Early on in my career, I worked primarily in brick laying, cabinet work, and control burns. But having to do contract work grew old. There came a point when I needed a steady source of income that was close to home and had benefits. And I did what I said I never would do: I sent in a job application to West Fraser’s Leola Lumber Mill.

I was hired as a forklift operator at the MOCO outfeed, and I fell in love with the mil. I went on the work as the Kiln forklift operator to eventually the kiln forklift lead. Now, I’m the Kiln Lead.

During this journey, which has been a short three years, I’ve had tons of on-the-job training opportunities. I’ve taken leadership classes and computer training, as well as have been trained in planer set-up and have learned everything about kilns.

Had I never taken the chance on working in the sawmill, I would never have discovered all these opportunities. I would suggest anyone who has doubts about working in a sawmill to take a leap of faith. I love working here, and I think you will, too.

I started my career as a contract firefighter during the summer and laying cut blocks in the winter. I eventually took a position in production at a sawmill and then into lumber sales, which lasted 22 years. When West Fraser bought Manning in 2015, I was offered the chance to go back to the bush with a position in Woodlands. It was the job I went to school for at 19 and, at 45, I was on my second career and now I couldn’t be happier!

There are so many elements within a “working forest” and working in this industry means we can be hands-on with the management. Everyone who works in Woodlands plays an important role, or many different ones, like me! Not only am I a log scaler and oversee some of our contract work, but I also handle the Indigenous Consultation and Engagement File. As major stakeholders of the land, they give us all a deeper appreciation for the wilderness and make us better land managers.

Sometimes our workload is a bit less defined, but I’m always happy to help a colleague on their project. For example, I could find myself building watercourse crossings for a few days; we’re saving habitats, one log bridge at a time.

I appreciate that West Fraser genuinely puts their people first. It’s a company that considers people’s safety of paramount importance, and it means employees and

contractors feel secure in their work. The company also invests in training its staff to handle every possible challenge.

I grew up in a city, but I enjoy the small-town life of Manning. There’s a slower pace, no traffic, and I’m close to the woods. I love paddling our northern rivers and seeing the country from the “original highways”. It gives me a chance to slip quietly through the wild places and it’s always a salve for the soul.

I like to share what I learn on the job with our community youth groups, too. And I’m an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion. There’s always a need for programs in the community and I get to meet new groups of people all the time!

If you’re considering a job in Forestry, go for it! From the field to the office to something more technical, there’s a place for you.

Many different people benefit from a working forest, such as trappers, hunters, recreational users, the oil and gas industry, and, of course, the forestry business.  As industry professionals, we must follow best practices, as well as provincial and federal legislation. All of this allows us to maintain the health and productivity of the working forest while providing raw materials for our mill.

I started as an assistant forester with Manning fresh out of university and held that job for 3.5 years before moving into the Silviculture Supervisor position, where I’ve been for 9.5 years. I grew up in a small town in Newfoundland and Manning is quite similar. It’s a small, tight-knit town with many recreational opportunities, some pretty nice scenery, and great people.

Working for West Fraser allows me a great work/life balance.  I’m always challenged and receive full support, as well as the right tools for the job.  West Fraser is such a large company. You can talk to people from other divisions to see how they do things or how they tackle similar problems that we may encounter.

My advice for pursuing a career in forestry is that if you get a summer job, or are just entering the profession, pay attention to the people around you. They are a wealth of knowledge. Foresters love to talk forestry!

Forestry is a great profession. You aren’t tied to a desk. You can possibly be in a different place doing different things every day of the week.

I’ve been in the forestry industry for 5 years. I received my Bachelor of Science specializing in Wildlife Biology and a Master of Science in Ecology.

In my role as a professional wildlife biologist, I constantly study the system and the organisms therein. This is to help inform forestry practices and forest management strategies. A cornerstone of ecosystem-based forest management that provides for all species is the constant integration of new knowledge obtained through scientific investigation. I study our practices and the effects those practices have on wildlife habitats.

A working forest, to me, is an ecosystem in harmony. It is where timber harvesting, andreforestation respects and promotes innate values of forest systems such as biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this sense, economic gains from timber harvest and the resulting development of wood products are one of many benefits from sustainable forest management.

What I like about living in Hinton, Alberta, is that it’s not too big or too small. Hinton is a resource-dependent town, so many people here are directly or indirectly linked to forestry and have a deep appreciation for it. In my free time, I love backcountry hiking and canoeing.

I started my career in the forestry industry as a planning summer student with a licensee in the Cariboo region of BC, working several terms up to my graduation from the University of British Columbia (UBC). While at UBC, I worked part-time in First Nations policy research and recreational planning. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Forestry, I started as an Assistant Forester with Sundre Forest Products in Alberta, gaining valuable experience in both the planning and operations divisions. I am currently supervising harvest operations while in the process of transitioning to a Planning Supervisor role.

To me, a working forest contributes equally to the environmental, economic, and social pillars of sustainable forest management. It provides long-term jobs and recreational opportunities to local communities, while also maintaining functional ecosystems. Sundre Forest Products meets these standards by harvesting stands in a way that emulates natural disturbance regimes representative of the forests we operate in, engaging with recreational and community stakeholders to reduce impact, and meeting or exceeding regulatory requirements.

If you are a person that likes to spend time in the bush and would like to contribute ideas to the areas you value the most, the best thing to do is take an active role in the long-term management of these landscapes. Foresters hold a unique role that requires individuals that can combine the use of cutting-edge technology and boots-on-the-ground experience. People that can blend these competing values will be invaluable to the long-term success of the industry.

I spend most of my free time hiking, camping, and mountain biking in the same areas that Sundre Forest Products operates, a perfect example of the benefits of a working forest! Banff National Park, west of Sundre, provides ample opportunities for both backcountry and lift-accessible skiing in the winter. I am an active member on the local Search and Rescue team, mountain bike clubs, and alpine club, keeping me quite active outside of work.

I’ve been in the forestry industry for the past 32 years, starting in land management and transitioning into timber procurement. I graduated from North Carolina State University and I am a North Carolina Registered Forester. At West Fraser, I like having the responsibility and the flexibility to get the job done. We have a good group of people that work well together.

There are many different options within the forestry community for careers. Timber is a sustainable resource, and if we take care of our resources, it will be sustainable for many generations.

In my free time, I enjoy coaching ball teams. You can usually find me on a baseball field or a basketball gym almost every evening. I grew up playing sports, so naturally, all 3 of my kids participate in sports. I’m a big believer that sports teach kids about teamwork. West Fraser has been a good sponsor for many of the sports programs in our community.

I’ve been in the industry for 24 years. I started with West Fraser in 2015 as a Woodyard and Procurement Supervisor with the Russellville and Mansfield, Arkansas timber procurement team.  After I received my Bachelor of Science in Industrial Forestry, I began working as a procurement forester buying pine and hardwood timber from private landowners, the US Forest Service and direct haul loggers. Later, before coming to West Fraser, I worked in harvesting, supervising and coordinating contract loggers and dispatch log trucks.

There is always something different going on in timber procurement at Russellville - timber cruising, working with loggers, landowners and the US Forest Service, and spending time in the sawmill and woodyard allows me to interact with a variety of departments within West Fraser.

Living in Russellville has a small city atmosphere with a school system that provides great opportunities for our kids. It has close access to both outdoor and large city activities. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors camping and fishing when I’m not watching my kids play volleyball and baseball.

Every day is a new and exciting challenge. My role allows me to get my hands in a little of everything around the mill and always learn something new. I have already been a part of a start-up of a new sawmill, lead a team for a small capital project in the planer mill, and focused on solving the root causes for machinery downtime across the site.

Working for West Fraser at the Opelika mill is an amazing opportunity. The site is being upgraded with a brand-new sawmill and planer mill and has great people to make it a best in class facility.

The lumber industry in the United States is seeing significant investment in building new mills or replacing sections of an older production line. All this new technology requires talented individuals to join the industry with an unlimited possibility for growth in their career.  

The Auburn-Opelika community is a great place to live. The area has so much to do to maintain work life balance from the traditions of college football on Saturdays, hiking in National Parks, five golf courses, and several family events each weekend. 

Outside of work I am usually out playing golf or tennis, eating at a restaurant in downtown Auburn, or traveling to explore new cities. I appreciate that I work for a company that allows me the time to balance work and all these activities that I enjoy.

I started working as Shift Utility, and since then have held many other roles including as a Field Operator, Forklift Driver, and Pulp Grader. I currently spend the majority of my time in the finishing end of the mill, performing quality control on the final product as Grader, or operating the machinery that bales and wraps the finished pulp, as Balerman. My shift scheduling allows me to spend a generous amount of time away from work, meaning I get to spend more time with my husband and children than any other job prior has allowed me.

My advice? I say don’t hesitate to take a chance on a career in forestry; there are countless different career paths available.  More and more women are making their mark in the trades by their ability to do their job well.

My family has been supported by the forest industry for 3 generations, and I’m proud knowing that I’m continuing that tradition on.  I grew up surrounded by forests and forestry and love how we’re able to support our community by utilizing the renewable resources provided by our region. No other industry gives more to our community than the forestry sector, allowing our local families to thrive.