Danny Dawson’s lifetime of dedication and passion at Canfor.

Danny’s story with Canfor started in 1969, but his journey to get there was anything but ordinary. At 15 years old, Danny found himself at a crossroads. He set off from home near Rio Grande, Alberta, hitchhiking nearly 50 miles to Grande Prairie in search of his older brother, who was working for Canfor. His brother took him in, and before long, Danny had a job stacking lumber at the mill. 

On his first day, Danny overslept. Without an alarm clock, he woke up late, panicked and sprinted halfway across town, arriving at work drenched in sweat, fully expecting to be fired on the spot. Instead, his supervisor took one look at him, impressed with his efforts and gave him a second chance, telling him to buy an alarm clock. To which Danny replied, “I will as soon as I get my first paycheck.”

A witness to change and growth.

Danny quickly proved himself, moving from stacker to sorter to operating peeler saws,and eventually becoming aCanter Operator.

As Danny grew his skill set with each successive promotion, he witnessedCanfor transform—new technology, new safety standards and new ways of doing business. “Back in the day, people talked about safety, but now it’s truly a priority,” he says. 

More than a job.

After five decades, Danny still loves what he does. But perhaps more, Danny says it’s the family he has created over the years at Canfor that gets him up in the morning. “The best part of this place is the people,” Danny says. “All my friends are here. We were sitting around one day talking, and I said, ‘I can’t ever get married. I’m already married—to Canfor.”

His dedication to his career and the company has beenunwavering, and is something that Danny does not see changing any day soon. While some people count down the days until retirement, Danny is counting down the days until his next shift. One Christmas, he had 11 days off in a row and couldn’t wait to get back. “Get a hobby,” someone told him. His response? “I have one! I work at Canfor!”

A Canfor legacy. 

Today, Danny ranks second on the seniority list in Grande Prairie. From earning $2.19 an hour in 1969 to watching the company grow into what it is today, Danny has been a part of it all.

After 55 years with the forestry industry at Canfor, his advice for new employees is simple:

• Take the time to understand the lumber industry and the industrial environment.
• Safety is the absolute number one priority.
• Proper training is fundamental to success.

Danny’s pride in Canfor runs deep, especially his commitment to sustainability. “We were planting trees before the government made it mandatory, because we knew it was the right thing to do.”

He sums it up best: “Canfor is the greatest place on earth.” And with employees like Danny, it’s easy to see why.