West Fraser

At West Fraser, we believe we have a responsibility to the communities where we operate. In the spirit of the season, many of our teams are actively giving back to help ensure a brighter holiday season for all. Happy Holidays from all of us at West Fraser.

West Fraser is proud to participate in the New York Stock Exchange’s (NYSE) Global Giving Campaign to spotlight the impactful work of Girls Inc. Over 200 listed companies participate in the annual event, which raises awareness for a variety of organizations that work to improve lives and social well-being. At West Fraser, we know first-hand from employees who participated in Girls Inc. in their youth just how impactful this organization is in inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Our ongoing investment in Girls Inc. – which started with support for the Memphis, Tennessee Affiliate and has expanded to the National office and other areas of the U.S. south – represents an investment in the communities where we operate and our workforce of tomorrow. Pictured is the Girls Inc. ornament hanging at the New York Stock Exchange for their 101st annual tree lighting as part of the Global Giving Campaign. #NYSETreeLighting

West Fraser is proud of our Joanna OSB mill team, who saved one of their colleagues experiencing a medical incident by quickly using their CPR training and a strategically placed AED.   Their story serves as a testament to the strength of West Fraser’s safety culture. “We don’t just train our employees for compliance. We train them because we believe in the value of every single life,” explained Joshua Harris, EHS Manager at Joanna. “By investing in CPR and first aid training, we’re not just creating a safer workplace—we’re empowering our employees to take life-saving actions in moments that truly count.”    Listen to our team’s story in the National Safety Council, Southeastern Chapter’s video First Aid Case Study: West Fraser’s Commitment to Safety Saves a Life.

Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, we are pleased to provide lumber to McNally High School for students in grades 10-12 as they develop carpentry skills and gain experience in building with wood through a variety of projects.   And this lumber keeps giving—the sheds, fence panels and playhouses made by the students will be sold at Habitat ReStore early in 2025, with proceeds to be reinvested into Habitat Edmonton, helping to create positive change for people across northern Alberta.   We look forward to seeing what the students make and thank them for their projects, which will have a positive impact in the community.  

West Fraser values investing in the next generation of forest workers. We are proud to have contributed new modular units through the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta for the NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) Forest Technology camp. The camp provides a five-week home for students completing the field component of their training in a rich, biodiverse environment.  The modern units replace rustic buildings from the 1970s and 1980s. They better reflect today's industry and provide students with temperature-controlled private living quarters, classrooms as well as a building to store and prepare food.  “We were pleased to make this gift to NAIT,” said Richard Briand, West Fraser’s Chief Forester, Alberta. “The graduates from this program are well trained. They come into our sites and are ready to work on day one. They have lots of background in a variety of subjects that all pertain to the type of work that we do. And the field component is an integral part of the experience of the program here at NAIT.” 

Across the U.S., today is #RuralHealthDay. As a company that operates primarily in rural communities, West Fraser is pleased to support Mental Health America (MHA) in raising the importance of addressing rural mental health. We have partnered to create MHA’s Rural Health Mental Health Resource Hub, a space to raise awareness, break down stigma, and provide resources to support the mental well-being of those living in rural communities.   Together, we’re committed to ensuring everyone, no matter where they live, has access to the mental health care they deserve. mhanational.org/rural

West Fraser was recently honoured for National Philanthropy Day by STARS, a critical care transportation service for patients in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Western Canada. The award celebrates the achievements of those who support communities in Edmonton and Northern Alberta, making a difference through charitable giving. Our commitment to the health and safety of our communities is reflected in our ongoing funding and support to STARS. One example was partnering together this past spring by facilitating landing zone training for local firefighters at our Grande Prairie mill, helping enhance emergency response for the many surrounding communities those firefighters serve. “For 20 years, West Fraser has proudly supported STARS as part of our dedication to the health and safety of the rural communities we serve. We deeply appreciate the STARS team for their lifesaving work and their daily efforts to improve health outcomes – you truly are heroes,” Keith Carter, Senior Vice-President Western Canada, West Fraser. Pictured are Keith Carter, Senior Vice-President Western Canada, West Fraser (left), Linda Dalgetty, Chief Financial Officer, STARS and Arnold Fiselier, Regional Manager, Southern Alberta, West Fraser.

We are proud to announce that West Fraser has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the twelfth consecutive time. Now in its 25th year, the project is a national competition presented by Mediacorp Canada. This recognition reflects our commitment to excellence, innovation and employee well-being. Thank you to our incredible team for making this possible. Visit WestFraser.com/careers to find a rewarding career path in the forest products industry.

A recent initiative at our Bemidji, Minnesota, OSB mill is putting a spotlight on how our commitment to the environment and biodiversity goes beyond forest ecosystems and extends to the other types of lands we operate on.    Bemidji OSB has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to provide access to a pond on the mill’s site that is ideal for rearing muskellunge (muskie)—a native fish species with low population numbers. The muskie frys that the DNR stocked in the pond this summer are now juveniles. Our team members are helping support the DNR as they work to transport the muskies to a larger lake this fall, where they will continue to grow and thrive.    This project demonstrates West Fraser’s commitment to working with partners to make a positive impact on our communities and the environment. 

On November 11, West Fraser is observing Remembrance Day in Canada, Veterans Day in the U.S. and Armistice Day in the U.K. On this day, we pause in remembrance and gratitude for all those who have served, and continue to serve, our nations during times of war, conflict and peace.