Western Forest Products

Western is proud to support the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (@RealCedar) in their efforts to educate and train members and budding forestry professionals. Last week, we took part in the annual WRCLA Cedar School event, delivering a presentation to participants and hosting student tours at our Duke Point Sawmill and Saanich Forestry Centre. Tours and presentations like these are some of the ways Western continues to invest in the associations that support the growth of the forestry industry in B.C. and beyond, while furthering the education of those entering the industry. We want to thank all the students for their keen interest in our work and facilities, as well as our talented Duke Point and Saanich team members for your warm welcome and insightful overviews of our operations.

We’re seeking experienced forestry professionals to join our team, with opportunities at our mills and in the field, as well as in accounting and planning. Roles are open in communities across Vancouver Island—including Campbell River, Port McNeill, Chemainus, Nanaimo and Woss—as well as at our headquarters in Vancouver. To explore career opportunities at our British Columbia operations and apply, visit our website: westernforest.com/careers/ #bcjobs

Last week, we were pleased to take part in @bcfnfc’s annual conference focused on collaboration and shared priorities in forestry. Western returned as a sponsor, with Joanna Mullard, Director, Indigenous Partnerships, and Kindry Mercer, Indigenous Engagement Manager, representing our team and listening to First Nations leadership on approaches to strengthening partnerships, stewardship and long-term opportunities. To learn more about how Western is working to build strong Indigenous partnerships, visit the Indigenous Peoples section of our website: westernforest.com/company/indige…

Extensive progress has been made in the construction of our second continuous dry kiln at our Value-Added Division in Chemainus. All concrete pours have now been completed and the roof and wall panels installed, with electrical, fire protection and gas piping well underway as we continue investing in manufacturing capabilities that support consistent, high-quality lumber for our customers. With walkway installation starting soon, the project is continuing to move steadily toward commissioning and startup, further strengthening our ability to deliver value-added products efficiently and consistently. We look forward to sharing more details on the kiln construction as we approach completion this summer.

As part of our commitment to designing and producing beautiful wood products that are used around the world, Don McGregor (Vice President, Sales & Wholesale Supply) and Angela DeMarni (Sales Representative) recently toured sites across New Zealand and Australia. Visiting some of our long-time customers, it was wonderful to see so much of our Clear Western Red Cedar being used in projects. During the trip, they visited the iconic Te Arai Links, with stunning villas, clubhouses, and other structures dotting the landscape of this extensive property. Special thanks to ITI, Modinex, BBS Timbers Ltd., JSC and Timbeck for hosting us during this memorable journey.

Across Vancouver Island, our Timberlands and Health and Safety teams will be out promoting safe, responsible recreation during the busy summer recreation season. On Friday, ahead of this long weekend, drivers may see roadside tents along resource roads, where team members will be sharing tips on safe, responsible recreation and road use. This outreach during peak visitor times reflects Western's commitment to safety and supporting the communities where we work and live. For more safety tips, please see our infosheet: westernforest.com/wp-content/upl…

We recently hosted our customers from @Boise_Cascade at our operations across Vancouver Island, as a part of our Cedar Partner Training Program. From an introduction to our operations and insights into our forest stewardship practices to viewing our production processes firsthand, it provided an excellent opportunity to explore our full-cycle seed-to-market approach. As a leading provider and distributor of wood products for residential and commercial construction across North America, we’d like to thank Davis Hawn and Boise Cascade for joining us.

Our Timberlands team has been working diligently in the field, assessing trees along roads and recreation sites to help support public safety in the outdoors. Working alongside our specialized contractors to identify and plan maintenance where needed, we're helping cultivate healthy forest areas wherever we operate. Assessing tree health, stability and surrounding conditions, we’re committed to supporting safer campsites and gathering spaces for everyone who enjoys the outdoors.

As part of the team at Western for 30 years, we're taking time to celebrate Cheryl Murray's career in forestry. Beginning as a Silviculture/Engineering Clerk and learning the ropes of the industry, Cheryl became particularly interested in mapping–something that inspired her to take several courses and apply for a Geographic Information System (GIS) opportunity with us. Now working as a GIS Technician in Port McNeill, she's worked across various applications and new technologies that have advanced the way we monitor forest stands and collaborate between teams. Jim McDowell, Planning Manager in Port McNeill, shared the following about Cheryl: “I have worked with Cheryl for the past 20 years. She is a hardworking, dependable, go-to person who takes on any project, provides a unique perspective, gives valuable input and, most importantly, gets stuff done. Things have changed a lot over the time we have worked together, but one thing that has never changed is that I can always count on Cheryl.” Thank you to Cheryl for your keen interest in adopting the latest approaches to mapping and for taking on new challenges with skill and enthusiasm.

Delta Millworks President Robbie Davis recently visited our Saanich Forestry Centre, Duke Point Sawmill and Value-Added Division to see first-hand how we produce world-class wood products through industry-leading forestry and manufacturing practices. Delta Millworks, as a producer of specialty, high-value, and high-performance wood siding products for the building industry, shares strong alignment with our focus on quality, innovation and premium products. Robbie shared his appreciation for our fully integrated approach – from seed to market – and it was a pleasure to welcome him across several of our Vancouver Island facilities. Visits like these create valuable opportunities to exchange ideas on sustainable forestry and innovative wood manufacturing, while strengthening collaboration across the industry. Thank you to Delta Millworks and all our partners for your continued commitment to advancing sustainable building solutions across North America and beyond.

Last Friday, we joined companies from across Vancouver Island for the Interactive Trades Expo in Campbell River, helping to inspire and connect with the next generation of youth looking to join the trades. Held at Timberline Secondary School, Western team members showcased the wide range of forestry careers to many engaged students, along with hands-on demos of some of the equipment we use in the field. Thank you to @WorkBC Centre – Campbell River, @NIC_first and the Campbell River School District 71 & 72 for hosting this year's event and for helping to build BC's trades workforce.

Having joined us at Western 50 years ago, we're highlighting the career of Mohinder Mann to celebrate this meaningful milestone. Starting his journey with us on the sawmill green chain, he took on a range of roles over the next 25 years, including running the single arbor, double arbor, sorter feeder, trim feeder, bin sorter, end stacker and planer feeder. For the past 25 years, he's been a trusted Barker Operator who's helped to support our operations in Cowichan Bay through his steadfast commitment to consistency. Our Sawmill Supervisor, John Hieta, shared this about Mohinder's career: "Over the years, Mohinder has become someone we rely on for steady production of logs through the barker, day after day. You see it in how he strives to always keep the Quad deck full. Fifty years in, that kind of consistency stands out.” We'd like to thank Mohinder for his exceptional service, helping Western deliver the high-quality products our customers count on.

Western was happy to provide 600 Douglas fir seedlings to support the Victoria Fish and Game Protection Association’s broom eradication efforts near Malahat Highway. Grown at our seed orchard and nursery, the seedlings were planted over the weekend by their dedicated volunteers, as part of this ongoing restoration work. It is great to see the community come together on the ground to help local ecosystems flourish. A special thanks to everyone who took part.

This Day of Mourning, we pause to remember workers who have been injured, lost, or impacted in the course of their work. For Vince Devlin, a 30-year Timberlands team member and father, an early experience in his career continues to shape his approach to safety, reinforcing the importance of speaking up when something isn’t right. Across Western, teams are gathering today to reflect on their own experiences and reinforce our ongoing commitment to looking out for one another every day.

Forestry Innovation Investment and trade representatives from Global Affairs Canada recently hosted a delegation from Mexico’s forest products import and export community at our Saltair and Duke Point sawmills. During the tour, attendees saw firsthand how Western safely manufactures specialty, renewable building products right here in B.C. for markets across the globe. We would like to thank FII and Global Affairs for organizing and our tour coordinators at Saltair and Duke Point for providing such an engaging, hands-on experience. Special thanks also go to each member who joined us in learning more about our products and operations on Vancouver Island.

We recently hosted a welcome event at our new Campbell River office to mark the move into a shared space designed to strengthen connection and collaboration. Our CEO, Steven Hofer, and SVP, HR and Corporate Affairs, Jennifer Foster, both attended and spoke about the importance of building strong relationships, working closely together and creating a workplace where people feel a sense of belonging. We were also pleased to welcome Mayor Kermit Dahl and We Wei Kai Nation Councillor Art Wilson, and appreciate their ongoing support for Western. This new space reflects our continued focus on people, partnership and commitment to the community of Campbell River.

Western is proud to provide seedlings grown at our Saanich Forestry Centre to Stanley Park, supporting the restoration of the iconic 400-hectare urban forest in Vancouver This project is a natural extension of our ongoing work planting trees and managing forests across coastal B.C., and reflects our commitment to supporting the communities where our employees live and work. @ParkBoard Chair, Tom Digby, recently shared his thoughts on our three-year partnership: “Continuing the safety and well-being of Stanley Park and its users has been our focus as we continue our response efforts after the severe hemlock looper population eruption. We are grateful for the donation of 65,000 seedlings by Western Forest Products to help strengthen the park’s forest canopy in the face of ongoing climate change pressures. These seedlings will mature into trees that will grace the skyline of Canada’s most beautiful urban park for generations to come.”

At Western, caring for the environment is reflected in everything we do. We believe that our sustainable future is built with renewable products. Earth Day is a moment to reflect on that commitment and our focus on sustainable wood products from seed to site. Our team continues to work towards advancing sustainability through best-in-class forest management, collaboration with Indigenous people and communities and by crafting beautiful, long-lived wood products that offer a climate-positive building solution.

Across Western, team members are coming together to learn, grow and take on new challenges through our Elevate program. Since September, participants across the company have worked in cross-functional teams to tackle real operational challenges and build leadership skills along the way. Last week, those participating shared their projects with senior leaders and reflected on what they’ve learned. It’s been a great example of people stepping outside their day-to-day roles, working together and developing skills that will support their careers and our business into the future. Elevate is one way Western invests in its people and supports career growth across our organization.

With steady progress continuing on the second continuous dry kiln, we recently welcomed the Logging and Sawmilling Journal to our Value-Added Division in Chemainus. The excitement on site has been building as teams advance work that will increase volumes of higher-value product lines for our customers. It was also wonderful to tour the site with the Logging and Sawmilling Journal, which will be featuring our investment in the dry kilns alongside a new thermal kiln in their upcoming May/June issue. We'd like to recognize the commitment and expertise of our team and all involved in driving this work forward safely. (Photos by Paul MacDonald)