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By Adam Berls

fraser lake

‘Devastating’: Mayor of Fraser Lake on impending closure of West Fraser Timber sawmill

Jan 23, 2024 | 3:30 PM

FRASER LAKE — Forestry in Northern B.C. has been dealt another major blow, with the announcement on Monday that West Fraser Timber will permanently close its sawmill in Fraser Lake, BC, 155km west of Prince George. The community has been centered around forestry ever since the closure of the Endako Mines in 2015. For Mayor Sarrah Storey and the community, the news was gut-wrenching.

“It was devastating. I think there was actually some tears shed when I had a councillor from Vanderhoof call me. I kind of cried for a second. It wasn’t on the list of things to do this week and it’s not something your community ever wants to hear.” – Mayor Sarrah Storey, Village of Fraser Lake

The closure of the mill will impact approximately 175 employees and the Mayor said that the Village is in discussions with government and the private sector to hopefully bring some opportunities for workers.

“There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes, even with Artemis Gold trying to make sure that the next mine that’s coming in, there’s opportunities for people to get those jobs and stay within the region.” – Mayor Sarrah Storey, Village of Fraser Lake

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Shane Brienen, BC United candidate for Nechako Lakes and Mayor of Houston, says that the community will be dealing with the impacts from the closure for a long time to come.

“Some people will find a job in the area, some people move on. So it’s not a it’s not something that this community is going to deal with in a in a few months.” – Shane Brienen, BC United Candidate for Nechako Lakes

The mill is set to shut down after an orderly wind down in May 2024 and in a statement to CKPG News, Keith Carter, Senior Vice President Western Canada, for West Fraser said:

““This is a difficult announcement for West Fraser as we have worked hard for many years to keep this mill in operation,” said Keith Carter, Senior Vice President Western Canada, West Fraser. “In July 2019, we moved the mill from three to two shifts per day, and then in October 2022, we moved to one shift. Unfortunately, we’ve reached the stage where we are not able to access enough economically viable fibre to keep the mill running for a single shift.”

The mill closure will reduce West Fraser’s Canadian lumber capacity by “approximately 160 million board feet and they anticipate recording restructuring and impairment charges of approximately $81 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 related to facility closures and curtailments due to availability of economic fibre sources in British Columbia.”

The Mayor and Council will now look for ways to help Fraser Lake deal with something that is becoming something of a norm in Northern BC.

In a statement to CKPG News, Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston said:

“The sawmill closure is very difficult for the workers in Fraser Lake. Our thoughts are with them and their families. It is tough for people and forestry communities that have been impacted by low prices and the end of the beetle kill harvest. New opportunities are needed in rural B.C., so everyone can benefit from a strong and sustainable economy. Our government will help affected workers by providing skills training, short-term employment opportunities, employment assistance, and retirement transition support for workers who are 55 years or older through the Bridging to Retirement program. Staff from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation are working with the community to coordinate a local response to ensure support is in place for both the impacted workers and the community. We will continue to be there for workers and support the forest sector as it finds new ways to create jobs by prioritizing innovation and made-in B.C. manufacturing to build a healthy forest sector.”

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com