Contributed by Skeena Sawmills
From the forest to the mill to the market Skeena Sawmills is earning a global reputation as a sustainable forest manager and high-quality supplier of lumber.
But key to its core commitment to consistently improve, Skeena isn’t content to sit back. New investments are paving the way to further diversify and better utilize local fibre.
“We are a dedicated team of 100 local residents who are constantly looking at ways to improve forest practices, drive higher levels of quality in our products and invest in innovation and technology,” says Skeena’s plant manager Lionel Chabot.
Seven years ago, under new ownership, Skeena Sawmills’ future was infused with a $40 million investment to get the mill operational again after a challenging decade. The proximity of a local, skilled workforce, high quality hemlock fibre and a burgeoning international port were the key ingredients needed for Skeena to respond to the growing global demand for lumber products.
Today, Skeena Sawmills has built an international reputation for exceptional building materials for the North American and Asia markets and for furniture for major retailers such as IKEA, Toys “R” Us and Costco.
“Most recently, our marketing strategy has focused on value-added manufacturers who understand the inherent benefits of Hem-fir,” says vice president sales and marketing Rick Harris. “Our new ‘Skeena CS1’ product line has caught the attention of the furniture industry and has set us apart as both a market initiator and leader.”
But the innovation at Skeena doesn’t stop at lumber. The company is committed to getting the best value out of every log. It is investing another $20 million build a pellet plant using the residual sawdust and chips created in the process of sawmilling. The pellet plant is scheduled to be fully operational early in 2019.
Another $15 million is planned for the sawmill — increasing production to meet the growing global demand for its products.
The company is a firm believer that local logs create great jobs and it knows that managing local forests sustainably and working with First Nations and other industry partners is key to its long-term success.
“We recently received third party certification to the globally recognized Sustainable Forestry Initiative – which verifies that we are meeting strict environmental standards,” says Greg DeMille, woodlands manager. “We have signed a number of agreements with First Nations communities that support capacity building, business partnerships and employment.”
Skeena is also working with industry partners to secure more local logs so it can meet customer demand and provide stable employment for local residents.
“One hundred per cent of our harvest goes to local mills – supporting more than 100 jobs and $50 million in the local economy,” says DeMille. “Our forest licences don’t provide enough logs so building partnerships and working with government to ensure local mills have access to logs is a key priority to us.”
National Forest Week is a reminder of the important role the sustainable management of forests play in enhancing communities like Terrace. Today, Skeena Sawmills has set a stable foundation, and through its skilled employees, robust investment and strategic marketing, Skeena Sawmills is building a bright future.
