SCARY STORIES BY KIDS PAGE A3 – A15
NO PLACE LIKE HOME PAGE A17
TIME FLIES PAGE A19
HAPPY HALLOWEEN Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Canfor to close
VOL. 100 NO. 17
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AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
Canfor is shutting its doors as of March 2014. “The timber availability in the Quesnel region following the mountain pine beetle infestation unfortunately leaves us unable to continue operation at our Quesnel sawmill,” Canfor Corporation president and CEO Don Kayne said. The company has entered into an agreement with West Fraser Mills for an exchange in forest tenure rights. Canfor exchanged 382,194 m3 of its replaceable forest license annual allowable cut in the Quesnel timber supply area as well as 53,627 m3 of replaceable forest licence allowable cut in the Lakes timber supply area with West Fraser for 324,500 m3 of replaceable forest license allowable cut in the Morice timber supply area. The two companies are also exchanging nonreplaceable licenses and undercut volumes. “This wasn’t about cash,” Kayne said. “This was about longevity. The additional fiber we have been able to secure in the exchange with West Fraser enhances fibre requirements for our Houston facility.” Kayne also spoke to the 209 employees currently employed at its Gold Pan location, stating they would be offered positions elsewhere in the company. “Those who want to stay [in Quesnel], we will work with our competitors [to help secure employment].” West Fraser CEO and president Ted Seraphim echoed Kayne’s comments adding, “the mountain pine beetle devastation has and will continue to undermine the availability of merchantable timber in the interior of B.C. “The shutdown of our Houston mill has been a difficult decision and we will work closely with the affected employees to support them through this process. Our first priority is to explore opportunities to transition Houston employees to one of our other operations and we will provide assistance in finding new employment.” Seraphim also pointed to the agreement between the companies boosting the competitiveness of West Fraser’s operations, which are part of a $350 million B.C. capital investment program.
Happy Halloween
Scary, scary night Halloween is just one night away and many households have taken the time to decorate their homes in the spirit of the event. This scary skeleton is waiting for trick or treaters in North Quesnel. Other home decorations are contained in our Halloween pages in this issue. Annie Gallant photo
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DON’T FORGET
Drivers beware of all the goblins out there
3 at 2am