Daily News for December 22, 2025

← December 19, 2025

Today’s Takeaway

Thank you for visiting the Tree Frog Forestry News

The Tree Frog Forestry News
December 22, 2025
Category: Today's Takeaway

Hello early bird! We just want you to know that the news team is busy adding stories to this page. Be sure to check back at 8:30 am (PST) for the full line up of articles.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Special Feature

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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Business & Politics

The Court of International Trade Decision Not to Reopen Record in Expedited CVD Review on Canadian Lumber

Trade Law Daily
December 22, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The Court of International Trade remanded the Commerce Department’s expedited countervailing duty review on Canadian softwood lumber for the ninth time on Dec. 18, finding the agency abused its discretion in declining to reopen the record to let respondent Les Produits Forestiers D&G and its cross-owned affiliate Les Produits Forestiers Portbec add information to help distinguish sales affected by subsidies to unaffiliated input suppliers. …D&G and Portbec argued that Commerce needed to take into account that the “vast majority” of the companies’ transactions involve buying Canadian lumber on a “duty paid basis in the United States and reselling the lumber to buyers in the United States.” …While the information D&G and Portbec previously submitted “may have been qualitative instead of quantitative,” the agency’s statement that the… information wasn’t previously disclosed “is contradicted by the record.” [to access the full story a Trade Law Daily subscription is required]

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USDA Announces 2026 Appointments to the Softwood Lumber Board

The Softwood Lumber Board
December 19, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of six members and four alternates to serve on the Softwood Lumber Board. The three regional alternate seats and public member and alternate seats are new for 2026. The appointed Board members are:

  • Richard Stanley, T.R. Miller Mill Co. (U.S. South, Small, second term)
  • Sonja Neiman, Neiman Enterprises (U.S. West, Small)
  • Alden Robbins, Robbins Lumber (U.S. Northeast and Lake States)
  • Sean McLaren, West Fraser (Canada West, Large)
  • Brian Chaney, Weyerhaeuser (U.S. South, Large)

Newly appointed regional alternate members are:

  • Mark Richardson, The Westervelt Company (U.S. South alternate, term 2 years)
  • Steven Hofer, Western Forest Products (U.S. West alternate, term 3 years)
  • Thomas Mende, Binderholz Timber (Importer, term 4 years)

Newly appointed public members (persons with experience in architecture, engineering, construction, development, or other related sectors that would bring supply chain perspective to the Board), include:

  • Troy Harris, Jamestown (Public member)
  • Derek Ratchford, SmartLam (Public member alternate)

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BC Wood Announces Leadership Transition as CEO Brian Hawrysh Steps Down

The BC Wood Specialties Group
December 22, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Brian Hawrysh

Langley, BC – BC Wood today announced a planned leadership change as Chief Executive Officer Brian Hawrysh steps down after more than two decades at the helm. The association will begin the search for a new CEO in the coming weeks. As he transitions towards retirement, Brian will continue in an advisory role through 2026, mentoring staff and supporting key initiatives to ensure a smooth handover. His tenure has been marked by significant growth in membership, expanded international presence, and the launch of key programs including Wood First, First Nations engagement, and workforce development. “It has been the honour of my career to lead BC Wood for more than 20 years. Together with an incredible team, we introduced new programs, expanded our reach, and secured our place as one of the most dynamic industry associations in the world,” said Hawrysh. …BC Wood will continue to champion BC’s value-added wood products sector building on the strong foundation established under Hawrysh’s leadership.

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GreenFirst extends its holiday curtailment at three of its four sawmills

By GreenFirst Forest Products Inc.
Businesswire
December 19, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

NORTH BAY, Ontario –GreenFirst Forest Products announced adjustments to its operating schedule in response to continued challenging market conditions in the softwood lumber sector. Given current market conditions, GreenFirst will extend its holiday curtailment at three of its four sawmills — Hearst, Kapuskasing, and Cochrane — resulting in a three-week shutdown from December 22, 2025 to January 9, 2026 “Softwood lumber markets remain under significant pressure, and extending our holiday curtailment is a prudent step to better align production with current demand,” said Joël Fournier, Chief Executive Officer of GreenFirst. …These pressures have led to curtailments across the industry as producers work to balance supply with demand. GreenFirst will continue to closely monitor market dynamics and will adjust production plans as necessary.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Wood Connections December Newsletter

BC Wood Specialties Group
December 22, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

The December 19 edition of Wood Connections highlights a range of upcoming opportunities and initiatives for BC’s value-added wood products sector. This issue includes news that BC Wood’s popular Export Readiness Training Program is returning this winter, offering companies practical tools and guidance to strengthen their approach to international markets. Readers are also encouraged to mark their calendars for the 23rd Annual Global Buyers Mission, scheduled for September 10–12, 2026 in Whistler. As one of the industry’s premier networking events, the GBM continues to connect Canadian manufacturers with qualified buyers from around the world. In addition, the newsletter outlines a busy slate of upcoming trade missions and trade show participation opportunities in key domestic and international markets, including Japan, Mexico, Korea, and across Canada. Rounding out the issue are timely industry updates, including federal initiatives affecting the lumber sector and insights into trends shaping wood construction and finishes.

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Forestry

‘We all share the same goals’: Tŝilhqot’in and syilx foresters learn from each other

By Dionne Phillips
Penticton Herald
December 20, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Percy Guichon

Separated by hundreds of kilometres and very different landscapes, Tŝilhqot’in and syilx territories in fact share similar forestry challenges. That’s what Indigenous-owned companies are discovering after a series of site visits between operators run by bands in both nations. … “They’re both, in terms of ecosystems, quite distinct from one another,” said Percy Guichon, from the Tŝilhqot’in community of Tŝideldel First Nation. …Guichon is CEO of Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR), a nearly decade-old forestry company owned by three bands within the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. In October, it and the syilx-owned Nk’Mip Forestry invited each other to visit their counterparts’ work sites, hoping to share lessons from their respective operations. …There’s also a Forest Landscape Planning table, Guichon explained, which has members from the Tŝilhqot’in, Secwépemc, Southern Dakelh and other nations. …During the visit to Tŝilhqot’in territories, Guichon and the CCR team showed their Nk’Mip Forestry guests their large-scale projects, including road restoration, wildfire operations, and ecosystem management.

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Health & Safety

The Cache Will Pay for Authentic Forestry Work Photographs

The Cache via the Rumour Mill RoundUpDate
December 22, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

The Cache is building a visual archive that reflects the real working life of British Columbia’s forestry sector—on the block, in camp, and everywhere in between. We’re looking for experienced photographers and field workers who have authentic images of forestry and silviculture work in BC to submit for potential use on the Cache website and related materials.

  • Silviculture, restoration, wildfire, and forest operations
  • Camp life (meals, downtime, weather, logistics)
  • Crews at work (PPE on, real conditions)
  • Equipment, tools, terrain, and landscapes
  • Seasonal realities (mud, snow, smoke, rain)

This is not stock photography. We are specifically looking for grounded, field-authentic images that reflect day-to-day life in our industry. 

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