By Michelle Ward, Director, Corporate Communications
Happy New Year! At Canfor, we’re looking forward to this New Year and hope 2019 brings all of you a feeling of optimism and excitement for the year ahead. This is also an ideal time to reflect on the past year and at Canfor 2018 was a busy year. We shared many of those highlights on our blog throughout the year.
In 2018, we were honoured to receive several awards including being named one of BC’s Top Employers for the sixth year in a row. Canfor was also named one of the Career Directory’s 2018 Best Employers for Recent Graduates. To be recognized as a leader in our industry and one that offers a great place to work is something we are very proud of. Canfor Pulp was selected as a winner of the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award. This second bi-annual honour recognizes companies that make exceptional advances in energy efficiency. With sustainability as part of everything we do, we are particularly proud to be recognized for our efforts to be a leader in sustainability. This includes Canfor being recognized under CN’s EcoConnexions Partnership Program, making Corporate Knights’ Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada and being awarded the Finance Sustainability Initiative Award for our 2017 Sustainability Report.
There were also several Canfor employees who received awards for their commitment and contributions to our industry. The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) recognized Matthew Buxton with FPAC’s inaugural Rising Star Award of Excellence and Michael Jordan with FPAC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Carmen Augustine made the Canadian Forest Industries’ Top 10 under 40 List, and Christine Taylor was awarded the Canadian Institute of Forestry’s Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry. We are very proud to have these individuals as part of our team. To learn more about these awards and others, choose the ‘Awards’ filter on our blog.
In 2018, we also made many contributions to our operating communities and shared a small selection on our blog. This included raising over $331,000 for the United Way and making impactful donations to the BC Children’s Hospital, three community hospitals in Georgia State and supporting local food banks in all of our operating communities. We also partnered with the BC Sports Hall of Fame to help celebrate the athletic achievements of our Indigenous community. With safety as our number one priority, we were proud to continue to help support dry grad celebrations in our operating communities and to help rebuild the Fulton Fire and Rescue’s station following significant flood damage. To learn more about these and other community contributions, choose the ‘Community’ filter on our blog.
Last year, we participated in several programs to help attract more talent and increase the diversity of our workforce at Canfor. In recognition of the Canadian Government’s first annual Gender Equality Week, we showcased the career journeys of several Canfor women. Canfor also created a first-of-its-kind Indigenous work experience program that provides participants with training in work readiness and job shadowing opportunities. With our planned growth in the US, we also unveiled a new promotional video to help prospective employees learn more about Canfor’s presence in the US and the many exciting opportunities available. To learn more about these stories and others, choose the ‘Careers and Culture’ filter on our blog.
Two other exciting events for our company in 2018 that were highlighted in news releases are our plans to expand in the US and in Europe. To learn more, click on the following news releases: Canfor to Acquire Majority Interest in VIDA Group of Sweden, and Canfor to Acquire Elliott Sawmilling Co., Inc. We look forward to each acquisition adding value to Canfor and our customers.
Without a doubt, it was a busy and productive year! I look forward to the opportunities before us in 2019 and wish all of you a safe and successful year ahead.