has supported community growth through the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, while also serving on the inaugural UBC Okanagan Advisory Council. Louise is a dedicated advocate for education and community development, working to expand equity and opportunity, serving in several leadership roles for the Central Okanagan Bursary and Scholarship Society and as a volunteer for the Loran Scholars Foundation. 

John Mohammed, BSc(ForSci)’91
Faculty of Forestry

John Mohammed is president of A&A Trading, a BC-based family forestry company. With deep industry roots and experience across logging, timber valuation, and trading, he is a respected leader in the sector. John actively hires UBC graduates and co-leads an annual exercise in negotiation that equips students with essential career skills, an initiative now adopted and being used in other areas of the faculty. John’s dedication to mentorship and education has made a lasting impact on the next generation of forestry professionals. As a board member of the BC Council of Forest Industries, he continues to champion leadership and learning.

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TLA Day 3 opens with screening of BC Is Burning documentary

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 16, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Day Three of the Truck Loggers Association convention opened with a private screening of BC Is Burning, a documentary produced by professional forester Murray Wilson examining British Columbia’s escalating wildfire crisis and the forest conditions shaping fire behaviour. Introduced by moderator Vaughn Palmer as an “urgent, powerful documentary,” the film explores how fuel buildup, insect damage, drought, and decades of fire suppression have contributed to larger, more intense wildfires, while highlighting a range of forest management approaches being applied in BC and elsewhere, including California. The screening was followed by a Q&A moderated by Palmer with Dr. Carolyn Smyth of Natural Resources Canada, Rob Schweitzer of the Ministry of Forests and BC Wildfire Service, and Jim McGrath of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, all of whom also appeared in the film. Discussion focused on fuel mitigation, fire salvage, carbon dynamics, and policy and permitting constraints.

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TLA Panel 8: Public Perceptions of Forestry

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 16, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Public Perceptions of Forestry session brought together two speakers with distinct platforms but a shared focus on how forestry is understood by the public. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the discussion featured Hélène Marcoux, Director of UBC’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, and Bob Kronbauer, creator journalist known as BC Bob. Marcoux drew on her experience in research, education, and outreach to describe how direct engagement, transparency, and acknowledging past decisions can help build public trust. She shared examples from the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, including public tours, partnerships with First Nations, and education programs designed to meet audiences where they are and avoid technical language. Kronbauer described his approach to digital storytelling through short-form videos developed with the Truck Loggers Association, focusing on forestry workers and operations. He said showing people at work, rather than advocating positions, has helped reach broad audiences unfamiliar with the forest sector.

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TLA in Conversation with Interim Conservative Leader Trevor Halford

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 16, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The final session of the Truck Loggers Association convention featured an on-stage conversation with Trevor Halford, Interim Leader of the Conservative Party of BC and current Leader of the Opposition, moderated by Vaughn Palmer. Joined by TLA President Dorian Uzzell, Vice President Bob Marquis, and Past President Aaron Service, the discussion focused on forestry policy, investment certainty, and regulatory conditions affecting contractors and communities. Halford pointed to permitting delays, regulatory complexity, and policy uncertainty as barriers to investment, arguing that businesses are prepared to invest but are being held back by slow approvals. Responding to questions on DRIPA, fibre supply, and the closure of the Crofton mill, Halford framed his party’s call for repeal and his broader critique around the need for clarity, predictability, and timely decision-making. Audience questions reinforced concerns about risk aversion within government and the need for clearer authority and accountability to sustain forestry employment across the province.

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Summary Wrap-up of the 81st Annual TLA Convention

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 19, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Tree Frog News has been featuring the panels and speakers from the Truck Loggers Association convention over the last week. In today’s news are Friday’s panel and keynote speakers. For those who missed the coverage, are all of our summarized stories.

Day One – January 14, 2025

Day Two – January 15, 2025

Day Three – January 16, 2025

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TLA Panel 5: Fostering Collaboration & Partnerships, Part 1 First Nations Partnerships

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 15, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Day 2 of the TLA Convention opened with a panel on First Nations partnerships, examining how collaboration between Indigenous communities and industry is reshaping forestry in BC. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured Lennard Joe, CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council; Chief Ronnie Chickite of the We Wai Kai Nation; and Klay Tindall, General Manager of Lil’wat Forestry Ventures. Joe outlined the rapid growth of First Nations tenure and investment, emphasizing operational feasibility, workforce capacity, and the need for partnerships grounded in mutual benefit. Chickite described We Wai Kai’s expansion from small licences to controlling nearly 220,000 cubic metres annually, highlighting reinvestment in employment, education, and long-term community stability. Tindall shared how partnerships helped transform Lil’wat Forestry Ventures, supporting capacity building, wildfire risk reduction, and stewardship in sensitive areas. In a discussion touching on DRIPA, the speakers emphasized inclusion, local economic benefit, and the importance of durable, collaborative governance in forestry.

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TLA Leader’s Luncheon with Forests Minister Ravi Parmar

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 15, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

At the TLA Convention’s Leader’s Luncheon, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar outlined the BC government’s current priorities for the forest sector, following a pre-recorded message from Premier  David Eby, who is on a trade mission to India. Speaking from abroad, Eby emphasized strengthening international trade relationships and promoting BC products amid global uncertainty. Parmar said forestry is facing a convergence of challenges, including market volatility, high costs, trade pressures, and wildfire risk. Beginning with wildfire, he announced an expansion of the Risk Reduction Equipment Support Trust (REST) program, increasing provincial cost-sharing from 10% to 25% for eligible equipment and modifications used in fuel management and mitigation work. He also addressed fibre supply and Path to 45, stressing the need to remove operational barriers and improve planning certainty, and pointed to ongoing reforms at BC Timber Sales. Parmar emphasized balancing economic viability, environmental responsibility, and reconciliation, while underscoring the importance of international markets for BC’s forest products.

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TLA Panel 6: Fostering Collaboration & Partnerships, Part 2: Forest Industry and Business Association Perspectives

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 15, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The second “fostering collaboration”  panel of Day 2 at the TLA Convention brought together senior leaders from forestry and the broader business community to share organizational perspectives on BC’s economic and forest-sector challenges. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured Bridget Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade; Peter Lister, Executive Director of the Truck Loggers Association; Kim Haakstad, President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI); and Joe Nemeth, General Manager of the BC Pulp & Paper Coalition. Anderson addressed the wider provincial economic context, including growth, fiscal pressures, and business conditions. Lister focused on the state of the forest industry, fibre access, costs, and investment certainty. Haakstad examined competitiveness, tenure obligations, employment trends, and economic reconciliation. Nemeth spoke to the pulp and paper sector, highlighting cost structures, fibre availability, and conditions required for future investment.

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The 81st Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention kicks off in Vancouver

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
January 14, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Dorian Uzzell

The 81st Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention opened in Vancouver Wednesday, with a clear message about both the challenges facing the sector and the purpose of the gathering. TLA President Dorian Uzzell welcomed delegates by reaffirming the association’s belief “that a strong and sustainable working forest will generate long-term prosperity for the people of British Columbia,” and that those who work in the forests “must share in that prosperity.” He said the convention’s theme, Fostering Collaboration and Partnerships, reflects the TLA’s view that “the power of working together is the key to building a stronger and more sustainable forestry sector.”

Dorian Uzzell

While acknowledging strong attendance and thanking sponsors, Uzzell did not soften his assessment of current conditions, noting that while mill closures draw attention, “there is little said about the small independent operators” who are “the backbone of a healthy forest economy and the small rural communities of BC.” He warned that current policies are “creating inefficiency leading to the creation of uneconomical forests to operate in,” and stressed that the sector must be viewed as “having a symbiotic relationship” across the supply chain.

The convention formally began with a welcome and blessing from Squamish Nation Elder Calvin Charlie Dawson, who acknowledged the gathering on traditional territory and welcomed participants on behalf of the Squamish Nation and neighbouring Nations. Moderator Vaughn Palmer then opened the three-day program, expressing his admiration for the organization’s persistence in a difficult period for the industry before moving the conference into its first session.

Vaughn Palmer

Calvin Charlie Dawson

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TLA Panel 1: Markets & Economy – Navigating Trade Disruption and Shifting Demand

January 15, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Day 1 of the TLA Conference kicked off its technical program with the Markets & Economy panel, examining how trade disruption, shifting construction trends, and fibre supply constraints are reshaping Canada’s forest sector. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured David Fell, Director of Research and Analysis at Forestry Innovation Investment (FII); Rick Jeffery, President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council; and Don Wright, Senior Counsel at Global Public Affairs. Fell outlined BC’s reliance on export markets, the importance of diversification, and the role of building codes in supporting domestic demand. Jeffery focused on housing, industrialized construction, mass timber, and the need for supply-chain adaptation to capture future growth. Wright addressed the economics of competitiveness, pointing to declining harvest levels, policy-driven fibre constraints, and their implications for government revenue. In the discussion, Wright said restoring an economically sustainable harvest level was “job number one.”

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TLA Panel 2: Closing the Gap on Fibre Supply

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
January 14, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

The second session of the TLA Conference featured the Closing the Gap on Fibre Supply panel, examining the BC government’s Path to 45 target and what it means for contractors and operating companies. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session brought together Jim Girvan, Associate at IFS; Paul Sadler, GM & CEO of Harmac Pacific; and Jonathan Armstrong, Vice President of Forestry and Fibre Supply at Western Forest Products. Girvan contrasted the 45-million-cubic-metre goal with current projections of roughly 28 million, stressing that the real issue is not volume alone but whether fibre is economically viable to harvest. Sadler focused on the operational realities facing mills and contractors, including cost, access, permitting timelines, and the need for predictable supply. Armstrong described how policy and regulatory layering has complicated planning and investment, particularly on the coast, and emphasized the gap between theoretical fibre and what can actually be brought to market.

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TLA Panel 3: BC Government Initiatives Update

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
January 14, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Day 1 of the TLA Conference continued with the Government Initiatives Update panel, offering a detailed look at current policy work within the BC Ministry of Forests, reforms at BC Timber Sales, and longer-term system challenges. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured Makenzie Leine, Deputy Minister of Forests; Melissa Sanderson, Assistant Deputy Minister; and Garry Merkel, Co-Chair of the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council. Leine outlined the ministry’s priorities, including tariff response, the Path to 45 initiative, and a shift toward management-unit-level problem-solving rather than broad, one-size-fits-all policy. Sanderson provided an update on the BCTS review, its expanded public-interest mandate, and early implementation steps, including Category 4 value-added supply, stewardship work, and measures affecting contractors. Merkel addressed longer-term structural issues, questioning why repeated reviews have failed to deliver lasting stability and calling for governance approaches that better align economic activity, communities, and forest stewardship.

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TLA Panel 4: Improving Workplace Safety

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
January 14, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Day 1 of the TLA Conference concluded with the Improving Workplace Safety panel, examining how industry and regulators are addressing risk during a period of economic pressure and operational uncertainty. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured Rob Moonen, CEO of the BC Forest Safety Council, and Todd McDonald, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. Moonen, who noted he will retire at the end of March, warned that cost pressures and tighter margins are creating conditions that can undermine safety, stressing that the industry “cannot afford to wait for another crisis before acting.” He highlighted mental health as a growing concern and outlined the Council’s new Connection to Care counselling initiative. McDonald described WorkSafeBC’s prevention approach, emphasizing education and consultation alongside enforcement, and identified key risk areas including extreme weather, motor-vehicle incidents, ergonomics, and mental health. Both speakers underscored that sustained leadership and collaboration remain essential to protecting forestry workers.

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BC Forestry at a Breaking Point: Peter Lister on Costs, Closures, and Fiber Supply

By Anthony Robinson, ForestNet
You Tube
January 9, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

On the eve of the 81st Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention, ForestNet brings us an exclusive interview with the new TLA executive director, Peter Lister. This episode explains the practical drivers behind BC’s current forestry downturn — rising permit costs, trade duties, changing land‑use governance, and the operational impacts those forces are having on mills, contractors and communities. Peter Lister, MASc, PEng, ICD.D — Executive Director of the Truck Loggers Association with more than 35 years in the sector — outlines the immediate causes and possible responses. He details specific examples (Altmill, Crofton, 100 Mile House), quantifies key impacts (BC harvest ≈ 30 million m³; planning costs rising from $4/m³ to $14/m³ = roughly $300M additional industry cost), and explains how U.S. duties near 45% and higher operating costs make BC uncompetitive for investment.

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Unsettled Times Provide Opportunity for Forest Professionals to Step Up

By Christine Gelowitz, CEO
Forest Professionals British Columbia Magazine
January 6, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Christine Gelowitz

BC’s forest sector is undergoing a momentous change, buffeted by a combination of policy reform, economic uncertainty, new models of shared governance, shifting markets, climate impacts, workforce demographics, and evolving public expectations. This moment feels different than previous market downturns and it’s increasingly obvious there will be no return to “business as usual.” Clearly, a transformation in forestry is underway, some of it overdue, some daunting, and some full of possibility. In moments like this, certainty is elusive. Information floods in while the signals that matter are often buried beneath speculation, opinion, and outright misinformation. It is easy to get stuck in the ‘muddiness’ of it all and hope someone else will bring clarity and provide a clear and obvious path forward.

The policy choices, management decisions, planning assumptions, and stewardship priorities made today will shape BC forests and forest sector for decades. Who will lead in making those decisions? How will we prevent the strong desire to place all the focus on urgent short-term fixes from overshadowing the important and the need for improving our long-term potential? This is a moment fit for forest professionals. [Extracted from the BC Forest Professionals Winter 2026 Magazine]

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Forest History Association of BC presents Keith Moore – tonight at 7pm

BC Forest History Association
December 16, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

The BC Forest History Association is pleased to host its final speaker of 2025: Keith Moore, RPF, a longtime resident of Haida Gwaii and a respected leader in forest policy, regulation, and certification. Tonight, December 16th, 7:00 pm on Zoom.

In his presentation, “How the Long History of Forest Practices Regulation in BC Became a Key Part in a Recent BC Supreme Court Case,” Keith will explore how decades of statutory and voluntary forest practices regulation in British Columbia shaped the context and outcome of a recent court decision. Drawing on a career that spans research, policy development, enforcement, and auditing, he brings a rare, end-to-end perspective on how forest regulation actually works in practice.

Keith began his career with the Ministry of Forests Research Branch, followed by ten years with the BC Ministry of Environment. He was the inaugural Chair of the BC Forest Practices Board (1995–2000) and later became deeply involved with Forest Stewardship Council certification, conducting audits in forest regions around the world. Based in Daajing Giids, he continues to work with the Council of the Haida Nation and internationally through Assurance Services International.

Please register for a Zoom link here.

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‘Anti-Harmac’ amendment targets key company in Nanaimo

By Mark MacDonald
Nanaimo News Bulletin
December 7, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

When the City of Nanaimo tabled a zoning amendment to Bylaw 4500 that could effectively change the heavy industry zoning in Nanaimo on Nov. 17, there was one main target: Nanaimo Forest Products. NFP owns Harmac Pacific, ‘the little pulp mill that did,’ which continues to pay around 350 full-time employee-owners while maintaining consistent profitability, and is a major Vancouver Island success story. They’ve done that thanks to an employee ownership model that sees workers share in its profits, as well as clever leadership which has made several key investments. …One of NFP’s key strategic moves was purchasing the 61 hectares adjacent to Harmac, which is industrial land. Developing that will benefit NFP and its worker-shareholders, companies that want to set up business in Nanaimo with ocean access, Harmac employees and taxpayers.

The anti-Harmac bylaw specifically targets bio-mass/cogeneration, thermal electricity generation from fossil fuels or biomass, liquefied natural gas, petroleum refineries, and anything else that might produce a whiff of emissions. Not to mention that Harmac uses biomass to supply most of its energy needs and they use 100 per cent biomass to produce all of the electricity it supplies to BC Hydro. It would make sense that future operations should include similar companies as fuel costs rise. The original goal of having Harmac where it is – and Duke Point – was to move the industrial land out of town where exhaust wouldn’t impact local residents. This motion aims to curtail that. …NFP has been progressive in its thinking and pro-active in its movements. Jobs on that site will be good for them and for the local economy. An expanded industrial tax base could be expected to keep residential taxes lower.

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The Crofton closure is a warning Victoria can no longer ignore

By Kermit Dahl, Mayor of Campbell River, & Chair, Alliance of Resource Communities
Chek News
December 5, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Kermit Dahl

The closure of the Crofton pulp mill didn’t come out of nowhere. It arrived exactly the way many mayors across resource communities feared and had communicated this fear to government time after time: quietly, predictably, and after years of well-intended but poorly considered provincial policy that has boxed in an industry already on its heels. Here’s the blunt truth: 30% of the fibre feeding Crofton was coming from the US. Even with that desperate backfill, it still wasn’t enough to keep the mill alive. When a BC mill adjacent to one of the most productive forest baskets on the planet yet survives only by importing American fibre, something has gone very wrong in our own house. That’s not bad luck. That’s bad policy. …And if provincial leaders don’t correct course, mills in Ladysmith, North Cowichan, and Nanaimo are next. This, in turn, hits harvesting in Campbell River and other northern coastal communities. It’s all connected. The math is right there in the open.

When a major mill goes down, the provincial legislature doesn’t get the bill. We do. …British Columbia has been told repeatedly that we’re moving into a “new economy.” That sounds appealing until you examine who bears the brunt of experimentation. It’s not downtown departments or far-away advocacy groups. It’s municipalities — the ones responsible for policing, recreation, sewer lines, water plants, roads, and fire halls. When you remove a community’s tax base without a credible replacement, you’re not creating a greener economy. You’re creating an unfunded civic crisis, driving once thriving communities into poverty. …We still have a choice — but time is short. Forestry isn’t a relic. It’s a modern, sustainable, globally demanded sector that — with proper management — can anchor the next 50 years of prosperity. 

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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.”

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BC’s Wildfire Future Needs Forest Professionals

Christine Gelowitz, RPF, Forest Professionals BC
Forest Professionals BC
October 27, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Christine Gelowitz

Wildfires may fade from view in the fall, but the danger — and need for action — remains. More than 880,000 hectares burned in B.C. this year; that’s 75 per cent higher than the 20-year average. With the likelihood of more extreme fire seasons ahead, work to prepare for and mitigate the wildfire risk needs to happen year-round, not just when we smell smoke. And registered forest professionals are at the forefront of that preparation.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Forests provided a $620,000 grant to Forest Professionals BC to expand the role of forest professionals in reducing wildfire risk. The funding is helping strengthen professional standards, develop new training programs, and build a connected community of practitioners who share knowledge and stay current with the fast-changing realities of managing wildfire in forests. …If we want fewer catastrophic wildfire seasons, we need to empower the work guided by forest professionals: fund multi-year treatment programs, fast-track permits for well-designed prescribed burns, reward projects that show measurable risk reduction, and keep the work in the hands of people who are trained, tested, and accountable to the public.

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An interview with BC’s Ministry of Forests’ new deputy minister Makenzie Leine

By Andy Watson
Truck LoggerBC Magazine
September 30, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Earlier this year, British Columbia appointed a new deputy minister for the Ministry of Forests. Raised in the heart of the forestry sector, born into the family of a truck logger and growing up in a forestry camp, Makenzie Leine has been tasked with supporting a sector facing significant challenges. …Working with Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar and the ministry team to fulfill a mandate focused on both immediate, short-term improvements and long-term sustainability for the sector, there are a series of deliverables she is supporting. These include increasing value by supporting value-added and innovative forest products; diversifying wood products in domestic and international markets; bringing groups together in forest landscape planning tables to chart a path forward for the stewardship of BC’s forests and forest industry; improving permitting efficiency; and, working toward ensuring a sustainable land base to enable the harvest of 45 million cubic metres a year, while fulfilling the Province’s commitment to old growth.

Easy, right? And all this with the added challenge of combatting the impacts of American tariffs—including those on softwood lumber and other protectionist measures—the price crisis in the timber sector, the impacts of wildfires and insect infestation on supply, and increasing wildfire activity due to impacts of climate change. “We’re in a very unique time right now, and it’s very, very tough,” Leine says. “It’s a time that is probably different than anything we’ve seen. …”I don’t think we can come to the table with the answers. I think we have to come to the table with our own understanding of our accountability and our part in it and work together to figure out how we sort through it, together.” Ultimately, Leine says, it can only be achieved by bringing together industry, First Nations, communities, and other interested parties to work together toward these goals, with government being stewards of the work ahead.

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BC Premier declares Global Buyers Mission open, emphasizes importance of market diversification

By Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
September 12, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

BC Wood’s 22nd Annual Global Buyers Mission (GBM) opened in Whistler, BC on Friday morning, with Premier David Eby declaring the tradeshow floor open and underscoring the value-added sector’s critical role in British Columbia’s economy and its importance to international markets. …Nearly 600 participants attended this year’s gathering, including specifiers, government representatives, and international buyers from across Asia and beyond. BC Wood CEO Brian Hawrysh welcomed the attendees… and Board chairperson Kelly Marciniw of Zirnhelt Timber Frames, introduced the Honourable Premier of British Columbia, David Eby. …Eby emphasizing the importance of BC’s international buyers, pointing to his recent experience at Expo 2025 Osaka. …At the same time, he acknowledged the dual challenges of natural and man-made disruptions, from wildfires and the mountain pine beetle to softwood lumber duties.

“Our friends and allies in the United States, who remain friends and allies, but are under the leadership of an individual who somehow sees affordable BC timber products as a threat to the United States, at a time when the government is simultaneously recognizing a housing crisis in the United States and a need to improve affordability for people,” he said. He argued that Canada and the US have an opportunity to reset their relationship, suggesting that the $8 billion currently held in a tariff account could be used “to promote wood products across North America for a net win for everybody.”…Eby also outlined steps the provincial government is taking to support the industry, including a pause on stumpage payments. …”There are so many opportunities for us right now, and they are matched, unfortunately, by threats. But we will be successful as a group if we push together in ensuring we’re expanding those markets.”

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BC Wood returns to Whistler for the 22nd Global Buyers Mission

BC Wood Specialties Group
August 15, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

BC Wood recently announced that Premier David Eby will open the 22nd Annual Global Buyers Mission (GBM) on Friday, September 5th. This shows the significance of the GBM to British Columbia’s forestry and value-added wood industry. Kicking off the tradeshow, the Premier will join delegates on the tradeshow floor. Premier Eby’s presence highlights the critical role of British Columbia’s wood and forestry sector in driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. With recent U.S. decisions increasing countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber to over 35%, there’s an unprecedented level of uncertainty about how the market will be impacted. A newly announced panel presentation will analyse the escalating tariffs threatening to disrupt supply chains, inflate costs, and reshape the forestry industry. Forest Minister Parmar will introduce the panel and participants Mo Amir, Nick Arkle, Liz Kovach and Kurt Niquidet on September 4th.

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Premier Eby to Officially Open the 22nd Annual Global Buyers Mission

BC Wood Specialties Group
August 12, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West, International

Ken Kalesnikoff & David Eby

BC Wood announced that Premier David Eby will open the 22nd Annual Global Buyers Mission (GBM) and deliver the welcoming remarks on Friday, September 5th, before the tradeshow begins. This shows the significance of the GBM to British Columbia’s forestry and value-added wood industry, with the Premier joining us to explore the tradeshow floor and engage directly with the delegates. Premier Eby’s presence highlights the critical role of BC’s wood and forestry sector in driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. As one of the largest events of its kind in Canada, the GBM brings together over 700 delegates from around the globe, fostering connections that generated over $34 million in new business last year alone. For 22 years, the GBM has been a staple for generating business for Canada’s wood manufacturers. This showcases to international delegates, Canada’s wood manufacturing capabilities as some of the finest in the world.

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22nd Annual Global Buyers Mission on the Mountain

BC Wood Specialties Group
July 22, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

BC Wood is celebrating 22 years of hosting their popular Global Buyers Mission – and you’re invited. Join more than 700 delegates, September 5-7, 2025, in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia. This international event continues to be a great success for buyers and suppliers alike, with estimates last year of over $37 million in new business developed.  

Only a few booth spaces left: The GBM Trade Show brings together international pre-qualified buyers to meet with Canadian manufacturers of wood products including mass & heavy timber, engineered wood products; remanufactured items and components; prefabricated housing and structures; log/post & beam/timberframe homes and structures; millwork & finished building products; and specialty lumber including Western Red Cedar – all in a great networking environment. 

Specifier Workshops at the GBM: We will also invite North American buyers & specifiers to participate in our new Specifier Workshops program, held in conjunction with the GBM.
Evening Receptions

Social and Networking Events: In addition to the several daytime events that happen at the GBM, the GBM also hosts two evening networking receptions which are included in your registration. The first evening reception kicks off at the Roundhouse Lodge on the top of Whistler Mountain. 

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New BC Truck Loggers Association Director Peter Lister gets back to his forestry roots

By Robin Brunet
Truck LoggerBC Magazine
July 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Peter Lister

Growing up in the Courtenay – Campbell River area, Peter Lister understood that forestry, along with other resource industries, was a huge driver of regional prosperity. …Lister led the lumber manufacturing program at Forintek before joining the Forest Engineering Institute of Canada (FERIC) as general manager and national research director. …When FERIC merged with Forintek and Paprican to create FPInnovations, Lister became vice president of the Forest Operations Division with full responsibility for research, membership, and bottom-line financial performance. A year later he took over responsibility for the Wood Products Division of FPInnovations while successfully delivering a wide range of programs focused on expanding markets, developing new technologies, improving processes, worker safety and environmental performance. 

…Like so many of his colleagues, Lister spent decades charting the decline of his cherished industry, and now he feels primed to be an effective advocate. “I’m ready to help raise the profile of our sector and to fight for TLA’s members,” he says. “The forest sector is a critical part of BC and we have a great story to tell. Wood is our only renewable and sustainably produced building material and BC has one of the highest percentages of third-party certified, sustainably managed forests. It would be great if everyone in BC knew that.” He continues, “For much of its history, BC has been a global leader in forestry, forest products and forest product equipment. We’ve lost sight of the economic benefits that this has brought to our province and have suffered economically as a Result. …While recognizing that the issues facing the forest sector are many and complex, Lister has many ideas and is keen to engage with industry, associations and government. 

Related news by Peter Lister, TLA Executive Director: Why I’m fundamentally optimistic about BC’s forest sector.

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Respect for BC Forestry Crews Grinding it Out Every Day

By Ravi Parmar, BC Minister of Forests
Truck LoggerBC Magazine
July 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

In May, I had the honour of being invited By Dorian Uzzell to the Wahkash Contracting harvesting operation. From the first few moments in the air heading to East Thurlow Island… it was obvious how this area of the province could sustain both our economy and the abundant and beautiful nature we all cherish. Back on the ground, I met with the dry land sort and shop crews and the float camp staff who all make the operation possible. …I also had the opportunity to get an upclose look at the stewardship going into Tree Farm License (TFL) 47 in Hemming Bay, held by Mosaic Forest Management. This area is part of the Great Bear Rainforest where ecosystem-based management guides forest stewardship. The scale of work, the attention to detail, the sheer effort and the work going into the management of the full scope of values, including streams, cultural and biodiversity values is outstanding in this TFL. 

Related News by Dorian Uzzell, TLA President: My boots-on-the-ground tour with Forest Minister Ravi Parmar

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Forestry Innovation Investment Year in Review

Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd.
June 27, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) is proud to share our “Year in Review”, a compilation of market development activities completed by FII and our many industry, association, government, academic, and research partners over the past year. Throughout 2024/25, B.C.’s forest sector faced significant headwinds, as difficult industry and market dynamics were compounded by trade threats. Despite these ongoing challenges, the forest sector continues to play a vital role in B.C.’s economy and remains a key global supplier of sustainable forest products and advanced wood building systems. To support a resilient forest economy, FII and its partners are actively working to diversify markets for B.C. forest products both domestically and internationally—a goal that has become increasingly important amid current trade uncertainty. Our commitment to a collaborative delivery approach means we build on the strengths and shared resources that other organizations bring to this important work.

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BC Forest Practices Board finds forestry under-used in wildfire defence

BC Forest Practices Board
June 19, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

A two-year investigation by the Forest Practices Board has found outdated rules and unclear responsibilities are preventing forestry from becoming a powerful wildfire-defence tool. The board examined forestry operations from 2019 until 2022 in the wildland-urban interface — areas where communities and forests meet. …It begins with fire hazard assessments, a cornerstone of wildfire risk reduction. The investigation found that 70% of assessments met content requirements. However, fewer than one in four were completed on time. …Municipalities, the most populated areas of the province, are excluded from the legal interface. …Despite the challenges, the board observed strong examples of wildfire-conscious forestry. …The board is recommending five actions to the Province. … If adopted, these changes would help turn everyday forestry into a proactive wildfire prevention tool, supporting faster fuel cleanup, better co-ordination and more consistent protection for people and communities throughout B.C. “This is an opportunity to improve our policies and processes toward proactive, risk-reducing forestry,” Keith Atkinson said. 

Related coverage in:

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Protecting forestry workers during wildfire season

By Alexandra Skinner
WorkSafeBC
June 20, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

With roughly 2,000 wildfires in B.C. each year, forestry workers are often operating in or near fire-affected areas. It’s up to employers to ensure their crews are properly trained and prepared to recognize the risks and respond safely. …Employers are responsible for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and ensuring effective controls are in place — along with providing training, supervision, and fit-for-use equipment.

“The key is planning,” says Budd Phillips, Prevention Field Services Manager at WorkSafeBC. “Employers must not only put the right controls in place but also ensure they’re working and adjust them when needed. This process is most effective when workers are properly supervised and actively involved.” …Employers should also monitor air quality levels and adjust work practices or reschedule outdoor work, if necessary, to minimize exposure. One useful tool is the IATSE Local 891 wildfire smoke exposure app, developed to help employers and workers assess air quality risk levels and develop exposure control plans. The app pulls data from local air quality monitoring stations and is used by WorkSafeBC to support field officers in assessing potential smoke exposure.

In 2025, WorkSafeBC inspections focus on smoke exposure, heat stress, danger tree management, and evacuation readiness, in collaboration with the BC Wildfire Service and Ministry of Forests. Resources include the B.C. Wildfire Service app and WorkSafeBC’s FAQ page on wildfire smoke.

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B.C. is Burning – Wildfire Documentary Premieres in Kelowna June 24 and Vernon on June 26

By Murray Wilson
BC is Burning
June 13, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

New film reveals the roots of B.C.’s wildfire crisis—and what we must do to stop it. A powerful new documentary exploring the causes and consequences of British Columbia’s escalating wildfire crisis will premiere to the public at the Mary Irwin Theatre in Kelowna on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 pm and at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Thursday June 26 at 7:00 pm. Titled B.C. is Burning, the 45-minute film delivers a sobering but hopeful look at what’s fueling today’s megafires—and the science-based solutions that could protect our forests, our communities, and our future. B.C. is Burning was independently produced and funded through community support, with Homestead Foods generously contributing half of the total budget. We also gratefully acknowledge major support from Skyline Helicopters, Padoin Reforestation, and Kalesnikoff.

The film was produced and written by retired forester Murray Wilson and initiated by Associate Producer Rick Maddison, who played a key role in fundraising.

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Merry Christmas, Hoppy Holidays and all the best for the coming year!

Tree Frog Forestry News
December 22, 2025
Category: Special Feature

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