TimberWest Celebrates National Aboriginal Day

Press Release

June 21, 2016 – Vancouver: Today TimberWest celebrates National Aboriginal Day and the collaborative working relationships it has with over two dozen First Nations.

The partnerships allow for respectful working relationship built on consideration of cultural, environmental, educational and economic values.

“We highly respect and value our relationships with First Nations across Vancouver Island and the B.C Coast. Working together, we have found many opportunities to partner on matters of social, cultural, environmental and economic importance.” said Jeff Zweig, President and CEO of TimberWest.  “National Aboriginal Day is an occasion to celebrate the bonds we have formed and the partnerships we have built together over many decades. We remain deeply committed to strengthening our relationships with First Nations.”

TimberWest’s most recent partnership agreement was signed with Cowichan Tribes, and sets-forth a commitment to continue a decades-long relationship that involves forestry business on the Tribes woodlots as well as cultural activities within TimberWest’s managed forests.

“This agreement helps to establish a foundation of commitment and respect between both parties,” said Cowichan Tribes Chief Chip Seymour. “We are pleased to have this understanding in place with TimberWest, and we are looking forward to the work ahead on important economic and stewardship projects.”

TimberWest began working with Homalco First Nation a decade ago, and the partnership has flourished to include timber harvesting, silviculture contracts, land transactions, a log marketing programas well as a scholarship for any Homalco member to attend forestry, or other programs, at Vancouver Island University.

“It has been a long, mutually beneficial partnership with TimberWest. We understand how to balance the economic values with the environmental values, and we are pleased to work with a company that also understands that balance,” said Homalco First Nation Chief Maryann Enevoldsen. “TimberWest appreciates our traditional knowledge in resource management, and supports the future of our young people.”

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TimberWest is a member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business. TimberWest has been operating for over 100 years on the BC Coast, and is Western Canada’s largest private timberland Company with 325,000 hectares on Vancouver Island. The Company owns renewable Crown harvest rights to 700,000 m3per year. All its public and private forest lands are third-party certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. TimberWest is privately owned by two leading Canadian pension funds.

For More Information:
Monica Bailey
Director, Communications and Engagement
TimberWest Forest Corp.
Monica.Bailey@TimberWest.com
Phone: 250.716.3744

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