Paper Excellence is pleased to announce the creation of a new scholarship for Métis students who live in the communities where we operate. The $1,000 scholarship is available to Métis high school graduates who are living in our operating communities in British Columbia and Saskatchewan and are entering their first year at a public university, community college or institute of technology. “Paper Excellence understands the importance of being good neighbours and greatly values its relationships with Indigenous communities,” said Graham Kissack, Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety and Corporate Communications. “In addition to this, investing in education continues to be a key focus for us. So, this scholarship makes sense on a lot of levels.” Paper Excellence also offers community and First Nations scholarships directly through each of our mills. 

Also see: Paper Excellence announces new scholarship for Prince Albert students

Susan May, Nature Alberta’s communications director, is sharing information from the Urban Nature Checklist, a new 60-page handbook that’s free and available for Edmontonians interested in having a better impact on our urban ecology. The advisory committee for this project involved seven groups from around the province… Everyone wants to have a healthy planet to live on but few are scientists, or have the decision-making power of industry and government. Most are aware of the issues facing the natural world, and most agree they’d press the magic button to undo the damage already done by our contemporary lifestyles, but some simple changes by individuals can help nature stay healthy and thrive. …The new publication is free as a downloadable PDF or as a physical workbook from Nature Alberta. It’s incorporated studies and research from dozens of conservation biologists and the result is a fascinating and enjoyable collection of projects and practices.

Officials with Vernon-based Tolko appreciate concerns over planned logging near the Duteau Creek watershed, but said it can be done safely and within required guidelines. The Regional District of North Okanagan expressed opposition to the plan that would see a cut block harvested 500 metres above the watershed that supplies Greater Vernon with 60 per cent of its water. “We all depend on the Duteau Creek community watershed for our water supply, and this is why Tolko has worked hard to develop a good relationship with the Duteau Creek Watershed Technical Advisory Committee and the regional district,” said Chris Downey, communications advisor to Tolko. …“Tolko’s staff geoscientist field-reviewed the site and produced his professional evaluation and report, which indicated that it would be safe to harvest in the area,” said Downey. …Downey said Tolko is discussing the issue with the RDNO and will be evaluating information sent from the regional district.

Molly Hudson

Nanaimo, BC — Dozens of volunteers and key partners are being recognized for their hard work this week to help address illegal dumping on Mosaic forest land. Volunteer cleanup efforts are taking place in communities throughout Vancouver Island in connection with Earth Day and the Great Global Cleanup. Key organizers, including Stephanie Valdal with the Comox Valley Regional District, Dave Judson of the Ladysmith Sportsman Club, James Barth of Stop Comox Strathcona Illegal Dumping, and Tim Cowan of the Rotary Club of Comox, have been integral to getting the regional cleanup efforts off the ground. Their dedication is a testament to the high regard residents place on access to healthy forest lands. Mosaic private forest lands on Vancouver Island are popular destinations for recreationalists. …“We’re very thankful for the efforts of these hardworking volunteers to help address the problem of illegal dumping on Mosaic forest lands,” said Mosaic Director of Sustainability, Molly Hudson.

74-year-old Cree-Métis land-user Teresa Laliberte said if any forestry company plans to cut on her family’s trapline without consulting them in person first they will set up blockades and stop them. She’s afraid the trapline her family has used for generations at Beaver River, near Île-à-la-Crosse in northern Saskatchewan, will be at risk if logging companies decide to cut in the area this summer. …She said her family wasn’t consulted. …Athabasca NDP MLA Buckley Belanger called on BC-based Carrier Lumber Ltd., which harvests in the area, to listen to land-users. He said the pandemic makes it impossible for proper consultation to happen.  “I am asking Carrier to pause forestry planning and to pause harvesting. You do a great disservice by not engaging people to the extent you should have because we cannot gather — because of COVID,” Belanger said.

The Regional District of North Okanagan is urging Tolko Industries to halt plans for a cutblock near the Greater Vernon area’s primary water source. The Duteau Creek water intake … is located 500 metres below the proposed logging activity. It supplies 60 per cent of the water that services the Greater Vernon area …  Tolko is planning to log on top of a steep slope directly above “this vital source of water,” the RDNO said, adding its engineers and a hydrologist on retainer are “very concerned” that this logging and the remaining partially cleared land on the block could lead to a landslide or debris torrent, which in turn could damage the water system. “Based on the current information available, the risk to water quality and quantity is unacceptable to the RDNO.”  

We commonly know it as a native tree species that embellishes our beautiful Vancouver Island forests, but the meaning of cedar trees branches far beyond what meets the eye. Cedars have played an integral role in many aspects of coastal First Nations communites’ lives, including ties to spiritual beliefs and ceremonial life, as well as being a vital natural resource. …  Jeff Welch, a local knowledge keeper, said the cedar tree is traditionally known as the “Tree of Life” in Coast Salish culture, and is used in a multitude of ways. Once the bark is stripped, it can be used to carve masks, make clothing, weave baskets and hats, and even be used to make fishing line.

Anti-logging protesters blockading a forest access road in B.C. got an unwelcome surprise last week. It wasn’t from the police, which have authority to remove the blockade but have yet to move in. …The surprise came from the local Pacheedaht First Nation, whose leaders made it clear they support logging in their traditional territory — and that the blockaders are not welcome. … Talk about an awkward moment for the environmental blockaders, who earlier invoked the cause of Indigenous rights for blocking logging crews from going to work. …The First Nation also approved cutting permits issued to Teal-Jones Group… [and] received revenue from the company’s logging operations through an agreement negotiated in 2017. …And money continues to flow into an online blockade fund to support the protesters. …For a new generation of Indigenous leaders, who see responsible resource development as a path out of poverty and dependence, the opposition from well-funded environmental groups is frustrating.

Cooler temperatures and a forecast for rain are expected to help firefighters contain a stubborn blaze on a steep slope at Matchlee Bay, a remote area eight kilometres southeast of Gold River. The fire, in an active logging area with felled and bucked timber, is about eight hectares in size. Discovered Monday, it is considered “out of control,” said a spokeswoman for the B.C. Wildfire Service’s Coastal Fire Centre. Cooler, unseasonable temperatures and showers throughout the coastal region are expected to start this weekend and continue to May 1. The weather pattern is expected to “dampen down the fire’s behaviour” for the 15 firefighters … and help to provide needed moisture to debris on forest floors, which has put much of the coast at a “moderate risk.”

Residents of a resort on Shuswap Lake were able to convince the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board that logging should be halted on a hillside above their homes due to concerns with erosion and the risk of landslides. Catherine Spanevello, vice president of the Totem Pole Resort Strata, presented to the CSRD board at its April 15 meeting, noting the hazard posed to the 32 homes in the strata which she said are built on an alluvial fan. … she made specific mention of the series of slides which took place along Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road in 2017, destroying homes and claiming one man’s life. The concern about slope stability … is magnified by the decision by BC Timber Sales to sell the logging rights to a trio of cut blocks located uphill from Totem Pole Resort.