Community and Sustainability
Community
Sinclar recognizes the role a strong community plays in growing a sustainable business. Our growth will not come at the expense of a healthy community. That's why we are constantly seeking ways to develop capacity for health, education and youth initiatives as well as support services for seniors in order to enhance the quality of life for our neighbours and our environment.
We take great pride in the relationships we have developed with worthwhile initiatives such as the Northern Medical Program, which addresses the chronic shortage of qualified physicians and health practitioners in BC's northern communities.
The Prince George Community Foundation has been making a difference in the lives of its citizens since 1995 by making significant donations to organizations supporting health, sport, recreation, education, arts, culture, social services and environment and we're delighted to be a supporter of their worthwhile work.
Aboriginal Relationships
We are proud of the strong relationship we have forged with First Nations in our operating areas. Tl'loh Forest Products Ltd. is a partnership between Apollo Forest Products and the Nak'azdli First Nation in Fort St. James, BC. The mill opened for business in 1995 and is a manufacturer of high-quality finger joint studs using the trim blocks from Sinclar's primary mills and other dimension mills in the region.
The board of directors includes two Nak'azdli members and two owners from Apollo Forest Products, Bill Stewart and Lisa Allen, and is a significant employer of the area's First Nations. Decisions are made with the health and sustainability of the community in mind and management is constantly seeking means to build capacity for the community.
In the Vanderhoof area, L&M Lumber Ltd., Nechako Lumber Ltd. and Premium Pellet Ltd. have developed mutually beneficial relationships based on understanding and respect with the people of the Saik'uz First Nation. We are proud to have the Saik'uz represented as one of our three primary contractors. We have helped Saik'uz develop operational and commercial capacity. And we have a number of band members working at our mills, pellet plant and in our silviculture operations.
Sustainability
The Sinclar Group understands that careful management of natural resources promotes both a healthy environment and a vital and sustainable business.
We are pleased to be aligned with organizations that share our values and foster sound forest stewardship throughout the industry.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
We're proud to be a part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a voluntary third-party forest certification program that began in the 1990s in response to market concerns about forest management and illegal logging. While this program was prompted by alarming practices in developing countries, its value is widely recognized in North America and around the world as a measure of sound forest practices and we're dedicated to its principles.
The SFI 2010-2014 Standard is based on principles and measures that promote sustainable forest management and consider all forest values, including unique fibre sourcing requirements to promote responsible forest management on all forest lands in North America.
Northern Bioenergy Partnership
Greg Stewart, President, is proud to be a member of the Steering Committee for the Northern Bioenergy Partnership, a bioenergy "centre of excellence" for the Province of BC. Its mandate is to communicate, coordinate and catalyze the growth of the forest-based bioenergy sector. The organization measures its success in terms of job creation, investment and the region's contribution to climate change objectives through the sustainable use of forest biomass to drive the deliberate growth of the bioenergy industry in Northern BC.
BC Hydro - 2010 Power Smart Leader
The Sinclar Group entered into a partnership with the Power Smart team at BC Hydro knowing that energy consumption constituted a significant financial risk to the organization as a whole. Energy also presents strong business opportunities, given the growth of bioenergy and the chance to use some of the wood by-products from our mills while at the same time offsetting climate impacts.
Over a nine-month period, Sinclar developed a Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP), hired an energy manager, identified internal energy champions, and conducted a baseline Energy Management Assessment (EMA) using BC Hydro's One-2-Five Energy Diagnostic. The full process from developing the SEMP to conducting an EMA was facilitated and financially supported by BC Hydro's Industrial Power Smart Partner program and it has already reaped considerable rewards. Through various initiatives, including the identification and elimination of air leaks, mill heat systems and general employee awareness, the organization has been able to reduce its electricity consumption by over 15% in just over a year.
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