The University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Technology Management & Entrepreneurship (TME) program has become an essential component of New Brunswick’s incredible entrepreneurial ecosystem. CanCross Infrastructure, a Fredericton startup fresh from the TME’s Summer Institute accelerator, saw its beginnings in a TME-hosted classroom. Company co-founders Scott Allen, Thomas Bird, and Joshua White, say their business wouldn’t exist…
The wild western red cedar forests of Calvert and Hecate Islands, off the British Columbia central coast, are a vision of untouched wilderness. Located about two hours by boat from the nearest village, these rugged islands seem to offer glimpses of life without human interference. But even here, subtle cues belie the influence of the…
The annals of U.S. trade relations with Canada, our largest trading partner, include a recurring dispute over softwood lumber: the kind of pine boards used mainly in construction and home improvement, as well as for paper. And a new dispute is looming at a very awkward time for the United States. Canada has vast forested…
A group of northern Alberta municipalities wants more discussion of a provincial plan to protect an extra 1.8 million hectares of wilderness in hopes of saving the woodland caribou. Caribou Communities of Alberta says a report by mediator Eric Denhoff that the government accepted in June could cost jobs and hurt the petroleum and forestry…
Tree planting is a job so demanding that when the BBC sent three young Brits to B.C. to give it a try, two didn’t even make it through the first week. “It really is the hardest job in the world,” said Dirk Brinkman, whose company, the Brinkman Group, hosted the three woefully unprepared twentysomethings at…
For the third time in less than a month, northern towns are facing tough times after a major employer announced it will close its doors. On Aug. 22, 2016, Tolko Industries announced that as of Dec. 3, 332 employees in The Pas will be without jobs. The privately owned B.C.-based forestry products company is set to close…
A 15-year study into Dutch elm disease in Fredericton found half of the local trees tested showed at least some tolerance to the disease. Grafts were from cuttings from local elms 15 years ago and they produced 150 trees. Those trees were later inoculated with spores from the disease to see if any of them survived. Half of…
Wood products exports from Canada to Asia were down 18 per cent in the first six months of 2016, with the biggest decline being softwood lumber from B.C. to China, according to the Seattle-based Wood Resources International. Lumber sales to China are on pace to drop by 50 per cent this year compared to 2014,…
It’s been a whirlwind summer in the forests of Northern Ontario for a group of Indigenous youth, but they have a new and valuable skill set to show for it. Forty-six youth celebrated their graduation from the award-winning First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program on Thursday afternoon with a ceremony at the Fort William First…
Since the very beginning, the biggest employer in The Pas, Man., has had difficulty turning a profit. But the latest blow could be the final strike that fells the sawmill for good. On Monday, Tolko Industries officials said after spending 19 years trying to make money in The Pas, the Vernon, B.C.-based company will close the mill in…