[VERNON, British Columbia] December 13, 2013 – In anticipation of increased housing starts in North America in 2014, Tolko Industries Ltd. has begun to ramp up production at its state-of-the-art Athabasca mill in the Slave Lake Region of Alberta.
“With respected industry authorities forecasting construction of around 1.2 million housing starts in 2014, builder confidence is growing and opportunities are increasing,” said Brad Thorlakson, president and CEO of Tolko. “The reopening of this mill positions Tolko as a consistent, cost-competitive, stable source of supply to the market, underscoring the company’s commitment to producing, high-quality products.”
The Athabasca mill is a state-of-the-art facility with the longest continuous press in North America, capable of producing residential sheathing, value-added panels and specialty industrial panels, as well as laminated strand lumber in the future.
“As market conditions improve, we anticipate Athabasca will enjoy a very strong market position, with the ability to adapt to changing economic conditions, while providing long-term stable employment,” said Thorlakson. “In addition, reopening the mill after the devastation caused by the 2011 wildfire is an affirmation of Tolko’s commitment to supporting the recovery of the Slave Lake Region.”
With the mill reopening, Tolko has created approximately 150 jobs in the community, a number of which were rehires, as well as indirect employment for contractors and suppliers. When the mill is fully ramped up it will have created a further 150 jobs in the woodlands’ and trucking. For employment information, please visit www.tolko.com/careers.
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Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia. With more than 3300 employees, Tolko is a major producer and marketer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board and Kraft papers, with manufacturing operations across western Canada. The company’s woodlands operations have been recognized by third-party certification of its sustainable forest management systems. Tolko is a member of the Forest Products Association of Canada and a signatory to the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. For more information, visit www.tolko.com.
For further information please contact:
Janice Lockyer, Communications Advisor
Tolko Industries Ltd.
T 250 550 2598 | M 250 306 0929
janice.lockyer@tolko.com
Maritza Reilly, Communications Coordinator
Tolko Industries Ltd.
T 250 550 2571 | M 250 308 8021
maritza.reilly@tolko.com
