Canfor to permanently close Isle Pierre Mill

Canfor will be closing its Isle Pierre sawmill, which is located near Prince George, British Columbia. The closure will take effect in the third quarter of 2020 following an orderly wind down of operations. The closure is a result of an insufficient supply of economically viable timber following the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, coupled with the major global economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unfortunately, the ongoing economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the urgent need for Canfor to make this difficult decision,” said Don Kayne, President and CEO. “We know today’s announcement will have a significant impact on our employees, contractors, their families and the local communities, which we deeply regret. We will work hard to redeploy as many employees as possible to other opportunities throughout the company.”

Based on the current one-shift operation, Isle Pierre sawmill has an annual production capacity of approximately 120 million board feet.