This week, more than 600 industry, government, First Nations, and community leaders will gather to explore the issues and opportunities facing B.C.’s forest industry at the 2026 COFI Convention in Vancouver, one of the largest yearly gatherings of the forest sector in Western Canada.
Guided by the theme “Forestry is a Solution,” the convention will explore how, through practical solutions such as enhanced access to timber supply, regulatory reform, changes to B.C. Timber Sales and greater support for First Nations partnerships, forestry has the potential to help address some of B.C.’s most important issues, such as housing, climate action, reconciliation and economic growth.
Among the convention’s speakers will be:
- Honourable David Eby, Premier, Province of British Columbia
- Honourable Ravi Parmar, BC Minister of Forests
- Regional Chief Terry Teegee, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
- Trevor Halford, Interim Leader of the Official Opposition, Conservative Party of British Columbia
- Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
- Susan Yurkovich, President & CEO, Canfor
- Steven Hofer, President & CEO, Western Forest Products
- Sean McLaren, President & CEO, West Fraser
- John Mohammed, President & Owner, A&A Trading Ltd.
- Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, COFI
- Bruce Anderson, Chief Strategy Officer/Partner, Spark Advocacy
- Bryan Yu, AVP & Chief Economist, Central 1 Credit Union
