Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. will temporarily reduce manufacturing output at its sawmill operations in Vanderhoof, Fort St. James and Prince George.
Beginning April 25, all three operations will move from a five-day to a four-day work week. Sinclar will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.
“We’ve held off making this decision as long as possible,” said Sinclar President Greg Stewart, in a news release. “But like most companies in B.C., we’re facing increasing uncertainty of fibre supply, while at the same time experiencing challenges moving lumber due to supply chain bottlenecks.”
The capacity reductions will impact Sinclar’s sawmill operations at Lakeland Mills in Prince George, Nechako Lumber in Vanderhoof, and Apollo Forest Products in Fort St. James. The Premium Pellet and Winton Homes operations will continue to run, as will the Prince George Downtown Renewable Energy System.
“As a third-generation, family-run company, operating in the Central Interior, the decision we’ve had to make today was incredibly hard,” said Stewart. “Everyone who works for our company lives and works in these communities, and we are determined to get through this difficult period, and emerge stronger and more resilient.”
Sinclar Group Forest Products operates three primary mills (sawmills and planer mills) and two secondary (value-added) mills in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Sinclar operations include Apollo Forest Products (Fort St. James), Nechako Lumber Co. (Vanderhoof), Lakeland Mills (Prince George), Winton Homes & Cottages (Prince George) and Premium Pellet (Vanderhoof).