Reflecting on my internship with Canfor, I characterized my experience as a learning one. Entering the forest industry was not something I had anticipated doing nor was it a field I knew anything about. I’d like to think that after many months working in the industry, I’ve learnt a few things. As a result, I have pulled together five facts about the forest industry and Canfor that I have learned since the beginning of my internship.
Did you know that we create many products?
The timber and associated residuals from Canfor’s sawmills and pulp and paper mills are used to create products we use daily. Canfor’s dimensional lumber is used to construct homes and commercial buildings. The company’s forest products are also used for wall paneling, outdoor decking and fencing, and access mats for industrial roads. Our pulp and paper products are used in manufacturing paper towels, yogurt containers, electrical tape and industrial grade paper packaging. There are a wide variety of unique applications of wood products. For example, our partners in Sweden, Vida, offers animal bedding which comes from spruce trees from their Swedish forests which are ideal for performance horses and horses with respiratory problems. I was also proud to learn about how Canfor sells a range of residual products such as sawdust, shavings, wood chips and pellets from all our operations.
Did you know that trees can produce biofuel?
In BC, the forest industry strives to utilize a majority of the harvested logs. For the most part, half the log will be turned into high-quality lumber used in construction. One -third will become residual wood chips, used in the creation of pulp, paper, panels or pellets. The remaining sawdust, shavings and bark can be repurposed as biofuel to generate electricity in the manufacturing process. This biocrude oil is derived from renewable, organic waste materials, meaning it has a significantly lower carbon intensity than fossil fuels.
Did you know that Canfor’s name stands for Canadian Forest?
In 1947 the two owners purchased a small firm called Canadian Forest Products Limited. The name struck a chord with founders John Prentice and Poldi Bentli and so they reorganized all their operations under that name. The name Canfor is a combination of the first three letters of Canadian Forest. Although the company started with Canadian roots, today Canfor is a global corporation with operations in the US South and in Sweden.
Did you know that for every tree harvested, 3 seedlings are planted?
At Canfor, every year we plant on average 50 million seedlings to replace the trees we harvest. Over the last 20 years, the company has planted more than one billion trees. In fact, Canfor has its own nursery in Prince George called the J.D Little Forest Centre. Commitments like these ensure we keep forests healthy and maintain our reforestation efforts.
Did you know that the forest industry has some of the best people?
This is certainly a biased perspective from my amazing experience. However, if my experience can prove anything it’s that considering an internship in a field you wouldn't expect can lead to great things. When I started at Canfor, I never anticipated getting to meet such great coworkers. The forest industry is filled with knowledgeable experts and people passionate about sustainable wood products manufacturing. Being surrounded by great colleagues makes it easy to learn. I am extremely lucky to have done an internship with Canfor and would highly recommend students to consider an internship in forestry.
