Western completes sale of ownership interest

The Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and K’ómoks First Nations and Western Forest Products Inc. have completed the previously announced agreement for the Nations to acquire a 34 percent interest from Western in a newly formed Limited Partnership. The parties also announced the new name for the Partnership, which will be known as La-kwa sa muqw Forestry (pronounced la-KWAH-sa-mook) going forward. The name means ‘the wood of four’ in the Kwak’wala language.

La-kwa sa muqw Forestry consists of certain assets and liabilities of Western’s Mid Island Forest Operation, including the newly established Tree Farm Licence 64. The operations of the new Partnership cover approximately 157,000 hectares of forest land in the traditional territories of the Nations near the communities of Campbell River and Sayward on eastern Vancouver Island. The Partnership will manage an allowable annual cut of 904,540 cubic metres of timber and includes a long-term fibre agreement to support western’s British Columbia coastal manufacturing operations.

An event with the participating Nations, provincial, and municipal government leaders, and Western representatives will be held in Campbell River on April 5 to celebrate this landmark transaction.