Williams Lake, BC, Sawmill Post-Fire Rebuild


Work is underway at Tolko Industries’ Lakeview Division in Williams Lake, BC, where the sawmill building was damaged by fire at the beginning of November. The Tolko board has approved the sawmill’s reconstruction, said Tom Hoffman, Tolko’s manager of external and stakeholder relations to the Quesnel Observer Tuesday.

Williams Lake Sawmill Rebuild

Tolko’s manager of external and stake-holder relations, Tom Hoffman, said to the Quesnel Observer Tuesday the company is trying to keep on as many employees as possible to work at the Lakeview Division in Williams Lake, BC, site, while contractors with cranes and other skills have been hired for the rebuilding project.

United Steelworkers Union Local 2017 first vice president Paul French told the Tribune Monday that at least 100 positions have been impacted by the fire. Tolko’s Soda Creek Division is planning to put on an extra shift next week, which will give some more people work, French said, but noted to the Tribune that Quesnel isn’t in a position to fire up an extra shift at this point.