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FEATURES
On the Cover: Domtar’s new Bayview Fibre wood chip plant on the British Columbia Coast at Port Mellon is being described as a valuable addition in support of the area’s forestry sector by helping log suppliers maximize their return from their lowest quality logs. It’s said to be the largest single investment in the Coast forestry sector in recent years. The site, which originally was a log sort yard, now serves a dual purpose. In addition to a new chip plant, it also hosts a log sort and merchandising yard (Cover photo by Anthony Robinson).
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Spotlight—Making use of salvage wood to produce furniture in the Yukon
Swiss-born former boat builder Ulrich Trachsel’s Ibex Valley Wood Products in the Yukon is working with timber—that would often normally be burned in woodstoves—to produce wood he is using to provide Yukoners with hand-built furniture.
8
Big Bark Falling does falling—and now so much more
Big Bark Falling started out as a contract falling operation, but it has since added equipment and people, and is now looking to be a “go-to” outfit for a variety of forestry services in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
14 Delco builds on its cutting edge performance
The Delco Forest Products sawmill in New Brunswick has made a number of upgrades to build on its cutting edge performance, including the first Mühlböck continuous flow kiln in North America.
20 New chipper operation to feed Domtar B.C. pulp mill
The new Bayview Fibre chipping operation is well in gear in Port Mellon, B.C., feeding fibre to Domtar’s nearby Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill—and a highlight of the operation is its Tanguay PL 370HD log loader.
26 Hitting that short logging time window 24 hours a day
The Northern Timber Management team brings invaluable experience to the challenge of seasonal logging in Alberta, with logging operations that can run 24 hours a day, and operating as many as eight bush camps.
32 B.C.’s Community Forests have growing appeal
Community Forests have proven to be popular in B.C. for a host of reasons—the most recent, the Three Rivers Community Forest based in Quesnel, has just started operations, with, not surprisingly, solid community support.
36
Included in this edition of The Edge, Canada’s leading publication on research in the forest industry, is a story from the Canadian Forest Service (CFS).
46 The Last Word
Quebec is looking to move ahead on land use planning while the B.C. government is ignoring forest industry pleas to improve access to timber on public lands, says Jim Stirling.
DEPARTMENTS
The primary breakdown equipment for Ibex Valley Wood Products is a Woodland Mills HM 122 sawing system, which can comfortably handle wood up to 50 centimetres in diameter.
—to produce furniture in the Yukon MAKING USE OF SALVAGE WOOD
Swiss-born former boat builder Ulrich Trachsel’s Ibex Valley Wood Products in the Yukon is working with timber—that would often normally be burned in woodstoves—to produce wood he is using to provide Yukoners with hand-built furniture.
By Jim Stirling
Wildfires and kitchen chairs are not an immediate match for most people.
The connection is more obvious to Ulrich Trachsel. He’s a craftsman and his preferred medium is working with wood.
Trachsel knows burned wood when dried presents a variety of creative opportunities—including kitchen chairs.
Trachsel knows how to transform dead wood into a whole range of functional and decorative wood products. It’s why “locally made wood products for local markets” has become an operational
credo for Ibex Valley Wood Products. Trachsel was fulfilling his ambition to work sustainably with wood when he began Ibex Valley in the spring of 2021. Ibex Valley is a hamlet about 35 kilometres west of Whitehorse, capital city of the Yukon Territory, and is where Trachsel and his family live and work.
“From the beginning, I had the vision to get back into wood product manufacturing with my own production capacity,” he recalled.
Most things needed by Yukoners have to be imported from outside the territory, meaning higher prices for consumers. Trachsel’s furniture creations present a welcome choice in that department. “We use all locally sourced material, except for the varnish and glues.” And for those, he said, non-toxic or the least toxic products are selected.
Environmental considerations are similarly paramount with the wood selected for product manufacture in the first place. “We choose trees which are naturally deceased due to old age or killed by fire and insects and do not show obvious signs of wildlife use.”
The year of 2012 proved a pivotal one for Trachsel. He visited Canada.
“I rented a car in Calgary and went on a drive through western Canada,” he says.
“And Whitehorse stood out for me.”
He heeded the call of the Yukon and emigrated from his native Switzerland two years later. Some things he brought with him didn’t require packing. His desire to work with wood was enhanced by about six years working in the high end of the luxury boat building industry. These were not your weekend runabouts. They were custom designed and built for opulent sailing around the world’s most fashionable ports.
Working on them enhanced Trachsel’s appreciation for wood’s inherent texture and colours, including endangered and exotic wood species like west African rain forest mahoganies. For Trachsel, that’s not a far stretch to the wood he’s working with today in the Yukon. There’s a shared appreciation in the colour and grain of softwoods, like spruce and pine, and hardwoods including aspen and poplar. And so far, there’s no shortage of raw material in the Yukon.
For deciduous timber, such as trembling aspen and poplar, Trachsel’s property in Ibex Valley allows for some selective aspen harvest, and some of the timber is sourced off family property in B.C. (see below). Logs are also donated or yard trees are purchased around the Whitehorse area.
For coniferous timber, such as spruce and pine, Trachsel’s property also allows for some selective spruce harvest. Logs are purchased from logging areas where trees are deceased from natural processes like spruce beetles and forest fires.
In recent years, wide swathes of the Yukon’s mixed species forest lands have
Commercial harvesting has been permitted in a fire-killed area near Little Fox Lake, Yukon, and Ibex Valley sources a lot of its spruce wood from this location. The company chooses trees which are naturally dead due to old age or have been killed by fire and insects and do not show obvious signs of wildlife use.
been swept by forest fires, both larger and more unpredictable than the historic averages. The upside is the dead and damaged residues are sustaining a small firewood production sector in the territory, as well as sustaining Trachsel’s more environmentally friendly options for some of the wood.
Forest fires have recently come too
close for comfort to Ibex Valley and Trachsel’s home and woodworking business.
The Takhini Bridge fire caused evacuation alerts for area residents during July 2023. Fire suppression crews from as far away as Nova Scotia were called in to help contain the blaze.
Story photos courtesy of Ulrich and Christian Trachsel, and the Yukon Government.
Ulrich Trachsel transforms dead wood into a whole range of functional and decorative wood products—including kitchen chairs—for Yukoners.
As soon as the snow melts, the forest fire season kicks in for much of Canada during a consistently warming and unpredictable climate. The forest fires create an ample wood source for Trachsel. His mother-in-law lives in Telegraph Creek,
a small community alongside the Stikine River in northwestern B.C. In 2018, an out of control forest fire destroyed much of the historic community and left as its legacy a sea of standing dead wood fibre.
“There’s a lot of the burned wood on the family’s property. It’s around 12 inches in diameter and beautiful dry
wood,” he said. Logs are selectively cut by hand from a fire-killed stand of trees on the family property in B.C., and Trachsel often takes back a trailer load to his Ibex Valley workshop, for transformation into useful wood products.
That process begins taking shape with wood on the carriage of the operation’s primary breakdown machine. It’s a ground-mounted HM 122 sawing system from Woodland Mills in Ontario. It’s only a five horsepower unit, but it easily handles Trachsel’s usual wood fibre requirements and allows him to weave his magic. The Woodland Mills saw can comfortably handle wood up to around 50 centimetres in diameter.
“It’s a good quality machine and I’ve received good support from them,” he says.
Trachsel is planning to add a new sawing system as Ibex Valley Wood Products grows. He said that could include a twin band saw configuration to better accommodate additional volumes and types of wood products.
All of Ibex Valley’s wood products now have first to pass through rigorous quality control testing before being made available to the public—that only happens after the Trachsel family has lived with a prototype for a while first, to make sure it passes muster under real life conditions, taking quality control to a very personal level.
A family visit to the Ibex Valley workshop (above photo): Ulrich Trachsel in the assembly shop with chair components while his daughter Kassandra Trachsel and his mother, Rosmarie Trachsel, pay a visit.
BIG BARK FALLING does falling—and now so much more
Big Bark Falling started out as a contract falling operation, but it has since added equipment and people, and is now looking to be a “go-to” outfit for a variety of forestry services in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
By Paul MacDonald
When you look at the logging being done in the British Columbia Interior, you might get the idea that it is all being done with mechanical harvesting, with feller bunchers and harvesters.
But that’s really not the case—there is still a fair bit of hand falling being done in the B.C. Interior—and Big Bark Falling of
Barriere, B.C., is one of those outfits that is successfully meeting those falling needs, and more.
The small logging company, set up by James and Amanda Lane, got started by hand falling (initially by James), which it still does, now with a group of contract fallers.
Over the past several years, Big Bark has expanded, and added equipment, and these days also does full scale logging,
site prep, fuel mitigation, firefighting and, as James and Amanda put it, “so much more”.
They are looking to be a “go-to” operation for any of those services, in this region of the southern B.C. Interior.
This solid husband-and-wife partnership is working hard to expand to meet the needs of forest industry customers in the region—and raise a young family.
These days, they still do a good deal of
James and Amanda Lane of Big Bark Falling: a solid husband-andwife partnership working hard to expand to meet the needs of forest industry customers in the region— and raise a young family.
hand falling, but James is more often in the cab of a piece of equipment than he is out hand falling.
And he’s got an extensive background in operating equipment. Before starting up the company, the couple lived in Revelstoke, and James did a fair bit of yarding operations there for various logging operations. He also started working towards his falling ticket.
The young couple started Big Bark Falling in 2017, in the small community of Barriere, about an hour north of Kamloops. “For the first four years, it was pretty much
Big Bark Falling has gradually moved into purchasing equipment over the past few years. They now have nine pieces of equipment—including a Hyundai 3026 processor with a Southstar head, and several John skidders. Generally, they buy used equipment, mostly from local equipment dealers.
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BClogging
from page 9
doing falling, and helping out some contractors with equipment operation here and there,” says James.
“The thought back then was that we do something smaller scale—and we eventually just jumped into it,” added Amanda. They bought their first machine in 2021— and have added more pieces since then.
And James’ place seems firmly in the cab of a piece of equipment these days. “I hardly do any falling at all now,” he says. “We have a handful of dependable guys that we use.”
Contrast that with when they first started out, and he could be running skidder, decking wood with a loader, and falling, all in one day. “Those were some long days,” he says. The days are still long now, but are more manageable.
Amanda takes care of the safety side of things, making sure the paperwork and safety equipment is all in order, ensuring their people have everything they need. “We want to make sure they are safe, and are ready to go,” she says.
A lot of their work is for forest com-
pany Interfor, which has its Adams Lake Sawmill in the region, near the town of Chase, an hour east of Kamloops. The sawmill has a production capacity of 375 million board feet, hence a good appetite for timber.
Interfor has its own safety regulations for its contractors, including Big Bark.
But for Big Bark, safety goes beyond regulations—it’s personal. “When James was doing hand falling, I just wanted him home safe at the end of the day,” says Amanda. Now that they’ve expanded, and have employees, they, of course, want everyone home safe at the end of the day.
“We do whatever we can to make sure they have all they need in safety gear,” says Amanda.
On the safety front, they recently signed up for the services of Technical Evacuation Advanced Aero Medical Society (TEAAM), an advanced life support Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) non-profit that responds to remote wilderness and industrial settings outside of the scope and capability of the British Columbia Ambulance Service. TEAAM, which is based in Squamish, on
the B.C. coast, recently expanded operations to the Interior.
“TEEAM probably saves us an hour in terms of getting someone out, if we have an injury,” says Amanda.
As James knows first-hand, it’s important for fallers to be able to be focused on the work at hand—and not wondering how they will get out of there if a tree falls the wrong way.
As the ground has become steeper for logging in the B.C. Interior, the industry has adopted steep slope equipment solutions—but James says there is still a need for hand fallers. Lately, they’ve been working around the Scotch Creek area, near the Adams Lake sawmill, for Interfor. But they are also happy to help out the larger logging contractors in the region, many of whom are just doing mechanical harvesting.
“We’ll do the hand falling where a contractor does not want to do this kind of work, or where Interfor does not have a contractor in an area that does hand falling,” says James. “It’s usually smaller volume work—we’re kind of a bolt-on contractor. We can jump in there and do
A lot of the work for Big Bark Falling these days is for forest company Interfor, which has its Adams Lake Sawmill in B.C.’s Southern Interior, near the town of Chase, an hour east of Kamloops. The sawmill has a production capacity of 375 million board feet, hence a good appetite for timber.
the work the larger contractors don’t want to do.” A lot of times, it’s one-off work in a particular area.
As noted, Big Bark has gradually moved into purchasing equipment over the past few years. Getting back into the groove after falling, James ran a contract processor for the operation for a couple of years, before they started buying their own equipment.
They now have nine pieces of equipment—they had 10, but they lost a yarder in the Adams Lake fire in 2023. The equipment line-up includes a Tigercat 870 buncher, a Hyundai 3026 processor with a Southstar head, a John Deere 748 GIII skidder, a Deere 748 LII skidder, a Deere 2454D log loader, a Volvo 220 excavator, a Hyundai 3030 excavator, a Komatsu D65EX dozer, and a Volvo ECR50 mini excavator.
Generally, they buy used equipment, mostly from local equipment dealers. “It helps with the financing,” Amanda notes. They wanted to avoid the big outlay of capital involved in purchasing new equipment. “We want good, reliable used equipment,” says James.
They’ll often need it on short notice, when a piece of used equipment finally gives up the ghost. Big Bark deals a lot with Nors, which is the B.C. dealer for Volvo and Madill equipment. Nors has a good trade in used equipment, and usually has a variety of brands at its dealerships, including the dealership in Kamloops, that Big Bark does business with.
“We’ve built a good relationship with Nors—if we had a major issue with a piece of equipment, and they had something available, they would get it to us, just to help us out,” says James. They’re also starting to build a relationship with Brandt, the Deere dealer, in Kamloops.
It’s key, James says, to have solid relationships with the dealers when you are working with used equipment—it’s likely, but not certain, that used equipment will go down more than new equipment, and a contractor is thus more dependent on dealers for parts and service.
“We can just text Nors information and photos, and they will have the part ready for us.” It helps, says James, that they have a good neighbour in Barriere who works for Nors, and he can be the courier to getting a part to them quickly.
There may be more equipment on the horizon for Big Bark. They are looking, longer term, to grow and become more of a mid-sized logging operation. “It’s a big undertaking, but I think we can definitely achieve it,” says Amanda.
As they have already done, they will look to further broaden the services they offer. “Right now, we can basically do everything except cruising, treeplanting and layout,” she explains.
Along the way—and as they have done all the way along—they want to work with the existing larger contractors. “They have definitely helped us out,” says James. “They like the larger blocks, and we’re happy with the smaller blocks.” They are in regular communication with the other
contractors, to see if there is any work that Big Bark can help out with.
Next on the list is replacing the yarder that was lost in the 2023 Bush Creek forest fire. “We had planned to do a fair bit of high lead work, and that changed when we lost our yarder in the fire. We want to get that side of the business back up and going.”
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Big Bark Falling would like to complement, rather than compete with, the existing logging players in B.C.’s Southern Interior. “We’re all in it to make a living, but we’re a community,” says James Lane. Other contractors have proved to be extremely helpful, and they’re very grateful for that, says James.
from page 11
A service truck might be in the cards, too, but James says they seem to be doing pretty good now, working with his pick-up truck. Perhaps like a lot of loggers, the front seat of the pick-up is like a mobile office, and the back seat, a service truck.
They sometimes call on Nors for major repairs, and they will also bring in some local mechanics to help out. There are quite a few contract mechanics out there that are good, that have the high tech equipment to troubleshoot equipment issues, says James. And they are happy to see the work go to local guys.
“I do a lot of the work, and one of our guys, Scott Nelson, is very handy, and the operators are good at the day-to-day things,” says James.
They’ve talked about setting up a shop, but that may come down the road, with acquiring more equipment.
James runs the processor for the most part, but with his background, he can operate all of their equipment. He’s able to jump in the cab of any of their machines, if needed, to make sure they make their commitments to deliver the wood.
“But I have a good crew—they follow the maps, and efficiently take the wood down. They are versatile and can operate
multiple pieces of equipment, which we need because we’re a smaller outfit.”
James notes that it can sometimes be a challenge to fit the right fit, in employees.
“I’ve talked with guys I’ve thought of hiring, and they are like, ‘I just want to run the skidder or the processor’, and I’m thinking that really won’t work for us.”
As mentioned, they have nine pieces of equipment, but at times perhaps only four are being used, so flexibility is key with operators.
“Someone, including me, might have to jump off the skidder, go to the roadbuilder and build some trail, and then do some processing.” The variety of work can also make it more interesting, and challenging, for operators. They’re not doing one thing all the time.
They rely on their employees to be pro-active, and have initiative, to keep things moving along in the operations— they are not just pushing buttons, and operating levers, again making the work more interesting.
As the operation has grown, both James and Amanda have developed management skills that have proven helpful in the company’s growth. A relatively happy, upbeat crew can have a tremendous impact on an operation—and that’s true of the opposite, too. If there are
personal issues on the crew, James and Amanda are happy to help them out, if it’s appropriate.
With all the logging work, it’s important to be focused—but, as James knows well from his falling, it’s especially important for fallers to be focused on the work at hand; ideally, they should not be thinking about the argument they might have had with their kid or wife the night before. “You have to be fully focused on that tree in front of you or there’s a good chance you might get hurt.”
Their management skills were really put to the test in 2023, with the Bush Creek fire, when they lost their yarder.
“We were helping out a lot with fighting that fire—we had our guys all over the place,” says Amanda. “We would sit down at night and figure out where all our machines were because they were all at different sites, which guys were going where, and we needed to make sure the guys had the safety gear they needed, and the fuel they needed, in going out to the equipment.” The adrenaline was definitely pumping.
The hardest part in starting the business, they say, was staying on top of the financials. There’s definitely been a learning curve in starting and operating a business. But they are definitely up to the
challenge. “If you haven’t learned something new, it’s a wasted day,” as James says.
As the new kid in the block, they had to gain trust among the area’s forestry community, and show they knew their stuff, and could deliver. Some folks might have had a not-so-good experience in the past, dealing with an outfit who was not reliable, and left them on the hook.
“We had to build a reputation, show that we are a good logging operation,” says James. Unlike many in the business, neither James nor Amanda came from logging families. And this is in a region where some logging contractors go back three generations. But they more than make up for that in initiative and energy.
Some of the industry people in the area know James from when he was a kid, and was heavily involved in sports in Barriere. That might have opened the door a bit to possibly doing work for them, but they still had to prove their stuff.
They want to complement, rather than compete with, the existing logging players. “We’re all in it to make a living, but we’re a community,” says James. Other contractors have proved to be extremely helpful.
“During the fire, we had one low-bed guy grab a machine for us, that was not insured. He dropped everything to do it, to help us out,” said James.
In doing planning, James and Amanda know full well that the industry these days is subject to a lot of changes, and they are ready to roll with those changes. “Our biggest plan is to be diverse, and have something, whether it is a service or equipment, that the industry needs all the time,” says Amanda.
In looking back, there seems to have been some serendipity in James getting into the bush, and becoming a faller, and he and Amanda starting a logging business.
Years ago, before they started the business, James had just quit a mill job, and was walking home, when a local guy, Grant Bradford stopped him, asked what he was up to—and if he wanted a job hooking chokers.
James said, yes.
“Grant asked me when I could start,” says James. “I said to him, ‘how about tomorrow?”
its cutting edge performance DELCO BUILDS ON
The Delco Forest Products sawmill in New Brunswick has made a number of upgrades to build on its cutting edge performance, including the first Mühlböck continuous flow kiln in North America.
With its recently completed upgrades, and further planned improvements, Delco is planning to continue to produce top quality lumber and be a major employer in southeast New Brunswick.
By George Fullerton
In 1984, Delphis Cormier established Delco Forest Products when he purchased a small lathe mill in the rural community of West Branch, in southeastern New Brunswick. Cormier saw building a sawmilling operation as an opportunity to create employment in his community.
Over the decades to follow, Cormier and his family have built the operation to the point that annual production is now closing in on 100 million board feet of kiln dried lumber.
Renaud Durelle, Delco’s General Manager, explained that the initial sawmill layout was built around a Sawquip canter twin and a PHL gang/edger combination.
The log supply, delivered as eight and nine foot logs, continues to come from private woodlot producers and Crown land allocation. Private woodlot logs primarily come from the southeast corner of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and northern Nova Scotia. The wood supply is very close to an even split between private woodlot and Crown land fibre. The market for their eight- and nine -foot construction studs is also an even split between the Canadian domestic market and the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
In the past few years, Delco has made significant upgrades to their planer and outfeed, and invested in the first Mühlböck continuous flow kiln to go into operation in North America.
Wood is delivered and stick scaled, and then piled down in the yard with a fleet of three Fuchs MLH 350 loaders, each with a triaxle yard trailer manufactured by A. Landry Fabrication in Balmoral, New Brunswick.
Durelle speaks highly of the Fuchs loaders’ performance. “We have been very impressed with the performance and uptime we realize with the Fuchs,” he said. “We have a comprehensive maintenance program for all our equipment both in the mill and in the yard. We get great support from our Fuchs dealer, ALPA Equipment.”
The team of Fuchs loaders pile down delivered loads in the well rock-packed yard. The Fuchs loaders’ towing trailers then reclaim logs on a first-in, first-milled regime.
“We recognize that we experience a certain amount of air drying while the logs are piled down. That incremental drying eventually pays out at the kiln end of our operation,” pointed out Durelle.
Oversize logs were causing production slowdowns, by jamming up the debarking process. Durelle said they were trying to figure out a solution for the oversize issue. When the issue came to Delphis’ attention, the solution was quick and simple.
“Delphis often solves mechanical and production issues by reminding us of the KISS philosophy—Keep It Smart and Simple!” says Durelle. “Delphis’ solution was to install a 17” ring on the front of the
yard trailers, so that the Fuchs operators can quickly test the diameter of logs that by eye might be oversize.
“If it is oversize, they simply set it aside and build a pile in a low traffic area of the yard and process that as a batch. Delphis has inspired us not to overthink problems, just keep solutions practical and economical,” shared Durelle.
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Log processing begins with debarking by either a 17” Nicholson or a 19” Forano debarker.
Delco invested in the first Mühlböck continuous flow kiln to go into operation in North America (above). The Mühlböck system has the capacity to handle 120 million board feet annually. Its continuous drying system monitors lumber in separate zones to manage effective lumber drying, depending on lumber dimension, lumber lengths and species.
eastcoastsawmilling
Delphis Cormier established Delco Forest Products in 1984 when he purchased a small lathe mill in the rural community of West Branch, in southeastern New Brunswick. Over the decades to follow, Cormier and his family have built the operation to the point that annual production is now closing in on 100 million board feet of kiln dried lumber.
from page 15
Debarked logs are scanned by USNR technology which was installed in 2015. Logs are then segregated by diameter, and saws are set for individual batches, and efficiently broke down.
The main breakdown is shared by a HewSaw, installed in 2020, and a canter twin system built in shop by Delco, with elements of a Valley Machinery saw system, and a used sharp chain feed.
The canter twin can handle logs up to 20” in diameter. Sideboards from the canter twin are processed through an optimized PHL edger (horizontal) resaw combo.
The HewSaw handles the small logs, which range in diameters from 3.92 inch to 7.5 inch. The HewSaw represents about 85 per cent of the total log breakdown in the Delco operation.
They have been running the HewSaw for 25 years, and continue to see it deliver on performance, with good operating costs. “We have a very detailed and stringent maintenance schedule for all the mill equipment, and the HewSaw in particular, which continues to perform very well.,” says Durelle.
“Chipper blades and saws are changed on a daily schedule, to maintain optimum performance. The HewSaw gets additional maintenance on a daily and weekly schedule.”
The cants generated by canter twins proceed to a PHL bull edger. Sideboards from the canter twin are processed through a PHL optimized, resaw/edger combo.
Lumber from the two saw lines spill on a table, then proceed to an Autolog scanner and Carbotech trim saw. The scanner was installed in 2022, and uses cameras and AI technology for species density, followed by weight check to confirm species identification and separation in order to optimize lumber drying processes.
The 24-bin drop sorter separates lumber by dimension, length and species. From the drop bins, the lumber is stacked and stickered, ready for the drying process.
Delco segregates heavy (extra high moisture content) balsam fir on racks in the lumber yard for a period
eastcoastsawmilling
Delco’s yard fleet includes three JCB wheel loaders, two 427 machines and a 437 unit, which are sold and serviced by ALPA Equipment.
of air drying prior to completing drying in the kiln.
Delco had been contracting out some of their kiln drying requirements, and the need to upgrade drying technology had become acutely apparent, so it went shopping for additional kiln drying capacity to match milling capacity. The shopping exercise brought them into the domain of Mühlböck Holztrocknungsanlagen GmbH, in Austria, and their highly efficient continuous drying system.
The Mühlböck system offers continuous drying technology to match continuous mill production. Their systems are designed to operate economically, and at reduced thermal energy demand compared to conventional package kiln designs.
The continuous drying system monitors lumber in separate zones to manage effective lumber drying, depending on lumber dimension, lumber lengths and species. Durelle said the system provides user-friendly interfaces for operators, and has built-in comprehensive sensor and safety features. He went on to describe the heat recovery system that ensures a very high level of efficiency.
Durelle challenged Mühlböck during the shopping trip, to show sawmills using the technology successfully.
“I was specific that we wanted to see installations operating in the same latitude as West Branch, and working with similar species to our spruce and balsam fir. With Mühlböck staff, we visited operations in Latvia, Austria and Germany.
“We made the deal with Mühlböck and they sent one technician with all the pieces and we constructed the kiln with our own staff and local contractors. At the time, it was the largest Mühlböck kiln in the world and the first Mühlböck progressive kiln to be commissioned in Canada, in 2018.
“It’s a very efficient system—so efficient
that we were able to energize it with the same Hurst 384 horsepower boiler (installed in 2000) that we used with our old conventional track kilns,” explained Durelle. “The Hurst meets the demands of the Mühlböck and we realize some extra energy, so we often load soggy balsam fir in the old package kiln to lower the moisture content so that when we load the Mühlböck with spruce, the ‘pre-dried’ balsam fir will finish drying in the shorter spruce dry cycle time.
lböck system has the capacity to handle 120 million board feet annually,” says Durelle. The new continuous kiln operates 345 days per year.
“From the very first meeting with the pleasant people of this family mill, until after reviewing a variety of Mühlböck kiln models, we knew that we had the perfect solution for Delco’s needs,” said Peter Driessen of Mühlböck North America.
“There were many factors that came into play, from technical aspects and yard logistics, thermal and electrical energy capacities, to operating and investment costs. With the implementation of our Progressive Dynamic CDK with model 1003 Heat Recovery, we were able to
In 2020, Delco carried out a major upgrade to their Guerette-Yates planer, and a complete rebuild of the outfeed and stacker. The upgrade was handled, primarily, by Delco’s own staff.
The mill’s lumber sales are brokered through Langevin Forest Products. Sales represent a 50-50, Canada and U.S. market split. Most of the lumber is transported by truck from the Delco yard to customers. More distant sales to the central U.S. load on centre rail cars in Saint John, for transport and delivery.
Pulp chips are delivered to Irving mills in Saint John. Sawdust and planer shavings feed into their own Hurst boiler. Bark and other residues are transported to pellet
ing operation, supplying mills and other operations in New Brunswick.
The sawmill operates two eleven-hour shifts. Both Cormier and Durelle praise the dedication of their current workforce of around 150, but they shared serious concerns about finding new recruits to replace retiring personnel.
“Many of our long time employees are approaching their retirement age, but not a lot of candidates representing younger generations are showing up to apply for employment,” explained Cormier.
Delco estimates their operations support some 300 spin-off support jobs, mostly in New Brunswick.
Touring the milling operation, it was refreshing to see a good number of women working on the production lines and in the yard. Durelle pointed out that one of the Fuchs operators and one HewSaw operator are females.
Delco’s wheel loader fleet includes two Volvo L90 units, one Volvo L50 and one L120. JCB wheel loaders, which are also sold and serviced by ALPA Equipment, include two 427 machines and one 437.
The Woodlands operation has about twelve employees, and handles Crown operations as well as operations and trucking on some private woodlots. A number of the Woodlands staff are certified to supervise water course alterations.
The company has developed plans for the next decade, to invest in a $15 million upgrade to their two saw lines, and a second upgrade phase for their planer mill.
In 2020, Delco completed the first phase of a major capital investment on a planer upgrade, installing all new handling equipment including the stacker. The second phase of the planer mill upgrade will include a new Gilbert planer, new tilt hoist, and a remodelled infeed. The upgrade is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and will complete Delco’s state-ofthe-art planer mill facility.
Clearly, Delco is planning to continue to produce top quality lumber and continue to be a major employer in southeast New Brunswick.
NEW CHIPPER OPERATION feeding Domtar B.C. pulp mill
The new Bayview Fibre chipping operation is well in gear in Port Mellon, B.C., feeding fibre to Domtar’s nearby Howe Sound Pulp & Paper mill—and also helping local log suppliers maximize returns on logs.
The pulp logs at Bayview Fibre are fed into the whole log chip plant using a stationary, 70 tonne, custom-designed Tanguay PL 370HD electric-powered log loader. The project was exciting for Tanguay because this loader is the biggest machine the company has ever built.
By Tony Kryzanowski
Domtar’s new Bayview Fibre Corporation wood chip plant on the British Columbia Coast at Port Mellon is being described as a valuable addition in support of the area’s forestry sector by helping log suppliers maximize their return from their lowest quality logs.
“It’s the largest single investment in the Coast forestry sector in recent years,” says Quinton Hayward, Chief Forester for Domtar’s Pulp & Tissue Unit.
The site, which originally was a log sort yard, was purchased by Domtar in 2023 and serves a dual purpose. In addition to a new chip plant, the site also hosts a log sort and merchandising yard.
The whole log chip plant processed its first log in December 2024. Full commissioning began in March of this year and it is ramping up to achieve its full production expectation. It’s designed to consume 1.4 million cubic metres annually of predominantly hemlock, as this is a less desirable species for lumber manufacturers, and the fibre has good pulp properties.
By sorting logs arriving primarily on large booms or by barge on water and hosting two functions on this one site, Domtar acquires more than 40 per cent of its chip supply for its Howe Sound Pulp & Paper (HSPP) plant located about two kilometres away.
The Howe Sound pulp mill is one of the oldest pulp mills in B.C., but it was completely rebuilt in 1991 to modern standards. It produces about 355,000 tonnes annually of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp. It employs 350 workers and commissioning of the new chip plant has created 25 additional jobs on the Sunshine Coast, northwest of Vancouver.
According to Hayward, there is only one other site on the Coast that is able to perform this dual function, with a sort and merchandising service on the same site as a chip plant.
He says that loggers often don’t have the ability to sort logs in the cutblock on the B.C. Coast, because of the ground cover and steep terrain. Usually, the wood is trucked out to a log sort yard somewhere on the Coast or floated to them in large booms where the wood is dewatered and merchandised for the client, as in the case of the Bayview site. The log sort is where grading takes place to determine species, quality and whether
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The Bayview Fibre project has been a win for Canadian forest industry suppliers, such as B.C.-based Brunette Machinery Co. Inc. Brunette Machinery supplied a Brunette/CBI Grizzly Mill Hog and a 48-8 Roll Disc Scalping Screen to the Bayview facility.
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individual logs qualify as a sawlog, pole, peeler or pulp log.
“Bayview allows us to give our customers a unique advantage: the ability to make better use of the stands they’re harvesting,” says Hayward. “That means higher utilization of the wood, which is critical for wildfire risk reduction and responsible forest management. At the same time, it supports our customers by offering a service they can’t get at other log sorts, helping them operate more efficiently and sustainably.”
Typically at other log sorts, the pulp logs are returned to the water and then sold some distance away by the owner. By having a one-stop distribution location— as in the case of Bayview—the customer for pulp wood is right there, thus reducing supplier costs while encouraging more fibre recovery from the forest.
The Bayview chipping facility is much closer to HSPP than its decommissioned West Coast chipping facility, which was located about 50 kilometres away, on the north arm of the Fraser River. So, Domtar’s transportation costs to supply the pulp mill have been reduced significantly with the new plant, according to Chip Plant Manager, Paul MacPhee.
HSPP competes in a global marketplace, so ensuring the mill operation can be cost competitive in an environment when all costs are escalating drastically is important.
“It would take over eight hours to get a barge with chips from the old West Coast facility to the pulp mill and now it takes about 20 minutes,” he says. This reduces barge traffic in the Howe Sound region and also reduces emissions as a result of less barge towing.
Canadian equipment suppliers benefit from Bayview Fibre project
As noted in the main story, Domtar’s significant investment in the Bayview Fibre wood chip plant on the B.C. Coast at Port Mellon has been a win/ win in better supplying the company’s nearby Howe Sound Pulp & Paper (HSPP) plant, and also helps log suppliers maximize returns from low quality logs.
But it has also been a win for Canadian forest industry suppliers, such as B.C.based Brunette Machinery Co. Inc. with locations in Surrey and Prince George. Brunette Machinery supplied a Brunette/
CBI Grizzly Mill Hog and a 48-8 Roll Disc Scalping Screen to the Bayview facility.
The company has a rich history as an equipment supplier to the B.C. forest industry, dating back to the 1920s. Today, the company focuses on being a solutions provider to customers, and the industry.
Brunette specializes in supplying woodprocessing and material-handling systems to sawmills, power plants, plywood mills and pellet plants across North America. From a single machine to a complete plant system, its products meet the high-
est standards, are easy to implement and provide true benefits, it says.
Its innovative approaches and extensive manufacturing experience ensure that its wood-processing systems help customers get more from their operations.
The Grizzly Mill Hog that the company supplied to Bayview Fibre, for example, is ruggedly designed and manufactured to maximize uptime in the most extreme applications.
MacPhee adds that the new plant is capable of chipping logs faster and it is much more automated. Being new, it also lends itself to consistent production with less downtown required for repairs. And it is a larger capacity plant, able to process more volume. The challenge will be securing enough logs to keep the facility going as market conditions are challenging, and B.C. harvesting levels are well below the annual allowable cut.
The chip plant can process pulp logs ranging from 1” to 39” in diameter. Larger diameter logs arriving at the site can be split and then used in the chip plant. Log lengths vary from as small as 6’ to tree length. Prior to reaching the chip plant infeed, the logs are sorted into a small sort and a large sort, with the diameter break point being 22”.
The pulp logs are fed into the whole log chip plant using a stationary, 70 tonne, custom-designed Tanguay PL 370HD log loader.
“This project was exciting because this loader is the biggest machine that we have ever built,” says Pierre Perron, President of Quebec-based Tanguay. “We see a lot of potential with the use of this loader for optimization in sawmills, pulp mills and chip plants.”
He adds that some of the key benefits of this electric-powered loader is that it is environmentally friendly and offers very low-cost operation.
“Just in terms of energy to operate it, it is much, much cheaper and more reliable,” Perron says, adding that it is designed for up to 100,000 hours of service with low maintenance costs.
Tanguay also offers 10 tonne, 30 tonne and 50 tonne loaders in this line of equipment, with various mounting options, such as double or single pillars, or on rail. It can also be remote controlled from a distance.
The general contractor on the project was Kelowna-based Systematic Mill Installations.
The design and construction of the plant infeed was conducted by CORE Engineering.
Advanced Material Handling Ltd. (AMH) supplied the material handling conveyors for the plant, which essentially features four log decks, as well as a singulator, debarker, chipper and transfer conveyors.
“It’s really an honour to contribute to B.C.’s forest industry by manufacturing the conveying equipment. I’m grateful for the dedication and expertise our team at AMH brought to this project, and truly
value the opportunity to collaborate with such great people in the industry,” said Tim de Haan, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Material Handling.
NIIK Steel says that it was a significant steel component supplier to Phase 1 of the plant and CIF Construction says that it was a major concrete supplier, estimating that they poured about 3,500 cubic metres of concrete, and the project included detailing, bending and placing 800,000 lbs of reinforcement on-site with shearline and bender. The concrete was purchased from local sources on the Sunshine Coast.
At the end of the infeed deck, the logs encounter a Comact singulator, leading to the debarker infeed chain.
“In between the infeed deck and the debarker, there is an oversize deck where we can kick logs off if they are too large to be processed through the debarker,” says MacPhee.
Kelowna-based Versatile Fab & Machine will supply the log splitter on the oversize line which will be installed in Phase 4 of this construction project and Rotobec has supplied two log handlers on the oversize line and also on the chipper infeed deck.
Fibreutilization
Nicholson provided an A8 35” Tandem debarker, an important part of the equipment line-up at Bayview Fibre, given how critical debarking is to chip quality. The A8 Tandem is said to offer best-in-class productivity and incorporates sophisticated design and manufacturing technologies that deliver more performance and reliability at lower cost. The Nicholson A8, which is offered in a range of sizes and configurations, is capable of optimum debarking performance at high feed speeds and is a leading debarker for today’s highproduction mills, says the company.
Brunette Machinery supplied a Hogger for the Bayview project (please see sidebar story on page 22).
A cleanup chain, which collects the debris, is located beneath the debarker, and the material is conveyed through a metal detector and then into the hogger, continuing to two elevated storage bins in the yard. Trucks can pull up beneath the storage bins for loading, to transport all the hog material generated at the chip plant to the pulp mill where it is used as
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Fibreutilization
boiler fuel. Domtar has a power purchase agreement with BC Hydro. A portion of the power generated from the burning of the hog fuel is sold to BC Hydro, with a portion used to generate the steam and power needed in the pulping process.
After debarking, logs kick off onto the surge deck, leading into the chipper infeed. The Bayview facility is equipped with a CEM Machine whole log chipper.
“After the chipper, we can send our processed chips to a scow, for delivery to the pulp mill, or to the yard for storage,” says MacPhee.
As they are propelled in either direc tion, the chips encounter a scalping screen where any oversized chips are re moved. The oversized chips are directed toward a re-chipper, and then reintro duced into the transportation stream.
At a time when many areas of B.C. are concerned about a chip shortage which has resulted in the closure of some pulp mills, Domtar is making it easier for sup pliers to select them for the sale of their pulp logs by simplifying their log sorting and merchandising while minimizing their
Nicholson Manufacturing supplied an A8 35” Tandem debarker to the Bayview Fibre project, an important part of the equipment line-up given how critical debarking is to chip quality. The A8 Tandem is said to offer best-in-class productivity and incorporates sophisticated design and manufacturing technologies that deliver more performance and reliability at lower cost.
High
Long-reaching boom
Fast,
Albertalogging Hitting that short logging time window— 24 hours a day
The Northern Timber Management team brings invaluable experience to the challenge of seasonal logging in Alberta, with logging operations that can run 24 hours a day, and operating as many as eight bush camps.
By Tony Kryzanowski
It’s easy to marvel at the size of Northern Timber Management, a logging, trucking, and biomass management holding company headquartered in LaCrete, Alberta. It represents the evolution and amalgamation of several forest industry enterprises under one umbrella, working largely in an area blessed with good qual-
ity farmland, but also challenged with a lot of muskeg.
It’s not logging for the faint of heart— and takes a lot of hands-on experience and cool heads working under pressure for it to succeed.
The five owners would best be described as the ‘next generation’, having all formerly been senior managers for two logging companies, Pineridge Chippers
and Peace Country Ventures, whose original owners simply were ready to retire in most cases, and pass on the torch.
The five current owners, who came together as a group in 2012, are: Andrew Peters, Sales, Marketing, IT and Safety Manager; Jeff Neustaeter, Operations Manager; Dave Bennis, Office and Finance Manager; Darren Wald, Transportation Manager; and Willy Neufeld,
The Northern Timber Management skidder fleet is predominantly John Deere. When selecting equipment, operator feedback is important since they spend so much time operating them.
Fleet Management and Integrator, with the important task of monitoring their rate structures throughout the organization.
“The first goal when we started was to find a role for each owner, where they had experience and actually enjoyed the work they are doing,” says Neufeld. “We really focused on putting all the leaders in the right seats.”
The individual logging enterprises oper-
ating under the Northern Timber Management umbrella are Pineridge Chippers, Cleardale Logging, Reinders Logging, Athabasca County Logging, and Peace Country Ventures. Their transportation division, operating under a separate holding enterprise called Transport Holdco Limited, includes Mighty Peace Ventures and Pineridge Transport. They have two additional partners in the log transport
division, those being Peter Loewen and Dave Peters.
Their logging contracts are with Canfor in Grande Prairie, Mercer in Peace River, West Fraser Timber in Manning, and Northlands Forest Products in Fort McMurray. They also incidental log for pulp producer Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries (Al-Pac) in Athabasca, Zavisha Sawmills in Hines Creek and the Boucher Bros sawmill in Nampa, which is north of Peace River.
Northern Timber Management conducts most of their business within a very short time window from about early November to no later than the end of March, when the muskeg in northern Alberta is frozen. When it is prime time, they work 24 hours a day, as much as six days a week, operating as many as eight bush camps.
Their average annual harvest is between 1.2 and 1.8 million cubic metres of both softwood and hardwood, managing over 500 pieces of equipment, and with as many as 400 direct employees and sub-contractors. At present, they are among the top five employers in LaCrete and surrounding area.
When asked what motivated the current owners to want to create the formidable Northern Timber Management partnership, the main factor was the desire to move into an ownership position to leverage the maximum business potential from their combined hands-on experience. For example, both Peters and Neufeld have more than 20 years of experience each in the logging sector, and the same is true of the remaining partners.
“I started working at the local LaCrete sawmill when I was 15 years old, and from there, I moved over to the logging side of that sawmill business,” says Neufeld. “One thing led to another and the next thing was I started working for Pineridge Logging. Forestry is all that I’ve ever done, really. I was raised on the farm but all my work life, I have been involved in logging.”
Being a younger ownership group, they are also introducing more technology to improve operations, and it has delivered notable dividends. For example, they have developed their own app for such functions as digital timesheets. It also helps to monitor production.
Like many other logging enterprises based in the Peace River area, changes to the forest industry landscape in this neck
Albertalogging
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of the woods have required a change in focus over the past decade.
“There have been a lot of changes over the years,” says Neufeld.
Perhaps the biggest recent change has been the decision by pulp mill owner Mercer to discontinue in-woods chipping in favor of building a brand new wood room at their massive pulp mill in Peace River. Now their contractors, includ-
ing Northern Timber Management, are required to deliver whole logs instead of chips. While it has always been involved in logging, now the company overall is more of a traditional stump-to-dump contractor.
The owners communicate regularly and meet weekly on the same day and at the same time to steer the overall operation.
Their workforce is highly diverse and many come to work at Northern Timber
Management from as far as the East Coast. Staff turnover is manageable because many appreciate the seasonal nature of the work and often have other jobs in the off season such as farming, truck driving, road construction or fishing.
At present, about 800,000 cubic metres of their logging volume is hardwood with the remainder being softwood. The softwood can range in diameter from as small as 5” to as large as 24”. The smaller wood has tended to come from areas
When it is prime time, Northern Timber Management operates 24 hours a day, as much as six days a week, with as many as eight
Management favors uniformity in its fleet of about 500 pieces of equipment, which includes
bush camps. Northern Timber
Tigercat X870 feller bunchers.
where they have conducted mountain pine beetle salvage work. The hardwood they harvest is 6” and larger.
Their fleet consists primarily of Tigercat and John Deere units, depending on their function, with the greatest priority being performance because of the tight window of maximum logging production required, keeping in mind that they operate around the clock during the winter logging season. Uptime simply has to remain high for the company to succeed.
“While we are working over such a short season, we are still paying for that equipment year round,” says Neufeld.
To complement their fleet, Northern Timber Management maintains a large parts inventory so that if they experience any unexpected downtime, they can avoid delays in parts delivery.
Andrew Peters says that given that tight logging window, there is an advantage to having brand uniformity in their key logging functions because that creates familiarity with the equipment among their maintenance staff, which contributes to faster and better overall maintenance, because in their case, time really is money. Also, by having more uniformity, it requires a smaller parts inventory.
Take one detailed look at the size of their fleet and it is easy to understand why any opportunity to create efficiency becomes a priority. Peters adds that in addition to uptime, operator feedback is also important when they purchase equipment since they are the ones spending a lot of time in them. Working hard to keep good employees happy is a big company priority.
“Really, our biggest asset is our employees because of the value they bring as individuals,” Peters says. “You can always go out and buy a new piece of iron but you can’t always replace a good employee.”
In addition to operator comfort, resale value is another priority when selecting equipment. Their 19 feller bunchers are Tigercat X870D units with a 27’ 9” cutting radius, a 10’ 9” tail swing and 330 hp engine.
They have 37 skidders with 35 being John Deere and 2 being Tigercat. Their John Deere skidders are 848L or 948L units. Their Tigercat skidders are model 632H units.
They have 35 processors in their fleet with the carriers being a combination of John Deere 2154 D and G units and a 2456 unit. The Tigercat carriers are model 855E units. Their processor heads are all Waratah with a combination of 622C and 623C models.
They own 22 Tigercat log loaders, those being a combination of 865, 875E and 880 carriers equipped with Tigercat grapples. They also have a couple of John Deere log loaders that they keep as spares.
Generally, their goal is to keep their equipment for between 12,000 to 14,000 hours. “The determining factor really is when it becomes more expensive to maintain a unit than to buy a new one and it seems to be within that hour
range,” says Neufeld.
Their 60 log trucks are exclusively Kenworth 880 and 990 units.
A good example of the company constantly seeking greater efficiency is that they became major shareholders in a LaCrete-based venture called Platinum Fuels, which is a bulk fuels distribution business. This provides them with greater
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Albertalogging
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control over a critical input cost, that being fuel and the delivery of that fuel throughout their vast fleet. Now they don’t depend on anyone but themselves to deliver fuel in a timely fashion during their extremely tight production window.
One somewhat unique branch of Northern Timber Management is their biomass management operations, most recently involving an eight-year project with Al-Pac. The goal was to recover biomass from a number of plantations that the company had established about 25 years ago with private landowners in the vicinity of Athabasca. The project involved grinding the plantation biomass for use as hog fuel. With that project now concluded, their grinders are now being used occasionally for yard cleanup with a number of forestry companies in northern Alberta. For these operations, the company owns two Peterson Pacific 5710 grinders and one 4710B grinder.
Northern Timber Management continues to be on a growth trajectory.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to add more volume,” says Neufeld. “But it has to make sense
For log loading, Northern Timber Management favors Tigercat with Tigercat’s own log grapple attachment, and there are a lot of logs to load. Their average annual harvest is between 1.2 and 1.8 million cubic metres of both softwood and hardwood.
B.C.’s Community Forests have growing appeal
Community Forests have proven to be popular in B.C. for a host of reasons— the most recent, the Three Rivers Community Forest based in Quesnel, has just started operations, with, not surprisingly, solid community support.
Nick Pickles (above, right) manager of the Three Rivers Community Forest (TRCF), and Allie Affleck comanager of the TRCF. The TRCF has a complex landscape, from mature Douglas-fir and mixed conifer stands, to lodgepole pine regeneration, deciduous areas, and areas with heavy blowdown and high fuel loading.
By Jim Stirling
Given what’s going on around the world, it’s easy to understand why more areas in British Columbia are taking a closer look at the Community Forest form of log harvesting tenure. It returns the management and responsibility for small, designated areas of forest land back into the hands of appointed people who live, work and care about them. Some control of what happens to and on the forest land in their own back yard has a growing appeal to its residents.
For many years, B.C. lands have been provincially managed, resulting in a strong commercial log harvesting bias. A community forest attempts to better accommodate other land users. In the process, the locally-based forest management team has an eye to promoting the health, diversity and economic potential of the entire forest area.
Co-operating with others as one cohesive unit becomes the catalyst for achieving dynamic, site specific land use solutions. It’s challenging but exciting work. It requires administering a cocktail of flexibility and responsiveness.
Nick Pickles understands all that. It’s part of the appeal to being manager of the Three Rivers Community Forest (TRCF) based at Quesnel in the north Cariboo region of B.C. The whole experience is further enhanced for Pickles and his team because 2025 is Year One in the operational life of the Three Rivers Community Forest.
“At its heart, a Community Forest isn’t just about managing trees; it’s about building trust, being transparent and working collaboratively over the long term,” reckons Pickles. “This includes our partners, stakeholders, contractors and the public. The success of a community forest depends on that sense of shared purpose and increasingly, this kind of inclusive, adaptive approach is being recognized as best practice, one that balances economic activity with ecological and social values,” pointed out Pickles.
The Quesnel Community Forest licence award was announced in December 2024. Three Rivers joins the other 62 Community Forest family members in the province working together to manage the Crown forest lands surrounding their communities. The fortunes of the Quesnel group are steered by representatives from four regional governments. They’re the
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forestmanagement
from page 33
Lhtako Dene Nation; Nazko First Nation; ?Esdilagh First Nation (Tsillioqot’in Nation) and the City of Quesnel.
The strong First Nations involvement in the TRCF delivers distinct benefits to the new organization. A deep knowledge and appreciation of the land itself is complemented by a growing practical experience in the forest industry. For example, the
Lhtako Dene Nation’s economic development capability is expanding its forestry capacity through its web of partnerships.
The Nazko First Nation has two well established partnerships in the region offering value added and wood product development services. Meanwhile, through its wholly owned enterprises, the ?Esdilagh are actively involved in regional timber development; harvesting; forest fire mitigation practices and vegetation management.
The new Community Forest has an annual allowable cut of 42,850 cubic metres of coniferous tree species and 10,500 cubic metres of deciduous wood. The TRCF covers an area of 38,223 hectares. The Fraser is the Mother River sustaining the region. The Fraser’s tributaries like the Quesnel and Cariboo rivers mold the community forest’s character and contribute its name. Its relatively modest size belies the diverse range of forest
The diversity of the Three Rivers Community Forest requires distinct treatment strategies to ensure long-term ecological health, wildfire resilience, and sustained value to the community. Its management strategy is built around making decisions that reflect the unique conditions and values of each part of the forest.
ecosystems within the community forest, each with its own management challenges and values.
Manager Pickles supplied an example. Dragon Mountain, on the south side of the Community Forest, is sub-boreal spruce with a complex species mix producing a high ecological variability. To the northwest, the Milburn Mountain portion is basically an area of beetle infected lodgepole pine.
“There are consistent themes across the tenure that are common to most community forests, especially those located in the urban forest interface,” explained Pickles. Values coming to the fore include: community protection; cultural and archaeological significance; ecosystem resilience; wildlife habitat; old growth protection; ranching and grazing; recreation and watershed health. Balancing these overlapping demands is consistent to the TRCF’s long term strategy, added Pickles.
Quesnel’s cutbanks and shorelines along sections of the Fraser River and its tributaries included in the TRCF are unstable. It means the sands along the riverbanks, while offering an attractive physical feature, also lead to slumping, erosion and slope failure over time. “That’s why when it comes to development and planning in areas like this, we bring in terrain specialists early in the process,” said Pickles.
The City of Quesnel is a partner in a logging equipment training program designed to prepare machine operators for a new era in forest landscape planning and harvesting method development. Pickles foresees a role for the TRCF to help. “It might mean helping identify suitable training areas within the community forest or working together to align funding,” he explained. The TRCF is also well positioned with log harvesting experience within its membership team. Pickles said the community forest has developed a list of all logging contractors within the region and the kinds of work in which they have experience.
Allie Affleck is co-manager of the TRCF and plays a key role in the direction of its development. “Allie has a ton of experience, a sharp eye for detail and a practical approach to problem solving,” credited Pickles. Those attributes should come in handy as the infant organization charts its course. And it’s not wasting time in the process. The TRCF’ s initial tender calls on forest work projects starting this fall and winter.
Canadian Forest Service legacy forest practices research and demonstration sites now delivering valuable secondary values - microsite trials
BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI
In this second article on the topic of capturing secondary values from longstanding Canadian Forest Service (CFS) research and development legacy sites—many established over the past 30 to 50 years—let’s focus now on microsite trials where the initial goal at time of establishment was head-to-head treatments followed by comparison of outcomes.
Initially, these microsites were intensive research and development trials established close to operational scale that addressed a very specific issue of the day over the short term.
Now we can extend the initial capital investment made by CFS and its many partners to establish these trials by evaluating what we can learn from them in an effort to tackle current issues like fire vulnerability and risk reduction, access to fibre, rotation age, etc.
Our first example is of a nursery stock microsite trial established in 2000 in the Sulphur Lake area of Central Alberta, researching a variety of different site preparation treatments which included horizontal bed mixing, elevated bed mixing, mounding, scalping, and a notreatment control site.
In addition to the various site preparation treatments, the site was also established as a nursery stock trial. So, it represents 11 different Styroblock stock types that could provide an advantage early on for survival and establishment to a 1.3 metre height.
Initially, the white spruce/aspen mixedwood site was clearcut in the winter of 1999/2000 with the aspen component left to regenerate naturally. The white spruce were planted on the treated microsites at 2.5 X 2.5 m spacing either on mounds, scalps, no-treatment or on intermittent mixed beds created by a Grizz mixer (elevated bed) or a MeriCrusher mounted on an excavator and powered hydraulically.
The pictorial images shown
here illustrate the site preparation pattern, tools used and the aerial view of the site at present time.
The second example represents a ‘mixedwood by-design’ trial, which incorporates a combination of afforestation as well as natural forest strategies and silviculture treatments.
It was established in Central Alberta in 2001, consisting of a combination of selected hybrid poplar and hybrid aspen planted with white spruce on a fully siteprepared area that resulted in a consistent ground medium. The ground slash, stumps, and upper organic (L/F) layer were sheared during winter with a shear blade mounted on a 300 hp tracked bulldozer. This was followed by a high-speed horizontal bed mixer in the spring. This mixing consisted of a 325-rpm toothed, drum-type treatment using a 2.4 m wide MeriCrusher powered by the PTO of a 200 hp wheeled tractor. It created a consistent
and deep mix through a combination of approximately 35 cms of organics and silty-clay loam mineral soil.
The trees were planted on a variety of different bed types with a distribution of the hybrid hardwoods as well as white spruce in a pattern where the spruce were planted either in-between each hardwood planting or in complete rows distributed throughout the site, to diversify the values through establishing a mixedwood and to maximize fibre growth.
The third example is a microsite trial composed of lodgepole pine located in the Foothills Natural Region in the Whitecourt, Alberta area.
This site was established in 1993 after clearcut harvesting in what was a moderately deep organic mixedwood site of lodgepole pine, spruce and aspen, with sandy loam soil.
The site prep treatments included horizontal and elevated bed mixing, a combination of disc trenching in single and double patterns, as well as selective mixing using a VH mulcher, an excavator-mounted elevated mix patch attachment, and no-treatment control.
The lodgepole pine planting took place in the spring of 1993, a year after site preparation, all at a spacing of 2 X 2.5 m.
The aerial images included here show the treatment replications and microsite treatment patterns taken from a drone flying 70 metres above ground, indicating the various impacts on the trees. They currently vary from 7 to 13 m in height, depending on the treatments.
For more information, contact Derek Sidders, Legacy Program Coordinator and Technology Advisor, Science Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization Division, Canadian Forest Service, at derek.sidders@ nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.
TECHUPDATE
By Tony Kryzanowski
Forest Fire Remediation
CMI Mulching
As wildfires grow more frequent and destructive, CMI Mulching says it delivers the heavy-duty equipment contractors trust to get ahead of the problem.
The company says that its four purpose-built tracked carriers—the C175, C300, C400L and C500—are engineered for unmatched power, reliability, and productivity in the harshest conditions. From reducing hazardous fuel loads and cutting firebreaks to clearing and stabilizing fire-damaged sites, CMI carriers are proven performers on the front lines of forest fire remediation, says CMI.
durable track systems, CMI Mulching says that these machines keep working where others can’t. Flexibility is key: each carrier runs seamlessly with CMI’s own mulching attachments as well as a wide array of third-party heads, giving contractors the versatility to match any job. Backed by dealer support and built for serious production, CMI Mulching says that its equipment is the go-to solution for professionals who need results—fast, efficient, and dependable.
www.cmimulching.com
Tigercat
Tigercat has released a mulching head for swing carriers in response to fire mitigation equipment requirements in western North America.
The 4161-15 is a 59” heavy duty swing-to-tree mulching head
optimized for use on Tigercat 800 series carriers.
The 4161-15 uses many field-proven components common to other Tigercat mulching heads. There is a choice of standard drum rotor or feed control rotor with depth gauges in front of each tooth to control the cutting depth, reducing load on the machine. The rotor design is similar to 4061 series mulching heads. Tool choices include standard carbide, heavy duty rock resistant carbide, and hardened steel knife style.
The 4161-15 pivots 130 degrees (+/- 65 degrees) left or right on a hydraulically controlled wrist. Hydraulic hoses to the head are routed through the open boom tip of the carrier and connected to a manifold in the wrist. This routing minimizes exposed hoses, aiding in reducing wear and damage.
When paired with the Tigercat LX830E, this minimal tail swing leveling machine is highly effective at fuel load management and fire mitigation on steep slopes and tight areas.
www.tigercat.com
Loftness
Loftness offers Battle Ax mulching heads for both low and high flow skid steers, as well as compact track loaders.
These models feature a unique rotor with built-in depth gauges, which function similarly to raker teeth on chainsaws, to
prevent the attachments from engaging too much material at one time. This design is said to be more ideal for managing the amount of material being fed into the attachment than ring-style rotors, which many operators find to be overly limiting.
Also unique to the Battle Ax is the Loftness-exclusive two stage cutting chamber. This allows the Battle Ax to process material more thoroughly than competitor mulching heads since it has the ability to process material on two separate shear bars, says Loftness.
The Battle Ax skid steer line includes the L series for low flow skid steers weighing up to 10,300 lbs with 15 to 35.9 GPM and 30 to 70 hydraulic horsepower. Also available is the S series for high flow skid steers with 28 to 62.9 GPM and 50 to 150 hydraulic horsepower.
Other standard features on the Battle Ax skid steer include single bolt tooth mounting, an adjustable tree pusher bar, machined anti-wrap bearing protection, an onboard pressure gauge and replaceable skid shoes.
www.loftness.com
FAE
FAE’s PT and RCU tracked carriers deliver powerful, reliable solutions for forest fire prevention, and are built to perform in the most demanding terrain. With FAE’s signature durability and advanced engineering, the company says that its machines offer exceptional stability, control, and power on steep, uneven ground.
FAE carriers help fight wildfires in two key ways: by reducing fuel loads through mulching dry, dead vegetation, and by creating firebreaks, which are wide, cleared paths that stop fires from spreading.
The FAE PT series combines high horsepower with an enclosed, climate-controlled cabin for safe, efficient operation. The RCU line, designed for slopes up to 55 degrees, features a hydraulic variable track system for superior traction and stability. Additionally, it operates via remote control, keeping the operator at a safe distance when working on hazardous or difficult terrain.
Overall, FAE says that its advanced technology is making a difference in wildfire prevention and vegetation management across North America.
www.fae-group.com/en_CA
SEPPI
The SEPPI M. MAXIFORST is a high-performance PTO forestry mulcher built for 300 to 500 hp tractors and is engineered for extreme tasks like creating forest fire protection lines.
With its robust steel frame, replaceable HARDOX plates, and patented ADAM alignment system, it ensures maximum wear
resistance and drive train protection. The powerful rotor—featuring SEPPI’s patented V-LOCK tool system—delivers exceptional mulching of trees up to 60 cm. in diameter, producing fine, uniform material ideal for firebreaks.
Optional features like M-TURBO fluid couplings and ISOBUS temperature control enhance reliability and safety, even under intense workloads. Thanks to optimized cooling and lubrication systems, the MAXIFORST is said to guarantee high speed performance and long-lasting durability in the toughest forestry environments.
Available in 250 and 300 cm working widths, SEPPI says that it’s the ultimate solution for efficient land clearing, vegetation control, and fire prevention in forests worldwide.
www.seppi.com/en-us/
Prinoth
The Panther T6 from Canadian manufacturer Prinoth is proving invaluable for wildfire suppression in challenging terrain, says the company.
In the U.S. state of South Carolina, the Forestry Commission—which protects 13.6 million acres and responds to 2,000 to 3,000 wildfires annually—has successfully deployed these rubber-tracked carriers to navigate diverse terrain from sandy hills to peat-rich coastal soils.
The T6’s low ground pressure (2.70 psi unloaded) and 60 per cent gradient capability enable access to remote fire zones while
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techupdate
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minimizing environmental impact—ideal for Western Canada’s mountainous regions.
Its two-person enclosed cab with air conditioning keeps crews operational in extreme conditions, while the standard C channel chassis accepts various firefighting implements without modification.
Powered by a 147 hp Caterpillar C4.4 engine meeting Tier 4 Final emissions, the T6 delivers a 15,400 lb payload capacity. Prinoth says that firefighters praise the machine’s maneuverability and dual hand line capability, significantly improving water delivery where traditional access is impossible. Prinoth’s engineering team can also develop customized firefighting solutions for specific regional requirements.
www.prinoth.com
Diamond Mowers
The drum mulcher OD Pro X2 from Diamond Mowers is purpose-built for tough environments and large-scale land clearing projects, making it a powerful solution for forest fire remediation. Outfitted with twin maul carbide teeth, the OD Pro X2 can withstand extreme abrasion without sparking in rocky conditions, an essential feature in fire prone areas.
Its robust design tackles heavy ground engagement and processes harsh materials with ease, enabling operators to thin vegetation, remove hazardous fuels, and establish defensible spaces around communities, infrastructure, and utility corridors. Engineered with contractor input, the attachment delivers enhanced stability, superior sightlines, and operator friendly features that reduce fatigue and maximize productivity. Available in 60” and 72” cutting widths, the OD Pro X2 handles material up to 9” in diameter.
www.diamondmowers.com
BRON
BRON says that its mulchers are engineered to dominate, delivering best in class power and performance.
The BRON 310 mulcher delivers 310 peak horsepower on a D4 undercarriage, making it the ideal choice for small to midscale projects. With a Cummins 6.7L engine, oscillating track frames, ergonomic cab design, and advanced safety features, the 310 is built for right-of-way clearing, vegetation management, fireguards, and land reclamation.
For high output forestry and extreme terrain, the BRON 450
takes performance to the next level. Incorporating robust final drives, spacious service access, and operator-focused controls, it comes with a D5 undercarriage, a powerful Cummins X12 engine, and a choice of mulching head. The BRON 450 is said to be ideal for large scale right-of-way clearing, fireguards, farmland reclamation, and land development.
With over 25 years of innovation, BRON says that its mulchers combine technology with durability, ensuring no job is too big and no terrain is too tough.
www.rwfbron.com
STAND OUT IN 2026
TimberWest Magazine — January/February 2026
The Official Oregon Logging Conference SHOW GUIDE
Contact TimberWest to learn more about our NEW 2026 MULTIMEDIA PACKAGES
Extend your reach beyond print with Forestnet Media’s expanded offerings:
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www.forestnet.com
Make sure industry professionals know that you’ll be at the Oregon Logging Conference. Help them find your exact location amongst 300+ exhibitors and stand out.
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2026 Official Show Guide
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Not only will every logger, log hauler, and mill manager in the Northwest receive a copy, but we’ll also print extra copies for every attendee registration packages and show entrance areas.
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SUPPLIERNEWSLINE
New USNR EXO canter described as future of primary breakdown
Sawmilling equipment manufacturer and installer USNR says that its EXO canter is the culmination of decades of experience building complete primary lines.
The EXO canter is not a fixed system; it’s a platform. During the sales phase, mills can select from a wide range of equipment options to build a line that fits their exact needs. Each component is designed to integrate seamlessly, ensuring a cohesive system that performs as one. This modularity supports both greenfield installations and phased upgrades, giving mills the flexibility to scale and adapt over time.
The EXO canter offers a fully modular, highly configurable platform that adapts to specific production goals and site constraints. With virtually limitless configuration options and the full backing of the Paragon Design Standard, USNR says that it is the most advanced and adaptable line that it has ever delivered.
Every element of the EXO canter is shaped by the five core values of the Paragon Design Standard: safety, maintainability, precise feed control, modularity, and debris containment.
These principles aren’t just design goals; they are operational advantages that translate directly into uptime, throughput, and long-term value, says the company.
www.usnr.com
Komatsu debuts new TimberPro swing machine
Komatsu describes its new TimberPro TN785D swing machine as a durable, powerful and productive machine, designed to move mass quantities of large timber in both log loader and millyard environments.
By Tony Kryzanowski
It is also TimberPro’s largest, most powerful and highest capacity machine to date, and was built with proven components and new features to meet the demand of high productivity swing applications.
The TN785D features a newly redesigned 12-roller track frame to provide a long stable platform for even weight distribution, with high mobility and extended machine durability.
Other features include: more than 44’ of reach for a wide working area combined with excellent stability and lift capacity; high performance hydraulics that offer consistent speed with simultaneous circuit commands; closed loop hydrostatic swing for responsive and precise movements; a high output engine that provides more power and productivity; and, dedicated track drives for enhanced maneuverability and control.
www.komatsu.com
Peter Lister new B.C. Truck Loggers Association Executive Director
The B.C. Truck Loggers Association has a new Executive Director, Peter Lister, who has an extensive background in the forest industry, having been involved in the forest sector for over 25 years. An engineer by training, he started his career working in sawmills.
More recently, he worked at FPInnovations where he became Vice President of the Forests Operations Division, adding the Wood Products Division a few years later.
During that time, he had full responsibility for research, membership and bottom-line financial performance for the two divisions and had over 200 staff located across Canada.
He worked closely with industry members and federal and provincial governments to deliver a wide range of programs focused on expanding markets, developing new technologies, improving processes, worker safety and environmental performance.
www.tla.ca
First production Tigercat X877 feller buncher put through its paces
The new Tigercat X877 track feller buncher is the next model built on the innovative sloped tail platform to roll off the assembly line and into a Canadian logging operation.
The X877 is a high performance carrier with a closed loop drive system. As a result, the machine has excellent multifunctioning characteristics—well-suited to highly skilled and experienced operators seeking maximum productivity.
The sloped tail platform is said to provide excellent tail clearance when swinging over obstacles, while retaining clear and convenient access to daily service points and machine components.
The upper assembly is designed to house both the Tigercat FPT N67 and C87 engines for improved commonality. The in-tank hydraulic filtration extends service intervals up to 2000 hours.
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Inland Truck & Equipment’s Link-Belt Log Loader Competition supports Williams Lake, B.C. hospital foundation
Inland Truck & Equipment Ltd. held its Link-Belt Log Loader Competition supporting the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Foundation in Williams Lake, B.C. Sept 6 to 7, and a good time was held by all.
“It was so exciting to see the community come together with industry to make a huge difference for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Foundation,” says Corey Timms, Regional Equipment Sales Manager for Inland Truck & Equipment. “It brought a lot of attendees back to their younger days when events like this were more prominent.
“It was a lot of fun to be there seeing the kids and families cheering on their parents in a friendly competition for a great cause,” said Timms.
The fierce competition was only trumped by the sportsmanship of the competitors, true professionals, all of them, on both days. From the Gentles Brothers taking the plunge to be the first in front of the crowds Saturday to the final minutes on Sunday, it was heartwarming to see the community and industry spirit trump all else.
The organizers can’t wait for next year, as the competition is coming back to Williams Lake, and they look forward to seeing everyone return for another amazing event supporting the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The event was hosted by the Williams Lake Harvest Fair.
Sponsors: Link-Belt (prizes), Weldco Beales Manufacturing (refreshments and snacks), West Fraser Timber (log) and Inland Truck and Equipment was the presenting sponsor.
Additional assistance was furnished by: Progressive Harvesting Ltd, WL Forestry Supplies/Napa Auto Parts, Gegra Equipment Ltd, the City of Williams Lake, San Jose Logging Ltd, and Hytest Timber Ltd.
Finalists and Winners in order of finish:
• Ryan Tugnum – Progressive Harvesting Ltd – Williams Lake, B.C.
• Lee Dwinnell – Timber Service Ltd –Quesnel, B.C.
• Kurt Baraniuk – Ambrus Logging Ltd –Prince George, B.C.
• Justin Graham – Jordco Enterprises –Williams Lake, B.C.
• Laura McCabe – Bid Right Contracting Ltd. – Prince George, B.C.
The organizers would like to pass on huge thank you’ s to:
• The competitors—some for traveling to be a part of the event, and all of them for being brave enough to show their stuff in front of a crowd. This was not an easy task, and the courage to “get on stage” was commendable.
• The community—for coming out and supporting the Harvest Fair and the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Foundation.
• Operational Assistance—Jeremy Long (Inland), Curtis Robinson (Inland), Rob Pighin (Weldco), Cam Gillespie (Weldco), Darren Getz (San Jose Logging), Kevin Bernier (San Jose Logging), Sean Groundwater (Hytest Timber), and Lorne Doerkson, MLA.
Fundraising assistance: Competitors entry fees and community donations: $1100.00 (topped up on day one by Darren Getz)
Total raised: $3,350.00 – Going directly to the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Foundation.
suppliernewsline
from page 44
Long track frames and an integrated counterweight ensure excellent machine balance and stability, and a newly designed ER boom system offers tighter tuck and a larger boom envelope. ER technology, developed exclusively by Tigercat Industries, reduces operator fatigue and conserves energy.
www.tigercat.com
Waratah’s new H427 harvester head designed for extreme conditions
Waratah Forestry Equipment has launched two new harvester heads—the H427 and the H427X. Built to handle large timber, the company says that the H427 offers high productivity and precision, while the H427X extends that performance with heavyduty features, purpose-built for tracked machine applications.
The rugged H427 is built for big timber and demanding applications from late thinning to the final cut.
Featuring a strong frame, high performance saws including an optional top saw and heavy duty tilt frame, it delivers durability, feed force and cut capacity needed for reliable productivity. Its saws provide fast, precise cutting even in the toughest conditions. With an operating weight of 3649 lbs, the H427 balances strength and stability in rugged forestry conditions.
Weighing in at 4085 lbs, the H427X delivers the same performance benefits as the H427 but is purpose-built for heavy duty tracked machine applications.
www.waratah.com
Komatsu introduces 951XC-1 harvester
Komatsu has launched a new model of its largest harvester, the 951XC-1 machine, which is said to be one of the largest harvesters on the market.
The company says that its eight driven wheels deliver incredible traction, maneuverability and stability, especially in steep, soft or rugged conditions.
Key performance highlights include: eight-wheel drive that ensures excellent stability and low ground pressure; tractive force of 54,400 lbf that supports operation in tough terrain; Komatsu’s 3PS
hydraulic coordination system which allows multiple head and crane functions to operate at full power simultaneously; and, a shortened crane centre-to-front-wheel distance that enables wider working range and stronger reach.
www.komatsu.com
New DX300LL-7 log loader joins DEVELON forestry lineup
DEVELON has expanded its next generation forestry equipment with the DX300LL-7 log loader and DX300RB-7 road builder. The company says that these new products offer logging professionals strength, durability and advanced features for demanding forestry and timber harvesting.
The
DEVELON
DX300LL-7 log loader cab enhances both safety and efficiency, featuring a 4’ riser. Plus, for simple trailer transport, the cab can hydraulically tilt 90 degrees.
The -7 series log loaders and road builders are built to tackle high demand tasks head on. They have increased horsepower, faster cycle times and more lifting capacity to complete timber harvesting and log loading more quickly.
Increased tractive force improves mobility across uneven or soft terrain, even when carrying heavy loads or traveling on inclines. Plus, the fine swing function minimizes shaking when lifting, for greater control, more accuracy and safer operation. When maximum lifting power is needed, a simple press of the one-touch power boost button on the right-hand joystick brings an instant hydraulic boost. Operators can also select from four power modes to perfectly match the job at hand, boosting efficiency and conserving fuel.
na.develon-ce.com
Bandit Industries celebrates milestone 100,000th machine with giveaway at TCI Expo
Bandit Industries has manufactured its 100,000th machine, and the historic milestone will be celebrated with a special giveaway of the commemorative unit at the upcoming TCI Expo, held November 6 to 8, 2025, at the America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The milestone machine, a Ban dit Model 12XC hand-fed chip per, is equipped with a Kohler diesel engine
generously donated by Superior Diesel.
Bandit’s story began in 1983, when founder Mike Morey Sr. and six employees built the first Brush Bandit chipper in a small Mid-Michigan pole barn. Today, the company operates from over 560,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, employs a dedicated workforce, and serves customers in more than 56 countries worldwide.
Bandit’s product line has grown to include hand-fed and whole tree chippers, stump grinders, horizontal grinders, and ARJES slow speed shredders. www.banditchippers.com
Hood Industries partners with Comact to upgrade Mississippi sawmill
Comact is collaborating with Hood Industries on a major brownfield modernization of the existing Hood Industries facility in Waynesboro, Mississippi.
This strategic upgrade will enhance the facility’s capabilities and is said to reflect Hood Industries’ continued investment in operational performance and innovation.
The upgraded Waynesboro facility will feature a fully integrated sawmill, including a high-performance hybrid sawline to maximize fibre recovery and operational efficiency. Two new continuous dual path kilns and a new gas burner, installed on the existing kiln, will increase drying capacity and energy efficiency, while the planer mill will be upgraded with a Miller planer and Comact’s GradExpert system.
AI-powered Smart Vision tools will be integrated throughout the process to continuously monitor operations and optimize throughput.
Built in multiple phases on the existing site, the project will be executed in close collaboration with the Hood team to ensure existing systems remain in operation, while construction takes place around them. This phased approach is designed to keep production losses to a minimum while delivering a seamless modernization.
The first day of operation is scheduled for early October 2026. www.comact.com
Wildfire risk reduction project completed near Merritt, B.C.
The Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation (LNIBDC) has completed wildfire risk reduction treatments in the Steffens Estates subdivision, north of the Lower Nicola Indian Band’s Mameet Indian Reserve #1, approximately 17 kilo -
metres north of the city of Merritt, B.C.
The project, which combined harvesting and post-harvest fuel reduction treatments, was conducted by crews from Shulus Forest Enterprises LP, the forestry division of the LNIBDC, with assistance from Forsite Consultants Ltd and funding support from the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C.
It’s expected that the work will help reduce wildfire risk to communities, enhance forest resilience, and maintain critical wildlife features while generating significant economic and employment opportunities for the LNIBDC.
“Our natural resources are a significant part of who we are as First Nations people, and our connection to the land is important,” says Stuart Jackson of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. “When we have the opportunity to lead the way in forestry work and our members have the opportunity to do the work, we collectively experience significant and positive environmental, economic, and social outcomes as a society. We are grateful to the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. for the investment and the opportunity to work in collaboration.”
The Steffens Estates area, which borders private land and residences, was identified with a high fuel hazard rating and, therefore, posed an increased wildfire risk in the area. To mitigate this potential threat to local communities, recreational areas, and important infrastructure and transportation corridors, crews took a proactive approach by reducing the forest fuel load, or flammable material like dead trees and other woody debris on the forest floor.
www.fesbc.ca
Canadian Institute of Forestry selects Curtis Cook as Executive Director
Curtis Cook is the new Executive Director of the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF). With over 20 years of senior management and executive experience, including with non-profit organizations, First Nations, and community services, Cook brings to the Institute a wealth of experience as a motivated and innovative leader.
Formed in 1908, the CIF is the national voice of forest practitioners and many others with an interest in forestry and forests. The Institute strives to provide national leadership, promote competence, and foster public awareness of Canadian and international forestry/forest issues.
www.cif.ca
Quebec moving ahead on land use planning while the B.C. government ignores forest industry pleas to improve access to timber on public lands
By Jim Stirling
The province of Quebec is facing an issue its counterpart in British Columbia is resolutely ignoring. Quebec is trying—through legislation—to fairly rationalize land use planning on public lands in the province. It’s important because public lands occupy about 92 per cent of Quebec’s surface area. The province has received a rough ride with its initial proposal, but is working toward a solution.
The provincial government under Premier Francois Legault introduced a bill into the legislature earlier this year proposing the creation of three priority land use zones for the province: a conservation zone, multi-purpose zone and a forest development zone. The latter is deemed necessary by the government to help support Quebec’s forestry sector, described as in a “precarious” situation.
“Just hang on a minute”, chimed the province’s First Nations, “that’s not going to work.” The proposed bill does not respect their ancestral rights and needs scrapping in the form presented or re-written with First Nations co-authorship, urged the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador along with other opposing groups.
Reactions to the bill spilled over from the Quebec legislature into the streets and led to demonstrations and blockades of sawmill millyards. The government subsequently agreed to make amendments to the proposed bill with further First Nations consultation. The sides have been talking, at least, and moving however tentatively toward what will hopefully be an equitable compromise solution.
Imagine that happening in the wild west of B.C. The forest industry is not a priority for B.C.’s NDP government. Premier David Eby has made that abundantly clear. He has in mind a select group of industrial activities to help steer B.C. toward a prosperous future—and forestry is not part of that strategy.
Eby’s tactics during at least the last three years has largely been to ignore industry pleas to improve access to timber
on public lands. That is despite forest companies and their dependant communities continuing to suffer as a result. An exception being the appointment of a panel to review B.C. Timber Sales. The provincial organization is widely considered dysfunctional in its present form. The review panel had not made any recommendations by this magazine’s early September deadline.
The B.C. Council of Forest Industries (COFI), the voice of the provincial forest sector, has consistently plugged away with press releases to keep the industry on the provincial government’s radar, despite its apparent indifference. COFI has offered suggestions to help industry get out of the hole it’s in. In July, for example, COFI told the government what needed to happen. The organization advised:
• accelerating the path toward a 45 million cubic metre AAC for B.C. by fasttracking permitting, BC Timber Sales auctions and expediting salvage and thinning operations;
• launching a dedicated team of forest professionals to resolve the permitting backlog, smoothen the progress of new applications and work toward a long-term goal of a functioning, singlewindow permitting system;
• eliminate cross-ministry barriers within the provincial government, reducing contradictory policies and reducing delays;
• the immediate release of ready-to-sell BC Timber sale volumes to help a wood starved forestry sector and expedite and support First Nations so their partnerships with forest industry companies can move ahead “at the speed of opportunity”.
Added COFI: “The best way to support forest workers is to keep mills operating and people working.”
None of COFI’s suggestions to help the industry come at great cost to government, a fact of significance to a deeply indebted province. Most of COFI’s rec-
ommendations involve internal reorganization and co-operation and of course, a government willingness to make it happen. But nothing positive had happened by early September.
Sections of the B.C. forest industry have already forged mutually beneficial working relationships with First Nations in the province. But more opportunities await with the parallel provincial government. First Nations have been recipients of large chunks of land in B.C. from the provincial government in recent years. But First Nation forest workers like everyone else have been hard hit by the consistent reduction of shifts and the permanent closure of sawmill operations across the B.C. Interior.
The Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation, based in Vanderhoof, was not amused with the way the provincial government and Canfor Corp, handled the harvesting situation in the region prior to the permanent closure of Plateau Mills. The huge sawmill complex at Engen, a hamlet west of Vanderhoof, was permitted to exhaust its regional timber supply in the name of mountain pine beetle salvage operations.
Canfor officially announced Plateau’s permanent closure in 2024 along with the company’s sawmill in Fort St. John. At one stage, after a major sawmill upgrade, Plateau unofficially had at the time the largest production throughput of any sawmill in the world. The widespread clearcutting on Canfor’s tenures, permitted by the government, created more than timber production. It chased away the moose and impacted salmon stock by clearcutting to the water’s edge, charged Colleen Erikson, chief of the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation, after the mill closure was announced.
Erikson has ideas about what will transpire for the forest industry. “The future of the forest industry will come down to innovation and collaboration with First Nations,” she predicted. “We aren’t going anywhere and unlike big multi-nationals we don’t have an interest in sending our profits elsewhere.”
THE BIGGER YOU ARE, THE EASIER TREES FALL.
The new H-Series.
More capacity. More reach. More stability. Less fuel.
