Brink submits bid to buy Canfor sawmills in Fort St. John, elsewhere

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Brink Forest Products has submitted its bid to purchase the Fort St. John sawmill away from Canfor.

Brink submitted the addendum on September 24th after sending a Letter of Intent to Canfor on September 9th. 

The bid would also see Brink acquire Canfor’s sawmills in Vanderhoof, Houston, and Bear Lake.

“This acquisition is essential for Brink and the communities we’ve served for 50 years,” said John A. Brink, CEO and Founder of Brink Forest Products. 

“Canfor has been a strategic partner for over 30 years, and their sawmills are vital to the survival of our operations. With their impending exit from northern B.C., we had to make a bold move or risk losing thousands of jobs that depend on this supply chain.”

Canfor announced its intent to close the mill on September 4th. Closing its Fort St. John mill is expected to impact more than 200 direct jobs in the community.

According to Brink, the closure would put the company in a “precarious position” as it would significantly impact its ability to source lumber.

He also says his company has worked to maintain a relationship with communities in northeast BC over the last fifty years and is in contact with community leaders, First Nations, and the United Steelworkers union to discuss other possible job creation opportunities.

“This is not just about saving Brink Forest Products—it’s about preserving the livelihoods of thousands of families in Northern B.C.,” Brink said. 

“We are committed to staying here, investing here, and ensuring that these communities continue to thrive. I’ve been here for 50 years, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Brink currently has operations in Prince George, Vanderhoof, and Houston. According to its press release, it hopes to restore “more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region” through the sawmill acquisitions.