The Forest Industry in Southwestern Alberta

Alberta's forest products industry stands at a crossroads.
In one direction, there is a past filled with the ups and downs of boom times and lean markets. In the other are the possibilities the future holds – new markets, cutting-edge technologies and vitality. In this series of three articles, we examine forestry's historic and current activities in southwestern Alberta and the challenges the industry faces as it prepares for the future.
Forestry has been a large part of southwestern Alberta for well over 75 years. Early sawmills were typically small operations, employing a few men and making products that were primarily destined for the local marketplace.
The industry looks a lot different these days. GPS (Global Positioning System) units and helicopters have replaced compasses and horses. Even the smallest sawmill is technologically advanced compared to the large mills of the past. Today, forest products manufactured in this region are sold around the world.
What has not changed is the importance of the industry to the region. Today, there are more than 3,500 people directly employed by the forest products industry in southern Alberta and the industry generates in excess of $800 million in revenue for the region, including taxes, purchases and payroll.
“Forestry has a significant economic impact on southwestern Alberta,” said Livingstone-Macleod MLA Evan Berger. “In terms of the economy and jobs, contributions to the tax base or defining local culture and identity, forestry has a big impact on our region.”
The fates of forestry communities and the forest products industry are inextricably linked.
“Maintaining strong communities is critical to the future of our company and to the industry as a whole,” said Barry Mjolsness, President of Spray Lake Sawmills. “We work really hard to make sure that southwestern Alberta is a great place to live so that we can attract and retain skilled workers. We want to play a major role in the future of the region and we have invested heavily here.” The industry has backed up its commitment to the community by supporting numerous projects and community organizations. Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) made a significant contribution to the construction of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, provides $7,000 in scholarships to local high school students on an annual basis, and donates lumber to affordable housing projects and other worthy causes.
Investing in the future means not only making communities a better place to live, but also ensuring that the environment is protected.
“It's our job to protect our forests and manage them responsibly for future generations,” explained Gord Lehn, Woodlands Manager for SLS. “We need to plan our operations and ensure that they are sustainable. Spray Lake spends considerable time working with different groups, the Government of Alberta and other industries to make sure that we are using the land base in a responsible way that minimizes cumulative effects.”
Like any other industry, forestry has its challenges. The mountain pine beetle, slumping American economy and strong Canadian dollar are examples of today's challenges. While it tackles these challenges, the forest products industry requires the support of communities and government.
“We are working really hard to increase efficiency, find new markets and deal with the pine beetle and other challenges” said Mjolsness. “The support of the people of the southwest region, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada has been instrumental in our efforts to keep our industry going and maintain jobs. We are optimistic about the future, but at the same time realistic about the work that must be done today.”