Planting trees is back-breaking, repetitive work — but if two University of Victoria students have their way, robots will assist tree planters in the future. Third-year electrical engineering students Nick Birch and Tyler Rhodes have developed a prototype robot that is able to plant tree seedlings. “We’d really like it as something that can supplement…
Conifex Timber Inc. CEO Ken Shields’ rationale for his company’s decision to spend US$21 million to buy a mothballed Arkansas sawmill sounds like a wake up call to a British Columbia forestry sector grappling with mounting challenges. “The U.S. south has overtaken the interior region of B.C. as the dominant, low-cost lumber supply region of…
A Sault Ste. Marie pest management firm received federal funding to search for the next generation of organic tree pesticides. BioForest Technologies and company president Joe Meating want to dive deep into tree chemistry with an eye on producing new pest control tools. The growing 25-employee company has received much media attention for bringing TreeAzin…
A forestry workers union head said there’s a plethora of well-paying mill jobs to be had in northwestern Ontario, but many employers are struggling to find skilled jobs to fill them. “We’re hearing it all across the district that there’s definitely a lack of qualified tradespeople that are available to be hired,” said Stephen Boon,…
When True North Hardwood Plywood closed in 2013, 240 people lost their jobs and Cochrane lost one of its biggest economic generators. But a new company is taking its chances on the facility, bringing with it the promise of employment and long-term potential. Rockshield Plywood Corp., a subsidy of the B.C.-based investment firm Rockshield Capital…
The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) is unhappy with the new building guide in Quebec allowing 12-storey wood structures. The group alleges the guide is part of a pro-wood agenda and potentially puts the public at risk. However, the organization behind the guide is not addressing the allegations head on. “As a research institute, who…
The deaths of three firefighters in Washington State are a reminder of how much these brave people are putting on the line, on both sides of the border. Last Wednesday, three U.S. Forest Service firefighters died after their vehicle crashed and was likely caught by flames as they battled the Okanogan complex of fires near…
With days left for a 30-day contract to use the Mars water bombers on forest fires the province has announced no intentions of extending the agreement. The arrangement between Coulson Flying Tankers and B.C.’s Ministry of Forests expires on Tuesday. Over the last month the Hawaii mars bomber was deployed from it’s Sproat Lake base…
Much of central and southern Alberta, including Lethbridge, Calgary, and Red Deer and Edmonton, was put under a special weather statement Monday because of drifting forest fire smoke from Washington State. Alberta Health Services issued an air quality advisory for the Calgary Zone, which will stay in effect until further notice. The air quality statement for…
Today the Globe and Mail pegged the Forest Products Industry as one of the promising sectors in the country for young Canadians looking for a prosperous career. The Forest Products Association says they need to find 60,000 new employees across Canada in the next five years to keep pace with industry growth which has been spurred onward…