The Honourable Candice Bergen, Retired Canadian Senator Percy Mockler, and Chief Paul Gladu Receive the 2024 Jim Carr Forest Community Champion Awards

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) was pleased to present its 2024 Awards of Excellence at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa yesterday, with The Honourable Candice Bergen, retired Canadian Senator Percy Mockler, and Chief Paul Gladu being awarded the 2024 Jim Carr Forest Community Champion Award.

This esteemed award is named in honour of the late Jim Carr, an incredible champion of Canadian forestry and forestry workers. Minister Carr served as Canada’s Natural Resources Minister from 2015-2018 and supported the sector through 2019 as Minister of International Trade Diversification. The award recognizes individuals who have showcased exceptional dedication to their communities and have contributed to advancing the environmental, social, and economic benefits of the forest sector in Canada.

"We are pleased to recognize The Honourable Candice Bergen, recently retired Senator Percy Mockler, and Chief Paul Gladu with the 2024 Jim Carr Forest Community Champion Award,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “Over the past many years, these leaders have each demonstrated remarkable commitment to both their communities and the needs of forestry workers across the country,” added Nighbor.

The Honourable Candice Bergen

Long-time MP for Portage-Lisgar, Manitoba and Former Interim Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

Candice Bergen has had a distinguished career, first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and serving as Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition after the 2021 election. Throughout her career, she has been a proud advocate for Canada's natural resources and rural way of life.

As long as she was an MP, Candice was always ready to work across the aisle to support forestry workers. In post-elected life she continues to be a champion of workers and families in rural and northern Canada, unabashedly speaking to the need for Ottawa decision-makers to focus more on economic growth in smaller communities.

"It is a tremendous honour to be named one of the 2024 Jim Carr Forest Community Champion Award winners and I want to thank the Forest Products Association of Canada for this award," said Bergen. "Over the course of my political career, it was a privilege to work for Canadians from coast to coast and see the important work they were doing to help make our country a better place. This was especially true in our rural and remote communities, where our forestry sector is often the key driver of economic growth," Bergen added.

The Honourable Percy Mockler

Retired Canadian Senator for New Brunswick

Appointed to the Senate by the Right Honourable Stephen Harper in December 2008, Senator Percy Mockler represented New Brunswick and has long been a steadfast advocate for New Brunswick forestry workers and Canada's forest sector.

His work on the Senate Standing Committee on Energy and the Senate Standing Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources always included a focus on forestry workers and the importance of strengthening the forest sector in New Brunswick and beyond.

Senator Mockler is highly respected by the team and members at FPAC. Over the years, he was always quick with a phone call to learn more about an issue or to see how he could help. He’s a proud New Brunswicker and in his many years in Ottawa he never forgot where he came from or who he was here to represent.

"It is with great appreciation that I accept this award from the Forest Products Association of Canada. Forestry and agriculture have been at the heart of my work for decades and I’m proud to help represent the people and communities these sectors support,” said Mockler. “Canada’s forests are a shared resource and it’s essential that everyone – from Indigenous leaders to recreational users, to academic and research institutions and local communities – are at the table and part of the conversation. As we face wildfire risks and increasing demand for sustainable building materials and innovative products, collaborative and science-based decision making will be key to improving forest management and securing a sustainable future now and for generations to come,” added Mockler.

Chief Paul Gladu

Chief of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sandpoint First Nation)

Chief Paul Gladu of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sandpoint First Nation) has been a leader in his community for decades, with a career rooted in forestry and community development. His work in establishing the Papasay Sawmill and managing the Lake Nipigon Forest has had a lasting impact on his community and the surrounding region.

Chief Gladu’s efforts are well known to have increased opportunity for people in his community. But the effects of his commitment and hard work have also benefited Northwestern Ontario more broadly, where the forest sector is a critical lifeline for many Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

“I am thrilled to be receiving this award from the FPAC Awards of Excellence Program," said Chief Gladu. "Forestry has been incredibly important throughout my career, where I worked in the bush for Abitibi for 36 years, and as Chief of BNA I have championed forestry initiatives to the benefit of our First Nation, and of First Nations throughout the region," Chief Gladu added.

Chief Gladu continued, “These include moving forward with the development of our Sawmill, as well as working with our neighbouring communities in the management of the Lake Nipigon Forest, ensuring employment for our people and revenue generation for our First Nation. I would again like to thank FPAC for this award and recognition.”

FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $97B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 200,000 direct jobs, and over 370,000 indirect jobs across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities, and our environment for the long term.