Employees at Tolko Industries Ltd.’s Williams Lake mills were informed this week of temporary layoffs affecting operations at both the Lakeview and Soda Creek sawmills. The Lakeview mill will cease production from Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, and resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, while Soda Creek will shut down on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and restart on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, according to Victoria News.
The planer mills at both sites will continue operating as needed, alongside shipping departments to fulfill customer demands during this period. Managers conveyed the news in person to employees during shifts on Thursday and Friday.
Tolko’s communications advisor, Chris Downey, attributed the downtime to high fibre costs, adverse fall weather conditions affecting harvesting, and weak North American lumber and plywood markets. Downey also pointed to British Columbia’s policy and regulatory challenges as contributing factors, citing increased costs and restricted access to economic fibre as ongoing issues impacting Tolko’s operations in the province.
