On average, Wester Fraser plants more than 60 million trees – about two trees for every one harvested – in Canada every year. The company estimates it has planted more than 1.9 billion trees since it was formed more than 65 years ago.

“We consider ourselves stewards of the forest, balancing the needs of all users,” said Carol Reid, West Fraser’s sales lead for specialty wood products. “We reforest the areas we harvest, returning them to healthy, growing trees.”

West Fraser’s timber product sourcing is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Their dimensional lumber and specialty wood products are available at local Co-op Home Centres across Western Canada. The certification means the company conducts detailed planning to harvest and reforest responsibly, considering the impact on water sources, wildlife habitats and culturally important areas.

“We’re interested in maintaining a truly sustainable enterprise that meets the needs of this generation and future generations,” Reid said. “We only exist if the trees and the forests we draw from are healthy.”

Through acquisitions over the years, West Fraser has become the largest lumber and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) manufacturer in the world, with more than 10,000 employees globally – about 5,300 in Western Canada – at more than 60 locations.

Reid said the company aims to be a pivotal part of the communities where they operate. It’s one of the reasons West Fraser has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 employers eight times, B.C.’s Top Employer and a top choice for young employees.

West Fraser is the founding member of an association that maintains and manages campgrounds and trail systems in the Foothills Region in northeast Alberta. The company also contributes to other outdoors groups and trail systems.

“We’re planting trees, building our operations and investing in communities because we want to be there tomorrow,” Reid said. “The only way we’re going to do that is by operating our business responsibly.”