File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Forestry Woes

West Fraser announces permanent closure of 100 Mile House mill

Nov 6, 2025 | 4:43 PM

100 MILE HOUSE, B.C. — West Fraser Timber has announced the permanent closure of its mill in 100 Mile House, a catastrophic blow to the community’s economy.

In a news release posted to its website Thursday (Nov. 6), the company says the closure will take effect by the end of the calendar year “following an orderly wind-down.”

West Fraser is also closing mills in Georgia, Arkansas and Florida. The latter two mills had been on indefinite curtailment since 2024.

The company says the decisions are “the result of timber supply challenges and soft lumber markets.” In reference to the 100 Mile House closure specifically, West Fraser says several factors conspired to doom the operation.

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“The 100 Mile House lumber mill is no longer able to reliably access an adequate volume of economically viable timber,” said the news release. “Challenging softwood lumber demand, higher duties and additional tariffs have compounded this situation.”

The closure in 100 Mile House will throw 165 people out of work.

“West Fraser expects to mitigate the impact on affected employees by providing work opportunities at other company operations, where available,” said the release. The nearest West Fraser operation to 100 Mile House is in Williams Lake.

“The closure of these mills better positions West Fraser to compete in this challenging environment.”

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, in a social media post, said the closure would be “devastating for the South Cariboo.”

B.C. Forest Minister Ravi Parmar, who is set to embark on a seven-day trade mission to Asia this weekend, said he’s “heartbroken over the decision” and that he “can’t imagine the fear and anger that forestry workers and their families in 100 Mile House must be feeling.”

Parmar said he has spoken directly to West Fraser and that he has assurances from the company that it will look after its employees and try to find them work at other operations across the Cariboo.

“I have spoken with Mayor [Maureen] Pinkney and representatives of the United Steelworkers, and shared our government’s commitment to support their community and workers,” Parmar said.

“And let’s be clear, this closure is another consequence of Donald Trump’s unfair attack on Canada’s forestry sector.”

Parmar also said the closure is a “stark reminder” to the federal government that it needs to live up to its commitment to people in B.C., so that the province “receives its fair share of forestry support dollars.”

– With files from Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today