Tolko Announces It Will Temporarily Eliminate One Shift at Its Armstrong, BC, Sawmill

“Castanet” is reporting (4-10-23) that Tolko will temporarily eliminate one shift at its Armstrong, BC, sawmill. Approximately 65 employees will be off the job for the foreseeable future, due in part to weak North American lumber markets. The company’s plywood and co-generating facilities will not be impacted.

In an interview with “Castanet,” Tolko’s Communication Advisor Chris Downey said the Armstrong division will undergo a “temporary shift reduction” in its lumber operation. “Both the planer and sawmill will be moving from two shifts to a single shift starting on April 17th.”

“This temporary shift reduction is due to the high fiber costs and weak North American lumber markets. This is not ideal, and from a people and production perspective, we would always rather be fully operational,” Downey added.

Downey did not say how long the shift reduction would last. “Castanet” notes that both the Soda Creek and Armstrong lumber divisions had just returned to work on March 6th, following being shut down since Christmas due to high log costs and weak lumber markets.