The Resolute Forest Product's sawmill in Thunder Bay marked 10 years in operation.
The Montreal-based forestry giant said it's a “unique business venture” based on the collaboration between the company and the Fort William First Nation.
With an annual capacity of 300 million board feet of stud lumber, Resolute calls the Thunder Bay operation its largest and most modern in Eastern Canada.
With a workforce of 170, the company said in a news release that it has invested more than $8 million over the last two years to boost production.
Last year, the sawmill became the first operation in Canada to operate under regulations created by the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act.
This legislation enables federal reserve land to operate under provincial statutes, thereby facilitating industrial development with First Nations on their land.
The anniversary was marked in an official ceremony at the mill, May 14, attended by Fort William First Nation leadership, senior Resolute management including Resolute president and CEO Richard Garneau and local politicians.
