High Level, Alberta – From planning to planting, developing a sustainable forest resource involves a great deal of work and commitment on the part of our Woodlands Group – a collection of forestry experts across the company that map, plot, and plan our forest use and regrowth. This commitment was celebrated today at Tolko’s High Level Lumber division in a ceremony to mark the planting of the divisions 200 millionth seedling.
Tolko’s General Manager of Prairie Woodlands David Bickerton said: “This is a significant milestone and we’re extremely proud of all of High Level Lumber Division’s employees and we’re grateful for all of the support we’ve received to make this milestone possible. From our planters, to our planners, to our harvesters, to our contractors, communities, local businesses, stakeholders and Aboriginal partners, it is the combined effort of everyone involved that ensures we have well managed community supported forests in High Level.”
Government officials including Frank Oberle, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Bruce Mayer, Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, spoke at the event and also took part in the official tree planting ceremony with Tolko’s President and CEO Brad Thorlakson and Tolko’s Vice President of Solid Wood Mike Harkies.
High Level Lumber held a similar ceremony in 2005 when it celebrated the planting of its 100 millionth seedling. Since Tolko Industries purchased the facility in 1999, over 160 million seedlings have been planted at the division. This number includes the seedlings planted during High Level Lumber’s 2014 planting program, which is the largest planting operation in Alberta. Tolko also acknowledges the reforestation contributions of Swanson Lumber, Canfor Forest Products Ltd., and Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., who operated the facility prior to Tolko.
Brad Thorlakson added: “Reforestation is really about the future. Tolko is committed to managing our forests in a way that is both responsible and sustainable.”
High Level Lumber expects to surpass 300 million planted seedlings by 2021.
About Tolko Industries Ltd.
Tolko is a family-owned, private company that manufactures and markets specialty forest products to world markets. Their products include lumber, plywood, veneer, oriented strand board, unbleached kraft papers, and a growing number of wood products in its operations across Western Canada. Tolko remains a proud supporter of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and is committed to environmental stewardship.
