Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Quest Wood sawmill permanently closing: Tolko Industries Ltd.

Close to 150 employees will be impacted in Quesnel
location-quesnel3321321
The Quesnel Tolko sawmill is permanently closing. (via Tolko)

Tolko Industries Ltd. is making cuts due to what they say is not enough economic fibre. 

The company announced yesterday (May 10) they will be closing the Quest Wood sawmill in Quesnel permanently while also making cuts to shifts in Kelowna. 

“Unfortunately, we do not have enough economic fibre to keep all of our British Columbia mills running efficiently and productively. We knew that AAC reductions were coming in British Columbia due to the devastation caused by the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic," Brad Thorlakson, President and CEO says in a news release. "The curtailments announced today are sooner than anticipated due to uneconomic log costs, weak lumber markets, and the catastrophic impacts of wildfires.”

The CEO added he understood it will be a tough situation for many and had their HR department on-site to provide support to employees at both mills. 

“This is a business decision and does not reflect on the commitment or work of our employees at these two operations," Thorlakson adds. "They have made significant contributions to Tolko over many years, and we are grateful for their efforts.”

The company says they will do everything they can to provide opportunities at other Tolko divisions to help minimize the impact on employees as well as their families. 

The Quesnel closure process will begin on Aug. 22 with close to 150 employees being impacted. 

Changes at the two mills will eliminate 250 million board feet from the B.C. production.