*Update: As of June 1, operations have returned to normal.
VERNON, B.C. — Tolko’s Athabasca OSB division in Slave Lake, Alberta has temporarily suspended operations as the Province has issued an eight-hour evacuation alert for the town.
“All employees, other than those who have been identified as essential to asset protection, have been evacuated and sent home. With the Town on an eight-hour evacuation notice, we want people to be prepared in case a mandatory evacuation order is issued,” says Vice President, Strand-based Business, Jim Baskerville. “The safety of our employees and their families is our priority.”
Our essential employees will now initiate fire suppression activities to protect the mill and will coordinate efforts with the town, the municipal district, and the province as the situation develops.
Baskerville went on to say that Tolko will be communicating with employees through their direct supervisors and via its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TolkoIndustries). He encouraged all employees to follow the Town of Slave Lake Facebook page (www.facebook.com/townslavelake) for the latest information.
About Tolko
Tolko is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of forest products for customers around the world, including lumber, plywood, veneer, oriented strand board, co-products, biomass power and a growing number of specialty wood products.
For more than 60 years, our family-owned company has delivered reliability, flexibility, efficiency, and quality in the production of a wide range of forest products for world markets.
We hold third-party certification on the forestlands we sustainably manage in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, and we play an active role in the communities where our employees live and work.
For further information please contact:
Janice Lockyer, Communications Advisor
Tolko Industries Ltd.
T. 250-550-2598 C. 250-306-0929
E-mail: Janice.Lockyer@tolko.com
