The Kootenays and Southern Interior are distinct from other regions in British Columbia. Part of that is due to geography. A parallel series of high mountain valleys effectively separates the southeast corner of the province from the rest of B.C.

Another factor is that a considerable number of regional residents—including many involved in today’s forest industry—are the stock of early settlers. Those people tend to share a well-developed resilience and a strong sense of community. They are traits that have become key elements in binding together the membership of the Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association (ILMA).

It’s a compact group of 12 member companies and up to 100 associate members. The associates comprise the companies and individuals which provide the services and supplies required by the membership, explained Paul Rasmussen, the ILMA’s president.

Ken Kalesnikoff, representing the Kalesnikoff Lumber Company Ltd., based in Castlegar, B.C., is chair of the ILMA board of directors.

Most of the association’s members operate small and medium sized enterprises. They are run by often multi-generational family ownership—such as Kalesnikoff Lumber.

The result is a resourceful and co-operative group, noted Rasmussen. The association’s catchphrase is “When the right log goes to the right mill, great things happen.” The sentiment underscores the ILMA membership’s attitude toward doing business.

One of the regional results is a high percentage of the members involved in adding value to the wood products they manufacture. The ILMA membership also share a desire to expand the size and roles of the regional forest industry, and boost the economy in the process, continued Rasmussen.

“But if there is one thing that is keeping our membership up at night right now it’s acquiring suitable fibre to make their products. They need access to the land base,” he added.

It’s a sentiment endorsed by the industry in the rest of the province. The ILMA has taken the issue to heart and it’s working toward making suitable fibre available to its member companies on a consistent and affordable basis.

One of the ways the association aims to achieve its goals is by starting with the fundamentals. To that end it is working on a new strategic plan designed to drive the membership’s goals forward. “It’s still in draft form,” emphasized Rasmussen, whose earlier career in the provincial ministry of forests saw him rise to deputy minister level, and included considerable time spent in B.C.’s southeast.

“We believe that B.C.’s independent and community-based forest product companies should have access to the fibre they need to operate, support local communities and contribute to the diversity of the forest industry in B.C.,” he outlined.

The ILMA’s draft strategic plan contains four basic principles focusing on:

• ILMA’s members securing the resources they need to continue operating i.e. suitable log fibre at affordable prices in adequate volumes, species and qualities;

• The ILMA membership working with First Nations for mutual benefit;

• Ensuring the ILMA communicates effectively with the public and other agencies;

• Ensuring the ILMA is a strong, effective and growing organization.

Other objectives for the association’s membership expand on those principles.

“The ILMA believes forests must be managed sustainably to provide economic, environmental and social benefits and to increase ecosystem resilience to catastrophic events such as flood, drought and wildfire,” continued Rasmussen.

The association recommends fair and equitable access to the land base is necessary to support forest industry diversity. Further, fair stumpage prices and competitive market pricing is required to level the playing field for all forest industry participants.

“Processing of B.C. timber must be done in B.C. to maximize benefits and value for the people of B.C.,” declared Rasmussen.

“The public deserves accurate information about how forests are managed and the value that ILMA members provide.”

Rasmussen added the ILMA’s voice to the establishment and protection of a working forest land base in B.C.  “Yes, recognizing timber harvesting as a necessary and useful tool on B.C.’s landscape is important,” reckons Rasmussen. “The concept of forest landscape plans driving operational outcomes should help establish ‘the working forest’ in the diverse regions of B.C. The dynamic and non-static nature of B.C.’s forests requires flexibility over time, so using forest management as an important tool across the landscape to maintain and enhance the full suite of values that B.C.’s forests provide is critical to success. Preservation does not appear to be the answer.”

The quest for a consistent supply of affordable and adequate timber for ILMA member mills in the meantime includes more familiar potential sources. These include regional community forests, private land and the B.C. Timber Sales program (BCTS).

“These sources of fibre are very important to ILMA members,” emphasized Rasmussen. “The BCTS program is particularly important to the ILMA as a potential fibre source in terms of the volume that should be made available to an open market.”

Improvements to the BCTS program delivery system would clearly be beneficial during a time of wood supply crunch. “The ILMA is interested in supporting the BCTS to achieve its goals and we continue to advocate for continuous improvement of the BCTS program.”

Rasmussen said that while the ILMA continues working toward expanding its membership base throughout the region and beyond, some aspects will remain unaltered. The ILMA will continue to be a solution-based organization founded on the principles of working together. That’s just the way the province’s southeast region goes about its business.

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