West Fraser

On April 28, West Fraser observes National Day of Mourning in Canada and International Memorial Day in the U.S., U.K. and Belgium.  It’s an important day to remember and honour the workers who lost their lives or became ill or injured from their jobs. At West Fraser, health and safety is paramount. Our commitment to fostering a culture of safety is reflected and reaffirmed on this day and every day.

Today, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day across our operation in the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Earth Day is an important time to reflect on ways to sustain and preserve the health of our planet. Sustainability is one of West Fraser’s founding principles and something we prioritize not just on Earth Day, but every day. We are continually seeking new, innovative ways to enhance our sustainability from forest management and wood procurement to our processes and technology. Recently West Fraser joined a number of academic, government and industry partners to form the DIVERSE project, a Canadian climate change adaptation research project. Specifically, it will research ways to adapt Canada’s forests to improve resilience to global threats, investigate forest management practices, redefine how forestry is perceived, and learn to better navigate the increasing social and environmental uncertainties of the future. West Fraser sees this knowledge as essential to ensuring healthy, resilient, productive forests remain present across the areas we have the privilege to manage across western Canada. This is one of the many ways West Fraser is working to improve the overall sustainability of our operations and the planet.

At West Fraser, we are committed to safety at our workplaces and in our communities. In line with this commitment, our Angelina sawmill in Lufkin, Texas recently organized a CPR/AED training session, aimed at helping team members enhance their knowledge and skills in emergency response including the necessary skills to respond effectively to health emergencies. This is just one of the ways, West Fraser is focusing on making our workplaces and communities safer for everyone.

Today the Lake Babine Nation, located in Burns Lake B.C., announced that its forestry company, Lake Babine Nation Forestry Limited Partnership (LBN Forestry), signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with West Fraser. Under the JDA, we are agreeing to combine portions of our tenure volumes from the Bulkley and the Morice Timber Supply Areas and transfer them into a single First Nations Woodland Licence (FNWL) to be held by the Lake Babine Nation. “The Joint Development Agreement and the associated FNWL will empower Lake Babine Nation and LBN Forestry to manage the forests and conduct forestry in keeping with our stewardship priorities and contribute to our Nation’s prosperity,” said Chief Murphy Abraham. “This agreement will contribute to the durability of forestry in our region and deliver employment and long-term benefits to the Lake Babine people, other residents, and the regional forestry sector.” “This agreement recognizes the central role the Lake Babine Nation has in stewarding resources in its traditional territory, while providing a measure of fiber security for West Fraser,” said Sean McLaren, President and CEO, West Fraser. “Partnerships like this one will be key to restoring a thriving forest sector in the province.”

Today is the International Day of Forests. This year’s theme is “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.” We believe that sustainable forest management is an approach to caring for forests that allows for their environmental, social, cultural and economic value to be maintained. This guides our forest management and wood procurement practices. We also apply innovative thinking, modern processes and technology to ensure we use 99% of each log processed at our mills for use in other products or for bioenergy at many of our mills which now provide a significant portion of our energy needs.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible contributions of women across West Fraser as we continue our work to advance gender equity in our workplaces.   At West Fraser, we believe that inclusive diverse teams build a more vibrant workforce, safer operations and a stronger company overall.

West Fraser and the Woodland Cree First Nation recently signed a Good Relations Agreement to mark a new era of partnership, mutual respect, and exploration of economic opportunities. The agreement solidifies a commitment to build a positive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationship based on respect, trust, and recognition of each other's roles, rights, and responsibilities. “The signing of this Good Relations Agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to building a future of collaboration. By working hand in hand, we aim to work on economic opportunities, foster environmental stewardship and contribute to the well-being of Woodland Cree First Nation” stated Jed Begin, General Manager, Slave Lake Veneer. “On behalf of myself and Council, we are proud of this precedent-setting agreement. It is rooted in the principles of meaningful collaboration, accommodation and co-management,” said Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom, Woodland Cree First Nation.   “The agreement provides a positive example for industry and government in its ability to generate shared value through partnership,” said Councillor Joseph Whitehead Jr. Woodland Cree First Nation.

West Fraser is proud to support the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games, which bring young athletes from across British Columbia together through sport and friendship, and in the spirit of reconciliation. The Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games is a wonderful cultural and community event that will have lasting benefits for Quesnel and all the participants long after the Games conclude. Pictured is the West Fraser Centre in Quesnel where several BC Winter Games activities will be hosted. 

We are proud to announce that West Fraser has again been named one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People and a BC Top Employer, marking our eleventh year as recipients of the awards. West Fraser offers career paths in trades, operations, professional services, engineering and forestry across approximately 60 locations in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Europe. https://lnkd.in/gVb7JRFV. For more information about the award, visit https://lnkd.in/ds4Mpk9.

West Fraser is celebrating Black History Month this February across our U.S., Canadian and U.K. operating areas.   It is a time to collectively recognize and celebrate the many significant achievements and contributions of Black people to heritage, identity, wellbeing, culture, equality and justice, prosperity and more.   Recently members of the West Fraser team had the pleasure of attending the annual L.C. and Daisy Bates Black History Brunch in Arkansas.   The event not only commemorates Daisy Bates’ historic leadership and advocacy for desegregation, but also functions as a fundraiser for the Daisy Bates House Museum, reaffirming our commitment to supporting initiatives that celebrate and preserve the cultural heritage and achievements of the Black community.   Pictured: Centre, Charles King (l), President, L.C. and Daisy Bates House Museum Foundation Board and Al Simcoe (r), Regional Manager, West Fraser, celebrate along with West Fraser team members.