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Quesnel Industry

Quesnel's economy is driven by the forest industry, which is represented by two major pulp mills, five large sawmills, a plywood plant, an MDF plant and several smaller value-added manufacturing operations, and directly employs more than 3,000 people. The City's main industrial area (see map), in which most of the mills are located, is the most concentrated wood products manufacturing area in North America. Quesnel's standing as one of CN Rail's highest volume loading points in the province illustrates clearly the significance of the forest industry to the City.

This page profiles Quesnel's major forestry mills. Contact numbers and, where available, company websites are listed for further information.

West Fraser Mills Ltd.

The Quesnel Sawmill Division is where West Fraser Mills started operations in 1955. Today this mill is being rebuilt into a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, with the construction of corporate offices also well underway. West Fraser's holdings in Quesnel include three lumber mills, two pulp and paper plants, one plywood plant and one MDF plant. For more information, contact (250) 991-7100 or visit www.westfraser.com online.

Tolko Industries Ltd.

Founded in 1961, Tolko Industries Ltd. is a privately owned forest products company employing more than 2,300 people. Tolko has ten manufacturing divisions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and produces lumber, specialty kraft paper and engineered wood products which are sold to world markets. Sales in 2002 reached $896 million: 61% sales to United States markets, 31% Canadian and 8% export. In 2002, the company shipped more than one billion equivalent board feet of lumber and engineered wood products and 158 metric tonnes of specialty kraft paper. The company's corporate office is located in Vernon, BC and you can view their web site at www.tolko.com

Quesnel River Pulp Company (West Fraser Timber)

Quesnel River Pulp Company, completed in 1981, is a bleached chemi thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP) mill. It is a joint venture of Daishowa Canada Company Ltd. and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., and was the first market pulp mill in Canada using the thermo-mechanical process. QRP employs approximately 150 people and produces in excess of 700 tonnes per day. For further information, contact by telephone (250) 992-8919 or by fax (250) 992-2612. Web site: www.westfraser.com

WestPine MDF (West Fraser Timber)

WestPine MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) opened in July 1996. This plant is designed to produce 100 million sq. ft. of Western Softwood MDF from locally-sourced raw material. For further information, contact (250) 991-7100 or fax (250) 991-7115. Web site: www.westfraser.com

Canfor

Canfor's mill in Quesnel, Canadian Forest Products Ltd, located at 1920 Brownmiller Rd, produces dimension lumber, studs and specialty items to the tune of some 400,000 MFBM per year. For more information, contact 992-5581 or visit their website at www.canfor.ca

Cariboo Pulp & Paper

Cariboo Pulp & Paper Company opened November 1972 and employs approximately 340 people. It is a bleached kraft pulp mill jointly-owned by West Fraser Mills Limited and Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. Daishowa exports 50% of the pulp produced to markets in Japan, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, while Weldwood ships to North America and Europe. Telephone (250) 992-0200 or e-mail address: bob_norman@cariboopulp.com

C & C Wood Products Ltd.

C & C Wood Products Ltd. has been in operation since 1977. The mill and remanufacturing facility are located within the Quesnel City boundaries on a seven-hectare site. C & C employs 80 full-time employees on two shifts, producing lodgepole pine plank panelling. Finished products are shipped all over North America and also to markets in Europe and Asia. For further information, contact (250) 992-7471, Quesnel or (604) 731-5262, Vancouver sales office or visit their website at www.ccwoodproducts.com.