Each year the Minister of Forests recognizes woodlot licensees in three different regions in the province, Northern Interior, Southern Interior, and the Coast as well as an overall provincial winner with an Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management.

The award program was introduced at the AGM in Quesnel, September 2010 with Pat Bell, Minister FLNRORD. The inaugural recipients were Alex Hartford (Coast region),  Anne Davidson (Northern Interior region) and Rod Blake (Southern Interior region) in recognition of the “true legacies” these licensees created in woodlot management.

2023 Recipient

This year the Province is recognizing one woodlot licensee for the Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management:

Jonathan Henry Seinen, Houston (Government of BC)

2022 Recipients

Minister’s Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management:

The Carter family, C&H Forest Products for the Coast region and Overall Province (Government of BC)

Del Williams and Mike Cummings, McPherson Woodlot Company for the South region (Government of BC)

Cliff Manning, Guyishton Woodlot Co for the North region (Government of BC)

2021 Recipients

Refer to News

2020 Recipients

Minister’s Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management (2020):

Sahlstrom family for the Southern Interior and Overall Provincial Award (Government of BC)

Ben Wilson – Northern Interior recipient (Government of BC)

BCIT Forest Society – Coast recipient (Government of BC)

2019 Recipients

Adamson family for the Northern Interior and Overall Provincial Award (Government of BC)

Son Ranch Timber Co. (Freer family) for the Southern Interior (Government of BC)

Griessel family for the Coast (Government of BC)

2018 Recipients

The Province is recognizing three woodlot licensees for innovation and excellence in woodlot management. This year’s recipients include:

Lumby – Charles Bloom Secondary School for the South area and Overall Provincial Award (Government of BC)

Moberley Lake – Saulteau First Nations for the North (Government of BC)

Port Alberni – Todd Thompson and Joan Thompson for the Coast (Government of BC)

2017 Recipients

October 2, 2017

B.C. woodlot licensees receive minister’s awards (Government of BC)

VICTORIA – The Province is recognizing three woodlot licensees for innovation and excellence in woodlot management.

Craig and Leanna Mann, managers of Woodlot 1595; R. & K. Woodlot Ltd. and managed by Keith Granbois and Ridley Wilson; and the Omineca Ski Club, managed by Sean Broadworth, RPF; have each been presented with the Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management for the north, coast and south areas, respectively. The Manns were also presented with a second award – the provincial Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management.

2016 Recipients

October 3, 2016

Prince George-based Big Bull Enterprises Ltd. has earned awards from the provincial government for innovation and excellence in woodlot management. (PG Citizen, Prince George)

Big Bull owners Brian Harding and Darcy Nygaard were presented with $5,000 during the BC Woodlot Associations’ annual general meeting held in Prince George last week – $2,500 each for winning the Northern Interior award and the provincial Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management.

October 1, 2016

Exemplary Woodlots receive minister’s awards (Government of BC)

PRINCE GEORGE – The Province is recognizing three woodlot operators for innovation and excellence in woodlot management.

Big Bull Enterprises, owned by Brian Harding and Darcy Nygaard, the Hupačasath First Nation and Bob and Dan Davidson have each been presented with the Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management for the north, coast and south areas, respectively. Big Bull Enterprises has also been presented with the provincial Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management.

2015 Recipients

October 3, 2015

Powell River Fuller brothers receive provincial woodlot honours (Government of BC)

WEST KELOWNA – The Province is recognizing Ron and Doug Fuller for innovation and excellence in woodlot management, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today. The Fullers received a total of $5,000 for two of the Minister’s Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management: one for the Coast area and another for the Province overall. The brothers operate two woodlots with a combined area of 1,230 hectares near Hammil Lake, just east of Powell River.

Kelowna’s Ernie Day earns provincial woodlot award (Government of BC)

The Province is recognizing Ernie Day for innovation and excellence in woodlot management, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

2014 Recipients

September 20, 2014

B.C. recognizes woodlot innovation and excellence (Government of BC)

Four British Columbians, who run small, community-based forestry operations, have been recognized by Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson with awards for innovation and excellence in woodlot management.

2013 Recipients

September 24, 2013

Big Lake Woodlot Operator Earns Top Honors (Government of BC)

Rodney Krimmer, who operates a woodlot in Big Lake, received the top award from Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson at the 2013 Federation of B.C. Woodlot Associations’ Annual Conference last night.

September 21, 2013

Province honours Fort St. James woodlot operators for their work in BC’s Northern Interior.

John and Joyce Helweg, who operate a woodlot near Fort St. James, were recognized by Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson as part of the 2013 Woodlot Management Awards.

September 21, 2013

Province honours Nanaimo woodlot operators for their forest management in the Coast Area.

VICTORIA – John Gregson and Dave Gregson, who operate a woodlot near Nanaimo, were recognized by Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson as part of 2013 Woodlot Management Awards.
Image credit: CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin

2012 Recipients

August 1, 2012

Boundary woodlot manager recognized for dedication (Province of BC)

Woodlot licensee George Dore – the best in the province this year – is also the Southern Interior regional award winner of the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management.

May 22, 2012

Vanderhoof Woodlot Licensee Recognized for Achievements (Province of BC)

Woodlot licensee Mark Churchill is the Northern Interior’s award winner of this year’s Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management, Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad announced today, on behalf of Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson. Mark Churchill has managed a woodlot in Vanderhoof since 1998. He is known for his focus on reforestation and dedication to ensure wood waste is utilized by stock-piling fibre to supply new bio-energy operations.

May 4, 2012

Coast Woodlot Managers Win Award of Excellence (Province of BC)

Woodlot licensees Sid and Barb Dawson are the Coast region’s award winners of this year’s Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management, Comox Valley MLA Don McRae announced today, on behalf of Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson. Sid and Barb Dawson have managed a woodlot in the Parksville area for the past 17 years.

2011 Recipients

August 14, 2011

Boundary woodlot licensee wins award (Province of BC)

CHRISTINA LAKE – Woodlot licensee George Delisle has received the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management, Boundary-Similkameen. Delisle has managed a woodlot near Rock Creek since 1984, and is well known for educating local residents about the benefits woodlots bring to the local economy.

August 9, 2011

Northern Interior woodlot managers win award (Province of BC)

BURNS LAKE – Woodlot licensees Alistair Schroff and Earl Ingram – the best in the province this year – are recipients of the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management. Schroff and Ingram have co-managed a woodlot between Burns Lake and Francois Lake for the past 13 years. They manage their woodlot with a strong focus on site productivity, including reforesting with a variety of tree species to increase resilience to disease and climate change.

You can also read more here.

Quadra Island woodlot licensee wins award (Province of BC)

CAMPBELL RIVER – Woodlot licensee Grant Hayden is one of four recipients of the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced.

Hayden has managed a woodlot on Quadra Island since 1998, and is known for his community involvement, volunteering his time and equipment to assist with the building and maintenance of trails and other island projects. Hayden’s innovations include a special rake for excavators that helps remove brush and creates plantable spots. Hayden has also managed to protect new western red cedar and Douglas fir seedlings from deer.