Business View Magazine

74 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7 harvesters; most hoping things will return to normalcy soon. For the Westville mill team, these critical factors are part of a broader shift in the forestry industry. As Hamper reports, “An unseen change that is creeping into the forestry industry is a lack of young people to take over the previous generation’s contracts, businesses, and machinery. Few of the younger generation want to get into forestry, which will create a big challenge down the road. We need more of them to accept positions in the forestry industry to ensure a smooth transition and sustained growth for everyone in the forestry ecosystem.” One bright light in this uncertain future is a forestry college student – Rebecca – who is currently interning at the Westville mill. “I decided to take the course because my dad, uncle, and grandfather work in forestry,” she shares. “I like being outdoors, learning various aspects of nature. So far in my first year, we’ve learned about tree identification, plantation However, as Hamper explains, part of the supply challenges have to do with more organic reasons. “Landowners, mostly old-timers, have a cash-first mindset, which makes it difficult for millers like us to compete with cash sellers,” he says. “So, we actively engage and educate them on our way of doing business, so they can understand what we do and how working with us can offer more benefits.” Nevertheless, Watters and Hamper are optimistic that supplies will increase as various economic factors normalize and harvesting crews resume full-scale operations. The timber industry in the province has been a mixed bag of indicators, influenced by rises in fuel costs, a resurgence in firewood buyers, and a general wait-and-see stance by

Business View Magazine | July 2022