West Fraser Timber shuts down Skeena Sawmills

Vancouver, B.C.-based West Fraser Timber announced the closing of its Skeena Sawmills facility in Terrace, B.C.

“This was a very difficult decision for the company to make,” said Lou Poulin, general manager of Skeena Sawmills, “but unfortunately it has become necessary due to current market conditions.”

Poulin said that the low number of U.S. housing starts as well as the rapid rise of the Canadian dollar have played a major role in setting the conditions for the closing.

The facility employs approximately 80 hourly workers and 20 salaried staff members.

Skeena Sawmills produces about 90 million board feet of lumber annually.