TRAILSTRAILS && TALESTALES ULIC TION ULICTION OFOF TETE FOETFOET ITOYITOY OCI TIONOCITION OFOF LET LET

FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 2017 2019 ISSUEISSUE #16 #18 DON’T FORGET YOUR TEETH AND BRING IT

TH AFS OLDTIMERS 35 ANNUAL HOCKEY TOURNAMENT MARCH 8-9, 2020 ATHABASCA MULTIPLEX ATHABASCA, ALBERTA

Contact Charlene Guerin at [email protected] to register to play hockey and/or help with the tournament (volunteers and referees needed). 18 TABLE OF BERTIE BEAVER TURNS 60! CONTENTS

02 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 14 VANDERWELL CONTRACTORS CELEBRATE 75 YEARS 18 BERTIE BEAVER TURNS 60! 28 THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEVEN DAYS IN MAY 1968 48 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY 50 NORTHLAND FOREST PRODUCTS 28 PLANTS 30 MILLION SEEDLINGS 53 ALBERTA-PACIFIC FOREST THE SEVEN DAYS IN MAY 1968 INDUSTRIES CELEBRATES 25 YEARS 56 CLASS OF 1968 50TH REUNION 60 SLAVE LAKE ANTHEM 61 FOOTNER LAKE ARBORETUM TURNS 50! 63 PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS 65 EMBER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN WILDLAND FIRE SCIENCE 66 HOT OF THE PRESS: LEARNING FROM THE LANDSCAPE 69 FORESTRY DIVISION MEETING 1961 50 72 MARK YOUR CALENDAR 73 RETIREMENTS 30 MILLION SEEDLINGS PLANTED 89 OBITUARIES 94 FOREST HISTORY PHOTO CORNER

2018 MEMBERSHIP: 149 ON THE COVER: This version of Bertie Beaver (MEMBERSHIPS TRACKED ON A appeared on a number of Department of CALENDAR YEAR BASIS) Lands and Forests annual reports in the 1950s and 1960s. for current resource management management resource current for help educate that would information himself and other and influence those interested For professionals. on or guesting in talking to Matthew is his podcast, the easiest contact at [email protected]. Dan Wilkinson was unable to so Bruce the last minute, it at make of an overview provided Mayer Institute of the 2018 Canadian to be national conference Forestry September Prairie, held in Grande the 18 to 20, 2018, hosted by Section. Dan is Mountain Rocky Renton is chair; Jeff the program The theme the agenda. organizing is Sustaining the conference for and Enhancing Resources Looking Back and Communities, The intent is to Going Forward. learnings and incorporate recognize forward move the past as we from and land management. in forest indicated that he Mayer Bruce 1 President Peter Murphy was unable Peter President flu, to attend due to an ongoing some quick thoughts. but provided that the commented Peter and there was growing, organization on than he had going was more thankful He was envisioned. ever to all those who made the effort for attendees for attend and thanked display doing their best to capture, forest and educate with Alberta’s on to went Mayer Bruce history. whom thank the attendees, many of and a long distance, had travelled not were conditions road recognized and 63. 43 the best on Highway’s Bob Newstead also thanked Bruce and in reviewing his support for content. newsletter editing draft forester, Second-generation an provided Kristoff Matthew podcast Forest the Your of overview a it essentially Calling he created. created Matthew online, show radio the podcast after finding a gap

TH

Bruce Mayer opened the meeting opened Mayer Bruce those in of with introductions an and provided attendance the documents for of overview which included the draft review, the minutes from draft agenda, a copy 15, 2017 meeting and March financial statement. draft the of Also included on the tables was & the Trails the latest edition of in Directors the press. hot off Tales, Cliff Mayer, Bruce were attendance Yackimec, Ken Smith, Norm Denney, and Bob Newstead. Sanders Gordon were introduced Guest speakers with Vanderwell Vanderwell Ken Lane with and Paul Contractors Special thanks were Air Spray. the for Fairweather to Travis given and sound system set-up; projector Charlene Guerin and Jane Price, the Rick Harrison, who managed table; and Travis registration front taking still again for Fairweather the night. throughout photographs THE 14 ATTEND 120 MEETING HISTORY FOREST

2 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca Annual General Meeting 3

would be chairing the forest history video played at the start of the in a European forest. Background TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 session, and had Pat Wearmouth meeting. His comments recognized history is within the 2003 book, and Peter Murphy lined up as the value of urban forests, but Learning from the Forests. two of the three speakers. the development of roads and buildings tend to damage and Pieter Van Der Shoot provided a Keith McClain notified attendees destroy those same urban forests. quick summary of the Breton and of an upcoming workshop planned District Historical Society and for April 24 and 25, 2018; co- Bob Bott explained the 25-year the work they have done at their chaired by fRI Research and the history of the Foothills Model museum. In the 1920s and 1930s, Canadian Institute of Forestry Forest and subsequent fRI Research the Breton and Winfield area had a Rocky Mountain Section. The theme organization has taken on a life of large forest industry presence, with for the 2018 Forest Forum was its own, and has taken more time 3,000 to 4,000 people living and Alberta’s Forests are Under Threat: and effort than Bob Udell and he working in the area. The museum A Call to Action. The workshop will had envisioned at the start. Bob has a wealth of photographic and focus on the threats to forests, risks mentioned that each chapter will factual material, and is recognized and outline the research that the have a historical context, and the for its material celebrating Black TRIAA Network and fRI Research entire book will be a good read and settlement history in Alberta. have completed or have underway; reference document to all FHAA Pieter also talked about private and how forests contribute to AGM attendees. Bob did start by land forests, and said we should the vitality of the community. talking about the ‘bomb simulation’ not lose sight of their importance. research done in the 1960s in the In Canada, there are 450,000 to Keith also took a minute to Hinton area; where governments 500,000 landowners with forests, talk about the United Nations and military wanted to understand providing 21 per cent of Canada’s Forests and Sustainable Cities the effects of a nuclear explosion fibre supply. In the United States, there are five million landowners with forests, providing nearly 80 2 per cent of the United States fibre supply. In Europe, over ten million landowners have forested land.

There are nine directors within the association, elected on a three-year rotation; three representing government; three representing forest industry; and three representing the public. The directors provide oversight,

3 1. Bruce Mayer opening the 14th annual Forest History Association AGM

2. Matthew Kristoff with an overview of his Your Forest podcast work AlbertaForestHistory.ca

3. Keith McClain outlining the upcoming fRI Research and the Canadian Institute of Forestry Rocky Mountain Section workshop on April 24 and 25, 2018 Harrington as company founder, founder, Harrington as company fields with his farmers spraying The Stearman bi-plane aircraft. was contract initial firefighting government signed with the Alberta further in 1958, leading to with Air the years over contracts TBM Thrush Commanders, Spray’s Douglas B26’s, Canadair Avengers, the Lockheed CL-215s and finally Don Hamilton L188 Electra. Harrington with Dave partnered the becoming in 1969, eventually vision in 1972. Don’s sole owner into and ambition built Air Spray an international aerial wildfire Don passed company. suppression months 86, two of at the age away after being inducted into the Air Fame. Hall of Aviation Canadian to operations has expanded Spray the United States with its Air Tractor 802 wheeled and amphibious generation and the next aircraft BAE 146. jetengine airtanker 2 Alberta in 1910; the Vanderwell Vanderwell Alberta in 1910; the when in 1943 history began logging and his partners, Vanderwell Barney Harry Dumouchel brother-in-law Sr., Paul Mike and father-in-law the in company started the sawmill Wabamun of south area, Keephills do something to gotta “We Lake. reality …” was the support the farm and winter logging the day, of fit the bill. The and sawmilling Red north of operated Vanderwell’s Earth, near Chisholm and finally at Lake. location in Slave their current The full story will be included in the newsletter. and Tales 2019 Trails and President Vice Lane, Paul a 50+ provided Air Spray, of COO the company’s of overview year the future. for past, and prospects and his Paul During their research and Hamilton, President Lynn wife Air Spray the original found CEO, in 1954 with Dave history began 3 1 Annual General Meeting Annual General guidance and focus on the and focus guidance History the Forest of work yearly Alberta. Positions of Association election at the 2018 AGM up for position the government were the forest Yackimec, Ken held by Smith Cliff by industry position held held by and the public position Butch Shenfield Bob Newstead. prior to the meeting, resigned for replacement and a one-year was also position the government Yackimec election. Ken open for Katie McNaughton (government), (industry) Wall (public) and David with Graham acclaimed, were being elected to fill the Legaarden position. government one-year owner/operator, A third-generation a great gave Vanderwell Ken of on the 75 years presentation and sawmilling logging Vanderwell their from Starting history. to Keephills, to Canada emigration

4 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca Annual General Meeting 5 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. Bob Bott with an overview of the 4 25-year Foothills Model Forest / fRI Research history project he and Bob Udell are finalizing

2. Pieter Van Der Shoot explaining the importance of the work and collections of the Breton and District Historical Society

3. L to R: Graham Legaarden being congratulated by Rick Arthur on his election as a new FHAA director

4. Ken Vanderwell providing an overview of Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. 75 year history

5. Paul Lane with an overview of the Air Spray 50+ year history

6. Jane Price drawing names for 5 6 door prizes

7. Bruce Mayer giving Mark Freedman a door prize of the Northern Rockies Eco Tour book

7 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 7 3 6 1 2 Annual General Meeting Annual General

6 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca Annual General Meeting 7 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. FHAA 2018 Attendees

2. L to R: Lowell Lyseng and Stan Kavalinas

3. L to R: Jerry Sunderland and David Morgan

4. L to R: Terry Jessiman and Bill Bereska (Gary Davis in background)

5. L to R: Bob Young and Bob Newstead

6. L to R: John Belanger, Herb Walker and Owen Spencer (Wally Born in foreground)

7. Ken Yackimec inviting all 1983 NAIT Forest Technology graduates to a 35th anniversary gathering in September 2018

8. L to R: Robert Stronach and 4 5 Jean Lussier

2018 FHAA EXECUTIVE

Peter Murphy, President

Katie McNaughton, 8 Vice President

Bruce Mayer, Secretary Treasurer

Norm Denney, Director

Graham Legaarden, Director

Gord Sanders, Director AlbertaForestHistory.ca Rob Thorburn, Director

Ken Yackimec, Director

David Wall, Director 2 8 7 5 1 Annual General Meeting Annual General

8 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca Annual General Meeting 9 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Ken Vanderwell, 3 4 Roberta Willis and Les Zeller (Wayne Williams in the foreground)

2. Bernie Schmitte

3. L to R: Robert Stronach and Ed Trenchard

4. L to R: Jason Cottingham, Marty O’Byrne, Amy Wotton and Dale Thomas. Background: Dana Archibald

5. L to R: Ryan Good and Jane Price

6. L to R: Wally Peters and Marc Freedman 6 7. L to R: Byron Grundberg, Katie Lamoureux and Terry Jessiman

8. L to R: Michelle Shesterniak and Therese Yacyshyn

9. L to R: Sean MacNeil, Morgan Kehr and Cory Davis

9 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 9 2 6 8 5 4 1 Annual General Meeting Annual General

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 10 Annual General Meeting 11 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Fred McDougall, 3 Cliff Smith, and Bob Newstead

2. L to R: Ken Vanderwell and David Wall

3. L to R: Herb Cerezke and Byron Grundberg

4. L to R: Gerald Carlson and Gary Davis

5. L to R: Bob Young and Brian Hohner

6. L to R: Matthew Kristoff and Lowell Lyseng

7. L to R: Robert Stronach and Garry Ehrentraut 7 8. L to R: Cliff Smith and Dave Patterson

9. L to R: Marty O’Byrne and Darcy Evanochko

10. L to R: Stan Kavalinas and Kathleen (Katie) McNaughton

10 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 4 7 6 3 1 Annual General Meeting Annual General

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 12 Annual General Meeting 13 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Forrest Barrett and 2 Patrick McIlwaine

2. L to R: Bill Tinge and Wayne Johnson

3. L to R: Gordon Glover and Kevin Freehill

4. L to R: Tracy Parkinson and Bill Tinge

5. L to R: Normand Dupuis and Dalibor Houdek

6. L to R: Robert Stronach, Ed Trenchard and Kim Bauer

7. L to R: Bob Newstead and Al Benson

5 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 3

1 2 CELEBRATE 75 YEARS CELEBRATE AND CON DERMOTT BY KEN VANDERWELL CONTRACTORS (1971) LTD. (1971) CONTRACTORS VANDERWELL

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 14 Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. Celebrate 75 years 15

Initially, there were eight Vanderwell siblings, five boys and three girls. TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 They came over from Holland on the Rotterdam in 1910, with Barney the 4 4th oldest, and being born at sea. They landed in New York, travelled to be with family in Ontario, and then moved out to Keephills, Alberta where they homesteaded. In 1943, Bob Vanderwell’s father Barney, and his partners, brother-in-law Harry Dumouchel, and father-in-law Mike Paul Sr., started a sawmill operation in the Keephills area, south of Wabamun Lake. The three partners obtained a contract from Swanson Lumber Company to log and saw lumber during that winter. The main purpose of getting into the sawmill industry in the winter months was to raise money to help support the farm. The first year of operation, the sawmill produced 30,000 fbm of rough dimension lumber. As the years went by they continued to operate the sawmill during the winter months, producing lumber for Swanson. Eventually, Mike Paul Sr. thought there were easier ways to make a living, and he sold his shares to Barney and Harry. Things were not easy in those days as all logging was carried out with horses and camps were 5 very primitive, however, camp-food was one thing to look forward to, as most of the cooks were the men’s wives. In the Vanderwell camp, Margaret, Barney’s wife and Josie, Harry’s wife alternated as camp cooks. Due to illness, Harry sold his shares to Barney’s brother Dick Vanderwell, and the two brothers continued to operate the company as partners until 1961.

In 1954, 15-year-old Bob Vanderwell started working for the company. The operation had relocated from the Granada-Wildwood area, to Chisholm, south of Slave Lake; and they continued to “gypo” for the Swanson Lumber Company by logging and sawing rough lumber during the winter months. Things started to change in the forest industry as more machinery was used in the logging, and sawmill technology started to improve. In 1957, Barney and Margaret left the farm and moved to Stony Plain. Bob married 1. Vanderwell Brothers truck hauling Karen in 1959, and became a full partner of the company with his father hay bales from their Keephills farm, in 1961. However, even though the company had contracts with Swanson 1950s to produce rough lumber during the winter months, they still had to work 2. Bob Vanderwell during the summer to make ends meet, so they used their machinery, equipment and trucks to haul gravel, dig basements and do other work 3. Vanderwell trucks at their sawmill that was available in the Stony Plain area. site near Chisholm, south of Slave Lake; early 1960s

The Vanderwell company operated in an excellent stand of timber south 4. New power facility under of Slave Lake, however in 1968, a major forest fire not only destroyed construction; Slave Lake; mid 2010s the timber, but also the sawmill and logging camp which was idle during the summer months. As a result of the fire, there was too much fire killed 5. “The Blackline”, a new tandem ring de-barker and a second HewSaw timber for Swanson Lumber to utilize, and Vanderwell Contractors were were installed to address burnt awarded their own timber licence by Con Dermott, the Regional Forester at timber as a result of 1998 wildfires in Slave Lake. This was a major change and opportunity for the company; they the Slave Lake area; 1999

rebuilt the sawmill and camp, and not only did they produce their own AlbertaForestHistory.ca rough lumber, but now they sold that lumber to lumber brokers at a much higher price. Bob Vanderwell used to say, “We were selling lumber for $90 per thousand board feet, rather than $32 per thousand.”

Bob as a partner, always recognized the importance of a secure timber supply to supply the mill on a continuous basis, so in 1969 with the cash earnings from $90 lumber, the company acquired a long-term timber quota from the Alberta government in the S15 forest management unit north of Red Earth Creek. However, due to access limitations, Vanderwell limitations, Vanderwell due to access However, Creek. Earth Red north of two the next so for timber, purchased their newly was unable to utilize allowed Buchanan Lumber in High Prairie Buchanan, of Gordon winters in the S10 quota volume Buchanan’s and produce to operate Vanderwell was established at So the sawmill unit near Otter Lake. management forest in 1971, Finally, years. a couple a planer mill at Nampa for with Lake Cadotte Earth, Red north of and established 50 kilometres was moved the sawmill mill which had been moved to the planer lumber trucked with the rough the allowed This scenario Lake. Slave east of to the Mitsue Industrial Park, the in the winter months, and then move the sawmill to operate company In 1978, sale. the lumber for mill in the summer to dress to the planer crew to the same site as the planer mill at Mitsue. their sawmill moved Vanderwell Earth Creek, Red north of took place as all logging This was a major change 300 kilometres over being loaded and transported logs raw with tree-length the first one of were Contractors Vanderwell manufacturing. for Lake to Slave round. year mill operating a centralized to introduce companies long-term timber supply opportunities to look for continued Bob Vanderwell in basis. So, on a year-round the mill facility and operate to grow in order Industry’s Forest the Canadian purchased Contractors 1984 Vanderwell passed Barney That same year, area. Lake in the Chisholm/Slave operations an important marked The purchase the sale was complete. before away supply for long-term wood to acquire began as Vanderwell step forward how Knowing about this time as well. joined the company Ken its facility. the Hett also purchased Vanderwell their future, be for important it would these quotas had a of Enilda. The purchase and Sibbald quotas south of within that that all timber had to be produced condition manufacturing and the timber, ahead and purchased this, Bob still went Knowing area. Enilda. of Brothers with the Bissell with a trade it up immediately followed long- secure to purchase continued Vanderwell this point forward, From timber sales, government or other companies from term timber tenure long-term. As a what was needed to maintain the company understanding Bigstone in purchasing in 1987 was successful Vanderwell special purchase, dry-kiln was built at the Mitsue In 1984, the first timber. Nation’s Cree with a J-bar sorter added in 1989. millsite, 4 3 1 Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. Celebrate 75 Years Ltd. Celebrate (1971) Contractors Vanderwell

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 16 17 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

2

Now that the company had sufficient timber to operate on a continuous basis under sustainable forest 5 management principles, efforts were directed towards better utilization and improving the growth of their reforested areas. The 1990’s began a real decade of growth for Vanderwell. A chipper room and bins were added on the heels of the sorter upgrade; a second and third line HewSaw was installed; and in 1993, a new turnkey planer mill was built. About this time, Bob became concerned with the amount of private land timber going to British Columbia, and, in 1996, the company embarked on an aggressive private land purchase program. Vanderwell Contractors is now the largest holder of private timberlands in Alberta. In all their harvesting operations, the company maintains high utilization standards and all plans consider other uses such as water and wildlife protection. In order to maintain a long-term secure wood supply, the company reforests all harvested blocks to provincial standards immediately after harvesting. 1.New sawmill built after the Vanderwell sawmill burned in the 1968 wildfires; note the sawing of Today, Vanderwell continues to improve their operations burnt timber; 1968 by implementing the latest technology and as a result 2. Aerial view, Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. sawmill have one of the most efficient and modern sawmill site; Mitsue Industrial Park; Slave Lake; 2017 facilities in Alberta. This technology allows Vanderwell to achieve one of the highest utilization standards in 3. Con Dermott showing tree growth on white spruce the industry. When updating the mills, the company trees; Vanderwell private land reforestation holdings; Slave Lake; mid 2010s considers the utilization of by-products that were normally burnt as waste, now a thing of the past at 4. Barney Vanderwell AlbertaForestHistory.ca Vanderwell. Today all by-products are utilized; wood 5. Bob Vanderwell joined the family sawmill business chips for pulp mills, shavings for livestock bedding, in 1954, at the age of 15; here he is at the sawmill at sawdust for wood pellets and bark to produce power Cadotte Lake and heat. It’s been a pretty good outcome from the humble beginnings of “we gotta to do something to support the farm!” from 75 years ago.

Bertie Beaver was offered as a offered was Bertie Beaver Alberta gift to the people of staff and in 1958. Forestry film crews Disney’s Walt in Kananaskis together worked several complete to Country as part documentaries wildlife Adventure Life True Disney’s of these documentaries Series. One of Disney Walt In appreciation, beavers. of the life involved Division. the Forestry for as a mascot Bertie Beaver drew of sixty years carpet to commemorate out the red Alberta rolled fire-preventing forest-loving, favourite everyone’s Bertie Beaver, 60th birthday hockey- Clad in a special commemorative mascot. Day in many Canada himself celebrating Bertie saw style jersey, He the province. across public events and throughout parades Prairie Grande in planting ceremony also participated in a tree celebration a well-deserved Arbour Day and enjoyed commemorating birthday cheer spreading Market, and Farmers Pool at the Blairmore along with headquarters areas the ten forest Each of with residents. birthday. milestone Bertie’s to celebrate hosted events in Edmonton Bertie Beaver may have just turned may have Bertie Beaver but he looks just sixty this year, day he the same as he did the first prevention up on wildfire showed all the way back in 1958. posters being a of That is the advantage cartoon mascot, timeless none other than by drawn himself. Disney Walt

BY MELISSA STORY BERTIE BEAVER TURNS 60!

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 18 Bertie Beaver Turns 60! 19

When Alberta Forestry Week rolled around, Bertie was Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a special TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 again at the forefront of the festivities, flipping burgers guest during their session on May 10, 2018. and handing out birthday cake at an Agriculture and Truly, a great honour, and a real highlight in a Forestry barbeque in downtown Edmonton. Then, year that was already full of milestones. alongside Minister Oneil Carlier, he popped into Coronation School to share stories with grade one Bertie Beaver has been an iconic figure in Alberta students and gave out all the high-fives and hugs they for the past sixty years sharing his message of could handle. Just when it looked as though celebrations forest conservation and environmental stewardship. seemed to be winding down, Bertie was at it again, this Here’s to hoping Bertie’s celebrations continue time for Premier Rachel Notley herself, as he accepted for years to come. Happy Birthday Bertie. the prestigious honour of being introduced into the

1

2 AlbertaForestHistory.ca

1. Walt Disney with Bertie Beaver; McCall Field; 2. This Bertie Beaver painting was at the Slave Lake curling Calgary airport; 1965 rink, origin unknown. Now at the Slave Lake Forest Area office, 2018 6 9 2 3 8 5 1 Bertie Beaver turns 60! Bertie Beaver

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 20 Bertie Beaver turns 60! 21

1. Bertie Beaver with Oneil TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 4 Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; Alberta Forest Week Barbeque; May 9, 2018

2. Bertie Beaver with Travis Fairweather inside the Alberta Legislature; May 10, 2018

3. Bertie Beaver sitting at the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry’s desk; May 10, 2018

4. Bertie Beaver with Alberta legislature in the background; May 10, 2018

5. Bertie Beaver with High Level Forest Area staff; Canada Day parade; July 1, 2018

6. Bertie Beaver riding a mechanical bull; Lac La Biche; September 1, 2018

7. Vaughn Heggie, Grade 5 student at Westview School in Fort McMurray, with his Bertie Beaver lego creation; October 2018

8. L to R: Jeff Stokes, Dylan Ullyot, David Park, Bertie Beaver (Alan Gammon), Lucas Beattie, Carson 7 Jones (Sub Leader), Mike Gendron (Rappel Spotter); Bertie Beaver rappel training; summer 2018

9. Bertie Beaver lego creation and Bertie Beaver squeeze doll

10. L to R: Bertie Beaver and Bruce Mayer; Bertie Beaver celebrating his 50th Birthday; May 2008

10 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 6 3 5 2 10. Bertie Beaver with young students; 1980s Georges 11. L to R: Nicole Marvin, Bertie (Edmonton Oilers), Laraque Klondike Days; 2006 Beaver; Bertie Beaver relaxing outside the 12. River Provincial Building; May Peace 2008 Early Bertie Beaver prevention 4 1 Bertie Beaver turns 60! Bertie Beaver 1-6. posters; late 1950s posters; Margarete 7. Bertie Beaver celebrating 2005 Hee’s 50th birthday; August Annual 8. Alberta Lands and Forests 1966 Report, featuring Bertie Beaver; 9. Bertie Beaver with young students; 1980s

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 22 Bertie Beaver turns 60! 23 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 7 8

9 10

11 12 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 5 7 2 4 1 Bertie Beaver turns 60! Bertie Beaver

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 24 Bertie Beaver turns 60! 25

1. Bertie Beaver at his 50th birthday TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 3 celebration; Peace River; May 2008

2. L to R: Minister Oneil Carlier, Bertie Beaver, Bruce Mayer; Lac La Biche Pow Wow Days; July 2016

3. Bertie Beaver with Bev Yee; Alberta Forest Week; May 8, 2013

4. Bertie Beaver on a trike; Edson area parade; 1970s

5. Bertie Beaver fire danger sign

6. Bertie Beaver coaching Bruce Mayer on sausage preparation; Provincial Forest Fire Centre Klondike Days breakfast; July 21, 2017

7. Bertie Beaver with a drawing done of himself; Provincial Forest Fire Centre Klondike Days breakfast; July 21, 2017

8. Updated painting of Bertie Beaver 6 at Prairie Creek; spring 2008

9. Bertie Beaver; Slave Lake Headquarters sign; 1968

8 9 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 9 5 2 11 8 7 4 1 10 Bertie Beaver turns 60! Bertie Beaver

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 26 Bertie Beaver turns 60! 27 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Smoky the Bear, Sparky 3 the Fire Dog, Bertie Beaver; Partners in Protection; 1982

2. Alberta Forest Service DC3 CF-IAE with Bertie Beaver on the tail; 1960s

3. L to R: Tricia Ashton, Bertie Beaver, Amera Haymour; Provincial Forest Fire Centre Klondike Days pancake breakfast; July 2009

4. Slave Lake Forest parade featuring Bertie Beaver; Forest Officer Wayne Bowles in uniform; 1981

5. Bertie Beaver in the High Level Canada Day parade: July 1, 2018

6. Premier Ed and Marie Stelmach, with Bertie Beaver at the Capital 6 Exhibition; July 24, 2007

7. Ranger Ron Lyle with a Bertie Beaver painting completed by local Minimum Security crew; Prairie Creek; spring 1966

8. Slave Lake Forest parade featuring Bertie Beaver; 1981

9. Alberta Forest Service’s Eric Huestis, Director of Forestry, with a Bertie Beaver prevention poster; November 1960

10. Bertie Beaver with his eggs and bacon breakfast; Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre Klondike Days breakfast; July 20, 2018

11. Bertie Beaver and Oneil 12 Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; handing out seedlings to Grade 1 students at Coronation School; Alberta Forest Week; May 8, 2018

12. Wood token; Bertie Beaver’s 40th Birthday; 1998 AlbertaForestHistory.ca

1 ANNIVERSARY OF TH

The 1968 fire season was the The 1968 fire season disastrous on record, most turning and a significant point for the Alberta wildland number A fire organization. of summary and review were completed documents season; the 1968 fire following to this summary is intended from those key sections capture with personal documents, directly summaries from those Some of the statistics involved. from report match do not fully a function likely to report, most of timing and data availability.

MAY1968 MAY1968 THE SEVENTHE IN DAYS THE 50 THE

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 28 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 29

THE MAY 1968 CONFLAGRATIONS TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 IN CENTRAL ALBERTA BY A. D. KIIL AND J. E. GRIGEL

In 1968, Alberta experienced an extremely severe spring forest fire season. During the 15-day period from May 16 to 31, 250 fires burned more than 950,000 acres of forest land. The suppression of these fires involved over 100 aircraft, retardant planes and helicopters, 580 bulldozers and an army of about 5,000 firefighters. Firefighting costs exceeded 4 million dollars. Most of the forest conflagrations occurred in a 150-mile semi-circular strip across central Alberta. This area borders on a transition zone from forest to prairie where land clearing and debris burning is prevalent. Hundreds of settler fires were burning adjacent to this forest zone before and during the peak fire period and many of these subsequently spread into the forested zone. The largest single conflagration, a 330,000-acre blaze south of Lesser Slave Lake (Vega wildfire), had as its source several settler fires in the agricultural zone which united and was swept in a northwesterly direction by the high winds.

The peak of the 1968 debris-burning season in agricultural areas coincided with an unusually long period of hot and dry weather. On May 16, a large air mass settled over central Canada and resulted in strong south-easterly winds over much of central Alberta. This air mass was the single most important cause of fuel drying and the extremely rapid fire spread. AlbertaForestHistory.ca

1. Colour map of May 1968 wildfires; created by Jamie Badcock

2. (Next Page) Fire weather observations and fire danger conditions at 1300 MDT May 23, 1968. Table located on Page 30 was created by Marty Alexander for his analysis of the Vega Fire. for a critical outbreak of forest fires. forest of a critical outbreak for man-caused and were All fires clearing land originated mainly from and brush burning operations and upwind to, adjacent outside, boundary protection forest the of were fires to the south. A few and a carelessness caused by incendiarism, by possibly few initially were but the major fires taking advantage settlers lit by over warm weather the clear, of to the Victoria Day long weekend along burn brush and windrows the of areas the southern fringe It is estimated zone. coniferous that nearly 1,000 settlement fires the forest burning outside of were boundary on May 18, protection land strip of 1968, in a narrow that extended clearing operations Mountain House north Rocky from and east to the to Whitecourt, border. Saskatchewan

Suppression costs ran over five five over ran costs Suppression no lives Fortunately, million dollars. was not loss lost and property were areas settled high, although several during the had to be evacuated rash The serious the fires. peak of of result was the outbreaks fire of and simultaneous an accumulation factors. main five of combination the that bore the areas First, had been the spring fires brunt of drought subjected to a severe This summer. during the previous an unusually mild, by was followed dry winter and in the spring further had evaporated warm weather cover snow the remaining most of dry, of vast areas thus exposing During the middle grass. cured brush number of a large May, of the from ignited upwind were fires with This, coupled areas. forested a blocking of the development and strong, pattern aloft weather southerly winds at the surface, dry, conditions the necessary produced

2

SEVEN OF MAY DAYS BY JOCK MCLEAN AND BLANE COULCHER Forest fires of uncontrolled violence violence of uncontrolled fires Forest Alberta’s of vast areas devastated of week during the third forests established May 1968. The fires greatest the records; new two recorded ever outbreaks number of so early in the season, and the so incinerated ever acreage largest early in the season. The period was humidities, low by characterized and normal temperatures, above southerly winds. persistent strong May 24, 1968, in the On one day, spread the forward Swan Hills area, timber mature through a fire of intensity 40 miles. Fire was over 24 trees, with spruce was extreme by snapped off inches in diameter, wind turbulence fire of the force burned at peak periods. The fires in total, with 900,000 acres over estimated to exceed timber loss sawmill One feet. billion board two south (Vanderwell was destroyed timber and several Lake), Slave of disrupted. severely quotas were

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 30 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 31

SPRING FIRES 1968 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 BY R.S. MIYAGAWA

The year 1968 was a difficult spring fire year for the loss to the economy of the Province. A more realistic Alberta Forest Service. Lack of precipitation during valuation of the loss must be considered because the previous winter and a dry spring created a severe labour can transform this raw material into some drought condition. Coupled with high persistent commodity, which has a demand and can be sold. southeast winds, only ignition sources were needed to create a serious fire problem. The ignition sources were There is a question of how far in the manufacturing present. This is a special report on the spring fires and process we should take our values. In the case of lumber it will deal only with the statistical aspects of the fires. we have the choice of log at the mill, green lumber at the mill or dressed lumber at the railroad siding. Since As can be noted, the number of fires between May most of the lumber manufacturing costs are due to 17 and May 25 is better than half the total for the labour costs, the use of dressed lumber price at the period up to the end of May. This report will be railroad siding would not be unrealistic. According to the based on the 185 fires which occurred between Forest Management Branch, $60.00 per thousand fbm May 17 and May 25, since these fires burned would be a conservative price for dressed dimension over 99 percent of the total area for the year. lumber at the railroad siding. Coniferous pulpwood value was placed at $17.00 per cord. There is no The origin of fires shows that in 1968, May 17 to May demand for deciduous timber at the present; therefore, 25, approximately 50 percent of the fires started on no value was placed on it. The loss on coniferous private property. The total acreage burned for the year timber amounts to over seventy million dollars. 1968 is close to 1,002,000 acres. It appears from the total that 99 percent of the total area was burned in On top of such basic timber losses are other less the early period. It also shows that 95 percent of the tangible losses, which would include loss of growing acreage was burned in three Forests; Lac La Biche, Slave stock, effect on watersheds, effects on recreation and Lake and Whitecourt. There was a total of 48 “E” class loss of soil value. Taking all of these into account, we fires which burned 983,678 acres during the period. could probably safely say that the long and short term Eighty-five percent of the forest burned was Crown land. economic loss is over one hundred million dollars.

It is estimated, by the Forest Management Branch, that One hundred and sixty-five of the total 185 fires of the 614,642 million fbm lost, approximately 200 were controlled within the first five-day period. In million fbm is expected to be salvaged. Thus, our net the “E” class fires, 28 of the 48 fires were controlled loss would be about 400 million fbm. No estimate within the first five-day period. The lapse time may on salvage of pulpwood has been made. Considering not be a significant factor, as there was a major only the saw timber losses, the total volume burned weather system change on May 24 and May 25, would more than equal one year of quota for all the which created an adverse burning condition. timber operators in Alberta. The loss of coniferous cords in the Crown land is more than eight years of cut The total firefighting cost for 1968 is approximately for a pulp mill of the size presently located in Alberta 5.5 million dollars. “E” class fires of the spring period (Northwest Pulp and Power, Hinton). The net loss of cost nearly four million dollars, or better than seventy AlbertaForestHistory.ca timber dues is around eight million dollars. Timber percent of the total firefighting expenditure. The aircraft dues loss only is, however, an underestimation of the cost is approximately 25 percent of the total cost.

Number of fires prior to May 17 174 Total to the end of May 365 Number of fires May 17 to May 25 inclusive 185 Number of fires June 1 to December 31 253 Number of fires May 26 to May 31 6 Total for 1968 618 Basic personnel Basic personnel Basic personnel Basic personnel Basic personnel separate stages. The Fireline Organization is composed is composed Organization The Fireline stages. separate further delineated into which are functions, four of identified Job positions are necessary. sections, where qualification titles, and further described by job by (span of procedures organizational requirements, and specific duties. responsibilities general control), 0-25 26-75 76 – 225 226 – 675 676 – 2,025

Multiple Zone Fire Multiple Zone Multiple Crew Fire Multiple Crew Multiple Squad Fire Multiple Sector Fire Multiple Division Fire shall consist of seven firefighters and one Straw Boss, Boss, and one Straw firefighters seven of A basic squad shall consist firefighters, twenty-one of shall be composed while a basic crew Boss. and one Crew Bosses Straw three firefighters. than seven shall supervise more Boss No Straw Squads. than three shall supervise more Boss No Crew Crews. than three supervise more shall No Sector Boss Sectors. than three shall supervise more No Division Boss Divisions. than three shall supervise more Boss No Zone

The organizational buildup of the Alberta Forest Service Fireline Fireline Service The organizational buildup of the Alberta Forest stages: separate of five Organization consists The Alberta Forest Service Fireline Organization is based on the Fireline Service The Alberta Forest premises: following I. V. II. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. IV. III.

Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 the Seven Days in of Anniversary th

Following the 1968 fire season, work began to create an to create work began season, the 1968 fire Following especially use on wildfires, for structure organizational Service Forest The Alberta multi-day wildfires. the large operationally is based upon an Organization Fireline basis) which (organizational control tested span of five buildup of in turn dictates the organizational A.F.S. FIRELINEA.F.S. ORGANIZATION The 50

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 32 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 33 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 ANALYSIS OF THE CANADIAN FOREST FIRE WEATHER INDEX FOR THE 1968 LESSER SLAVE LAKE FIRE (VEGA FIRE) BY M.E. ALEXANDER

Editors Note: In this paper, Marty Alexander essentially asked the one question, “Had the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (CFFWI) system been operating in 1968, what would the codes and indexes have been?” The following is the introduction and select narrative from the paper.

In central Alberta during the last half of May Grigel 1969). The firestorm released the 1968, several man-caused fires occurred energy equivalent to that of a 20 kt bomb accompanied by a critical fire weather pattern exploding every two minutes (one such bomb that resulted in severe fire behaviour and devastated Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945). a correspondingly large burned-over area (McLean and Coulcher 1968). One such The extreme FWI values resulted from a fire, commonly termed the Lesser Slave long run of dry spring weather (increasing Lake Fire, started on May 19 and eventually BUI) and strong winds combined with low covered an area of 133,550 hectares. humidity on May 23 (extremely high ISI). Nearly one-half of this area burned during How often would one expect to attain or the 10 hours between 1300 and 2300 exceed such burning conditions? According Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on May 23. to a climatological study of the CFFWI in Alberta, the FWI is unlikely to exceed 80 more Advancing on a 16- to 24-kilometre front, than about once every eight fire seasons.

the fire on that day spread at an average rate AlbertaForestHistory.ca of 6.5 km/h through a variety of coniferous When the CFFWI tables were first published and deciduous forest fuel complexes. The in 1970, the fire behaviour characteristics transport of firebrands far ahead of the that were likely to occur at an extreme FWI main fire front (and the resulting spot fires) were envisioned as follows: “rate of spread contributed greatly to this unusually high will be generally fast for extended periods, rate of spread. Peak frontal fire intensities fire will be extremely hot and there may be were estimated to have exceeded 100,000 extensive crowning and ‘long range’ spotting kW/m during the major run (Kiil and …”. Such a description adequately describes 1. 1968 wildfire map created by 1. 1968 Alexander. Location and Marty final area of the Lesser Slave Lake forest fires Fire and of other major Alberta during May 1968. in central and provincial weather Federal stations are numbered from 1 to 10. 2. Canso Pilot Sheldon Luck dropping retardant on one of the Calling Lake wildfires; May 1968 Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 the Seven Days in of Anniversary th 1 the 1968 Lesser Slave Lake Fire. The CFFWI system would The CFFWI system would Fire. Lake Slave the 1968 Lesser of past and current the effects interpreted correctly have on fuel flammability had it been in use then. weather danger can be made in fire no provision Unfortunately, special atmospheric for account to directly forecasting on effect a profound to have known that are conditions jet low-level instability, airmass (e.g., behaviour wildfire must still rely managers Fire subsidence). winds, large-scale to forecasters weather fire ability of on the state-of-the-art patterns and upper air weather synoptic-scale recognize behavior. fire to extreme conducive that are characteristics The 50

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 34 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 35 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

2

RECOLLECTIONS FROM BERNIE SIMPSON

Bernie Simpson moved from the Crowsnest Forest in fire here. How do you respond?” For the first few years, Blairmore to Slave Lake as the Fire Control Officer in the rangers were in charge of fires in their district, there 1967. In a 2007 interview, he provided the following on wasn’t a lot of transfer of resources between districts; Slave Lake staff and the 1968 wildfires. “We had a good never mind between forests and now between provinces crew in Slave Lake; Neil Gilliat was the Superintendent and countries. It’s really changed. District rangers and Con Dermott was the Forester. Gilliat was an included Bernie Brouwer and Bill Kostiuk in Slave Lake, unbelievably good superintendent and a boss, just Bud Sloan in Smith, Glen Sloan in Kinuso, Harry Kostiuk unbelievable. I think Edmonton didn’t appreciate in High Prairie, Phil Nichols at Salt Prairie, Laverne Larson him because he was so innovative. We started things at Red Earth and Howard Morigeau and John Holden at like integrated forest management. He got rangers Wabasca. Chuck Ratliff was the forest technician at the identifying lakes that had recreation potential, where ski time, and we got him really heavily involved in bird- AlbertaForestHistory.ca hills were, sensitive rivers, etc. When I first went there, dogging when we started first bringing in the bombers. of course, I had some fire background, but we never had He was our first Bird Dog Officer. One time he had been major fires down south. For practice, one of the little out in the government Courier and we’d made a drop techniques that Neil introduced me to was “arbitrarily with the Mitchell B25 in the Swan Hills, the one that we throw a dart at the wall map, and say, okay, you’ve got a had to start with a grader. He’d no sooner landed and going on. The Town of Slave Lake Lake Slave of on. The Town going four at in so badly, was smoked in the afternoon on May 23, o’clock came on in town. the streetlights went dark it was, it just That’s how Forestry notified all the dark. We to fill to tell our neighbors wives, fill with water, could they everything you’re lose the power, because if we All our a hose. to have not going went into trying to protect effort hoses along Prairie like the town, the and pumps to protect Creek, at 10:30 that night, hospital. Anyway, whether it was divine know I don’t or what, but the wind intervention the southeast from that had blown switched days, ten straight for and turned to the northwest exactly miles out back on itself; two the fire in o’clock About four Lake. Slave of and I jumped in a the morning Con couldn’t we 180 and since Cessna we the fire, to the east side of go just right out side, to the west went it a lie, of Without a word town. of at the joint on down looking was like was in Bernie’s this table (interview see could miles you kitchen); for It went line. an absolutely straight the Swan of the corner up and over the other side and Hills and down a ruler and just taken have could you remember I can’t mapped that thing. but it was like distance, the exact and it about 40 miles in ten hours, Nick Paulovits, was ten miles wide. he jumped in at Flat Top, lookoutman “THERE WERE SO MANY FIRES BURNING WE COULDN’T KEEP TRACK OF THEM” and looked at another huge fire in fire at another huge and looked was also the Smith district. There had to they where one in Wabasca Another big fire people. evacuate threatening kept in the Swan Valley take it would Faust; of the Town It was just a day. run every a new back into I got Anyway, nightmare! and I told Neil. When he asked town I the air, from like what it looked said II, Churchill War said in World to attack Europe going are that we underbelly and, I said, I in its soft something coming have think we It underbelly right here! in our soft terribly long after that that wasn’t sent Ratcliff out to see what was we across the river. We looked at our looked We the river. across watches at it was 12:30 PM, and was heading northwest. the fire a sudden, under us a Canso All of hundred just a few bomber went, says, under us. So Zachary feet it was here; the hell out of let’s get situation and we a dangerous really were what other aircraft know didn’t went we So anyway, in the area. 1 there was a report a fire started up a fire was a report there could the B25, they With at Grouard. but in no time, load and be up there was if there not with the Courier I said, well, wind blowing. a west right just go you Chuck, why don’t they course, in the bomber; and of this big here’s So, shut it off. couldn’t climb up turning and he has to prop and these props a ladder between the two sit on something between and up there went pilots and they the fire. trapped we had many fires how know I don’t was just There burning at the time. so many were them. There oodles of keep track couldn’t we burning fires was one outside the There them. of fire; the Vega area, protection forest and fires area it was in a big muskeg a couple for had been burning there this one day I got Anyway, winters. of with 180 at Bayview’s in a Cessna know, and I said, you Mel Zachary and look at down should go we there, guys down had a few that. We close to being and some locals got know didn’t burned up because they the fire or where were they where running around were was, and they thing in a pickup truck and the next by surrounded were they knew you and it was there went down I fire. what know didn’t in, you so smoked but was happening, the hell really the Athabasca over down got as we spotting watched this fire we River,

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 36 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 37 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

2

3 4

an old van that he had and he roared on, we didn’t have the organization into town and the damned thing we’ve got today. These fires 1. Northwest Airlease Mitchell B25 didn’t start again. It just started that precipitated our work in developing airtanker requiring a pull-start from a once, it was unreal. a fireline organization, and we grader; Slave Lake air tanker base; worked all the next winter with Frank May 1968 Then, of course, people from all over Platt. I was on the committee, with 2. The Flying Fireman Canso airtanker heard about how much equipment John Morrison, an instructor from 4 refueling in Edmonton; Pilot Sheldon we needed. They hauled in junk, the Forestry Training School. We Luck at the controls; May 1968 wildfires stuff that had to get towed off the all had job descriptions and an org trucks and we were being billed for 3. Skyways Aviation TBM Avenger structure was developed. The next airtankers at the Bayview Air Service it, it was a real nightmare. We ended year, we got a big fire up by Peerless hanger; Slave Lake; May 1968 up putting Con as Service Chief. We Lake, but it was lucky, it was burning also had an issue with one grocery 4. Fire Control Officer Bernie Simpson towards the lake. It was a serious looking at a new 300-gallon monsoon store with about thirty thousand fire right off the bat, it just exploded. bucket; May 1968 Slave Lake wildfires worth of bills. When Eddie Johnson So, I’d just come out with all these went there, he said we’ve got some books and job descriptions for all questions. The guys tore them up these guys. Con was the Fire Boss; right then. You know, you just had

Larson was the Line Boss; and a guy AlbertaForestHistory.ca to rely on people. One guy came named Horst Rhode was the Plans in there and we put him in charge Chief. The structure was easy to as camp boss, and it turned out he set up.” was a real con man. He would bring in friends with a deepfreeze in the back of their truck and fill it with meat, steaks, and send them back to Edmonton. Too many things going is Ranger Harry Jeremy Harry is Ranger unloading 3. Calling Lake firefighters from a DC3 with Ontario overhead; wildfires May 1968 4. Lunch break for Calling Lake wildfires May 1968 firefighters; by manpower. I can remember Harry Edgecombe taking Harry Edgecombe I can remember manpower. by he wanted where me a list of and providing a zone over when etc. crews, dozers, number of a sector camp set up, in Smith, fires had numerous we At this time, he arrived. trying to all man-caused, which people were Kinuso, the big limited. One of were resources action and where B25 old warplanes as air two was the hiring of events the started it with we down, and when one broke tankers, as a the propeller the end of around using a rope grader all of a total inventory had just completed We pull rope. establishment the for (FMU) units management forest our Quota System in 1968. The S6 FMU was one of the of knew standpoint and we a timber the best units from was completed detail about this unit. Harvesting every basis due to the type of on a shelter wood in this area marked were All trees removal. with a 40% forest, spruce was dues. If the forest to pay timber and scaled in order timber dues paid was established and volume clearcut, interest, As a point of scaled volume. of on our volume for (1971) Ltd., a sub-contractor Contractors Vanderwell and camp in this fire, lost their mill and Swanson Lumber, permits. the salvage one of awarded were they as a result 1. Calling Lake firefighters lined up 1. Calling Lake firefighters May 1968 order; for their commissary wildfires 2. Lac La Biche Assistant Forest (plaid shirt), Superintendent Bert Varty pointing to a location on map during Lac La May 1968 planning exercise; Biche wildfires. Seated to the back left

Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 the Seven Days in of Anniversary th

Con Dermott provided the following on the 1968 fire fire on the 1968 the following Dermott provided Con back many memories, brought season. “The “68” fire the with early in my career as this was a major event being I started the long weekend Service. Alberta Forest Sloan Glen of Kinuso to assist south dispatched to a fire After Faust. up threating that ended on a man-caused fire with this fire Glen in organizing days, assisting a couple I mentioned to Glen that it cats and establishing sectors, to the east, not a thunderstorm getting are they looks like Lake. of Slave south fire it was the 1968 Vega realizing with Glen, I was dispatched Shortly after my discussion Officer, Control Bernie Simpson, Fire Lake. back to Slave at 3 or 4 A.M. to establish fire Vega the and myself flew As a point actual fire. locations and establish a map of a location on the established have I could interest, of and another one on the north end the fire south end of as it was the fire, of the edge and used a ruler to develop that started in the fire Bernie had flown that straight. when it jumped the Athabasca the day before area Vega it was next day, early the the fire flew and when we River this fire Speed of Lake. Slave miles of within two already on this Chief I became Service was unbelievable. spread attack and direct dozers action was of the fire Most fire.

The 50

RECOLLECTIONS FROM RECOLLECTIONS CON DERMOTT

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 38 39 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

1

2 AlbertaForestHistory.ca

3 4 Ed Picota was new to the Alberta Forest Service in Service to the Alberta Forest was new Picota Ed “I was on the timber the following. 1968 and provided was then and our whole crew crew management Thrushes, the bombers; in mixing mud for involved Chuck Ratliff and one B 25. Our party chief Avengers Bernie Simpson was fire. on the Officer Dog was the Bird in involved was later crew Our Officer. Control the Fire Bob Lenton, on the fireline. hauling supplies to crews at Slave rangers young were Len Wilton and Lou Foley time.” at that Lake 5

Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 the Seven Days in of Anniversary th 4 1

The 50 RECOLLECTIONS FROM RECOLLECTIONS ED PICHOTA

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 40 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 41

2 3 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

6 7

1. L to R: Len Allen, Bill Bereska, Bert 4. Calling Lake firefighters moving Varty (seated) and an Ontario Lands aviation fuel barrels for Bell 204; May and Forest overhead team member; 1968 wildfires planning session during the spring 1968, Lac La Biche fires. 5. Calling Lake firefighters on one of the AlbertaForestHistory.ca May 1968 Calling Lake wildfires 2. Skyways Aviation TBM Avenger airtanker 616; Slave Lake airtanker 6. Staging area for firefighters; May 1968 base; May 1968 wildfires

3. The Flying Fireman Canso tanker 4 7. Calling Lake firefighter on one of the refueling in Edmonton; Engineer Dick May 1968 Calling Lake wildfires Cox on the ladder; May 1968 wildfires 6 3

Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 the Seven Days in of Anniversary th

5 1 When asked about the 1968 wildfires, Bill Bereska provided the following. following. the provided Bill Bereska about the 1968 wildfires, When asked of the start over 150 Cessna in a the day when I flew I still remember “Yes, the Athabasca and mapped it just as it crossed fire) River DL 4-1 (Wandering to a waiting Oliver the fire of photo sketch the aerial When I dropped River. got then he at the map, we waited until he looked Glanfield in an open field, dust.” in a cloud of the road down into his truck and took of

The 50 RECOLLECTIONS FROM RECOLLECTIONS BERESKA BILL

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 42 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 43

2 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

4

1. Bert Varty in the Lac La Biche duty room during the spring 1968 Lac La Biche wildfires. Note assignments on the blackboard for rangers Smith, Graham, Howells, Glanfield, Nuspel and Jeremy.

2. Skyways Aviation TBM Avenger airtanker 17 being loaded with retardant; Slave Lake airtanker base; May 1968

3. Calling Lake firefighters fire camp and tool crib; May 1968 wildfires

4. One of the many wildfires burning in Calling Lake during the 1968 spring fire season

5. The Flying Fireman Canso airtanker 3, Slave Lake; May 1968 AlbertaForestHistory.ca

6. Bird Dog Piper Aztec CF-KAR being refueled at the Lac La Biche airtanker base; May 1968 . State of Out of Control , O.C. means , O.C. Control 1. Slave Lake Chief Ranger Len Allen 1. Slave Lake Chief Ranger in coordinating wildfire resources Lac La Biche during the May 1968 fires. Under the column that year, with firefighters and an overhead team. West team. overhead and an with firefighters that year, used there Road, along the Athabasca East Breynat, of and those poplar poplar in there, of to be big pockets The people from up. at least 20 to 30 feet burnt black for and said seen that happen before, Ontario had never the rule was in a fire, trapped got that in Ontario if you do that never said they’ll They the poplar. to head for was the year either, seen it before again. And I’d never rain, so that had a dry spring with no We’d different. very a Cat drive could We muskegs. was still in the meant frost bog it would In normal circumstances, muskegs. across but a snipe on a saddle blanket, like in the muskeg down the fireguard, plowed you it. Once across Cats drove we had Cats We out, and it was a swamp. it then thawed had a small base We the country. all through scattered one night and I was there ranch, camp at Earl Smith’s of his fields and went on the south side when the fire 50 to 75 were absolutely no flame until they saw you And see the flame. and then you’d the trees, above feet the had dehydrated the fire the heat from it was just like into gas. It was burning up on turned and the wood tree, to watch.” it was great was saved, ranch Smith’s Old top.

Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 the Seven Days in of Anniversary th

1 In a 2009 interview, Oliver Glanfield provided the provided Glanfield Oliver In a 2009 interview, they “The 1968 fires, on the 1968 wildfires. following of Grassland, North area. the Grassland from took off had peat land and the farmers is a whole lot of there The burning the debris. the land and were cleared burning the top; and as the moss were they fires, On the May long forth. and burned back dried, the fires off and took The fires loose. all hell broke weekend, the Lac La Biche River, to the mouth of northwest went it up and then hightailed jumped the Athabasca River, aircraft out with a Beaver I went Lake. Calling to around we just and of the fires side on floats to check the front it out because the wind was pulling make about didn’t We a little too close. We flew the fire. the plane towards had people we where River, a camp at Wandering set-up the radio worked My wife all over. from and helicopters got it finally When they readings. and took weather the base camp to the mouth moved we under control, had 500 men we At one time, Lac La Biche River. the of in bathtubs! The stew cooking were They there. down east through fire all the way up fought the firefighters us had Ontario people supporting We Lake. Calling of

The 50 RECOLLECTIONS FROM RECOLLECTIONS OLIVERGLANFIELD

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 44 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 45

RECOLLECTIONS FROM TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 MIKE POZNIAK

Mike Pozniak ran Cats for Pac Construction during the couple of weeks, a few light showers came along to help 1968 wildfires. He recalled “the 1968 Calling Lake fire the situation. The Cats worked both day and night shifts didn’t start at Calling Lake, it is believed to have been building kilometres of fireline. After about a month, the started by a farmer near Spruce Valley burning piles. fire was finally controlled. Later that fall, Mike Artym, The May long weekend was hot and dry. First, the fire owner of three small Cats, started to make parallel lines went north towards Wandering River where Oliver through the small, burnt brush areas east of the Calling Glanfield was the FO II. Oliver had a brand new FO I Lake crawl tower (wooden lookout). The Cat would put from the Maritime Ranger School by the name of Leon the blade down, take a layer of duff off, lift the blade, and Graham; what a fire to start a new ranger on. With the drive over the pile, then repeat in straight lines. If you high winds, the fire jumped the Athabasca River into look carefully today, you can still see the lines. The idea DL3 (Calling Lake District) where Dennis Howells and of this was to expose mineral soil where spruce seeds Joe Smith were the rangers. The fire went north then could fall and germinate. From what I saw in later years, switched to the west and threatened the community of not a lot of spruce started growing in these areas. Those Calling Lake. Every Cat and able-bodied firefighter was of us operating the Cats came home at the end of the actioning the fire to prevent burning the community. At day black from the soot and ash. That winter, there were the Calling Lake stopover cabin, east end of the airstrip, a lot of permits given out for timber salvage. In the years Mrs. Pat Uchytil was cooking for the overhead team. The following, there were a lot of ideas for reforestation of fire made it just shy of the community, going around the the fire, one of them being the Martinni plows, but that’s south side of the lake. The muskegs and creeks were a whole other story.” dry and the Cats could build fireline anywhere. After a

2. Calling Lake Ranger Ernie 2 Stroebel inspecting work on a scarification project near the Calling Lake Crawl Tower. Although taken in 1962, this is similar to the equipment and reforestation work as described by Mike Pozniak about Mike Artym. AlbertaForestHistory.ca 46 The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968

TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 THE ALBERTA FOREST SERVICE 1930-2005: PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF ALBERTA’S FORESTS BY P.J. MURPHY, R.E. STEVENSON, D. QUINTILIO, S. FERDINAND

In May 1968, a blocking high-pressure area developed events in Alberta. As of 2004, the Vega fire spread rate over Saskatchewan that brought warm, dry air into and Chisholm fire intensity values were the highest on Alberta along with persistent southeast winds. Windrow record in the province. The impact of the Chisholm fire, burning during the winter months near Rocky Mountain however, was significantly greater than the 1968 Vega House, Whitecourt, Slave Lake, Athabasca and Lac La fire as a result of residential and industrial development Biche resulted in many holdover fires and in the third in the area over the intervening 33-year period. week of May, strong gusty winds pushed over 30 fires into the protection zone. “The fires established two As Bob Steele, Director of Forestry, reported: “The many new records – the greatest number of outbreaks ever improvements during the year were marred by the worst recorded so early in the season, and the largest acreage forest fire year in Alberta’s history. Fires destroyed almost ever incinerated so early in the season. The fires burned one million acres of forestland, with most of the damage over 900,000 acres in total, with timber loss estimated occurring during one week of extremely unfavourable to exceed two billion board feet. One sawmill was weather in May. Settler fires became uncontrollable and destroyed and several timber quotas were severely swept into the forested areas of central Alberta with disrupted. Suppression costs ran over $5 million. unprecedented vengeance. Only a small percentage of Fortunately, no lives were lost and property loss was not the fire-killed timber could be salvaged. This problem high, although several settled areas had to be evacuated further demonstrated the necessity for greater control of during the peak of the fires.” On May 23, the Vega fire, settlers’ burning practices and a much improved weather driven by low-level jet winds, burned from the Athabasca forecasting system.” River to just south of Lesser Slave Lake in ten hours, a The strong connection between weather and fire distance of 60 kilometres. “Fire intensity was extreme behaviour had long been recognized. The problems with spruce trees, 24 inches in diameter, snapped off by were first to obtain reliable weather data over the full the force of fire wind turbulence at peak periods.” The geographic region, second to try and quantify what the fire was influenced by drought conditions, late spring data meant in terms of fire hazard, and then to interpret green-up, and a winter with very little snow. Following the data and forecast fire weather and behaviour. the run of May 23, however, moisture arrived and saved The Canadian Forest Service fire research staff had the Town of Slave Lake from burning. Interestingly, 33 developed tables based on weather readings that gave a years later on May 23, 2001, the Chisholm fire began, “Fire Danger Index” to indicate relative ease of ignition and under very similar conditions, ran towards Lesser and fire intensity. These were adapted to Alberta in the Slave Lake. The Chisholm fire slowed just south of the AlbertaForestHistory.ca 1950s. The appointment of W. J. (Jock) McLean as fire Town of Slave Lake, stalled once again by a cold front weather officer in 1963 was the first major advance in arriving with moisture. Both fires were precedent-setting applying weather to fire management. This appointment The 50th Anniversary of the Seven Days in May 1968 47 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

was a result of the urgings of Frank Platt. Then, in 1967, McLean recommended that Alberta hire its own meteorologist on an experimental basis to test the idea of a specifically tailored forecast and closer liaison with both the federal weather service and AFS fire control staff through to the firefighter. Meteorologist Ed Stashko was hired to fill this position. Although reaction was positive, tentative plans in 1968 for continuation of such service fell through when operating funds were slashed. Ironically, the spring of 1968 was also the year of the disastrous fires in which more than a million acres burned. This included the Vega fire that spread nearly 40 THANK miles in 10 hours, threatening the Town of Slave Lake. However, the experience highlighted the importance of fire weather forecasting. In 1969, the AFS Fire Weather Office commenced full-time routine operation with YOU Blane Coulcher as permanent meteorologist and Ed Stashko added for the summer.

Publication of the February 2019 Forest History Association of Alberta Tales & Trails is sponsored by the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta. AlbertaForestHistory.ca 48 2018 CANADIAN TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The CIF-IFC hosted another forest history presentations, staying successful Conference and Annual within the allotted 90 minutes 2 General Meeting in Grande Prairie, was challenging to say the least! Alberta September 18 to 20, 2018. Throughout the conference proper, The Forest History Association six concurrent sessions and six of Alberta would like to plenary sessions were hosted, with recognize the many volunteers experts and high-profile speakers and major award recipients, weighing in on current forestry especially those from Alberta. research, practices, policies, Fellow of the Institute: and innovations to support the Dr. Peter Murphy conference theme, “Sustaining Resources and Enhancing Canadian Forestry Scientific Communities: By Looking Back and Award: Dr. Mike Flannigan Going Forward”. The conference had a great turnout and hosted over Schlich Memorial Prize: 300 delegates, including over 30 Gillian Stauffer students, visiting from all corners of Tree of Life Awards: Milo North America and abroad. This year Mihajlovich and Bruce Mayer 4 marked the first ever student and young Professional Development Golden Year Club: Keith McClain Session and Mentorship Program. Volunteer Awards: Dan Wilkinson, The Forest History Association Jeff Renton, Vic Lieffers, Marty of Alberta had an opportunity to O’Byrne, Dieter Kuhnke, Fran support and host the Forest History Hanington, JP Bielech, Julie session on September 19, 2018. Steinke, Nathan Lauer, Nicholas AlbertaForestHistory.ca Bruce Mayer facilitated the session Dormaar, Gary Vander Wyst featuring three dynamic speakers – Pat Wearmouth, Peter Murphy, and Mark Kuhlberg. As with all 49 1 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

1. L to R: Peter Murphy, Pat Wearmouth, 3 Bruce Mayer, Mark Kuhlberg; Forest History session presenters; September 19, 2018

2. Alex Drummond (R) presenting Keith McClain with the CIF Golden Year Club award; September 18, 2018

3. Recipients of the CIF Volunteer Awards; Dan Wilkinson in the front; September 18, 2018

4. Alex Drummond (R) presenting Peter Murphy with the CIF Fellow of the Institute Award; September 18, 2018

5. Vic Lieffers (R) presenting Bruce Mayer with the CIF Tree of Life Award; April 24, 2018

6. Vic Lieffers (R) presenting Milo Mihajolvich with the CIF Tree of Life Award; April 24, 2018 5 6

The 2019 CIF-IFC AGM and AlbertaForestHistory.ca Conference will be hosted by the CIF-IFC Algonquin Section in Pembroke, Ontario from October 6 to 9, 2019. The conference theme is “River through the Pines: Still Flowing… Still Growing…”. and production started around 1981 started around and production Kilns were the mill sits today. where added to dry the lumber in 1986 and Northland started to plan and sell kiln dried finished lumber into At and US markets. the Canadian paid the government this time we Alberta to plant seedlings on our of not counted were Those years behalf. in our total seedlings planted. Northland by, passed As the years opportunities to look for continued in all of to best practices to move these One of areas. our business the first of was the purchase The HewSaw Canada. in HewSaw

in the area, while keeping busy while keeping in the area, growth the continued for salvaging As I remember, McMurray. Fort of to area the mill was in the Gregoire the the building of of in front salvage as the industrial as well living area to the district. It was then moved Parsons just north of area CBC tower the Timberlea, for to salvage Creek living areas. Confederation stationary mill In 1975, the first sits today. Burnco was built where Timber quotas had been purchased supply wood ensuring a consistent at a fire After good. and sales were mill was constructed the mill, a new

1

Northland Forest Products started Products Northland Forest Roy small businesses. most like opportunity saw Ewashko and Bev timber on the Great in salvaging The partners Oil Sands site. Canadian to Fort the whole family moved advantage in 1971 to take McMurray striking up a that opportunity, of to the mine deal to supply timbers the At this time, City. in Uranium Suncor’s mill was close to where base mine is today; it was mobile As PTO. a tractor by and powered and Bev Roy do, all entrepreneurs or buy decided it was time to grow able were they Slowly timber. more others timber from to purchase SEEDLINGS BY HOWIE EWASHKO NORTHLAND FOREST PRODUCTSNORTHLAND MILLION 30 PLANTS

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 50 Northland Forest Products Plants 30 Million Seedlings 51 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

2

was purchased to handle the small build what was a state of the art 1. Bruce Mayer presenting plaque wood component of our harvest mill, opening in 1997. In 2008, to the Ewashko family; L to R: and increase lumber from each Northland finished construction of Howie Ewaskho, Bruce Mayer, Craig Ewashko, Kim Norris and log. This commitment to continual a heat plant on site. This allowed Bev Ewaskho; August 31, 2018 improvement and to finding the best us to focus our attention on the way for Northland to operate is a opportunities that the new products 2. L to R: Bernie Schmitte, pillar of our business ideology today. presented – the hog fuel or bark is Keith Windeler, Robert Stronach and Lorne Carson; August 31, 2018 We do things a little differently used to provide heat throughout which helps us differentiate the site; shavings are bagged and ourselves from other producers sold to customers all over North Fort McMurray was evacuated but a and it has created markets that we America; and sawdust is sold to the small group of our employees and have developed over many years. oil industry as an environmental our families gathered at the mill. The absorbent. Today 100 percent of first night we had other individuals We also used this custom approach the log is utilized. This was the goal and families gathered at the mill in our silviculture prescription that with the building of the heat plant prior to figuring out how to leave has been tested and refined. Over and it has materialized. As you are as the highway was closed. In time, many years, we celebrated our first aware oilsands expansion has taken six of us were left at the mill; Dave, five, ten, and 15 million seedlings up a lot of productive forest land Jeff, Barb, Craig, Jordan and myself. planted quietly, but it was always a or land that grows trees. For the We were lucky that both our logging source of great pride for Roy, Bev, years prior to 2016 we had been contractors were in contact with us Craig, Kim and myself to see the land discussing this with the government and offered to help. It was brought growing with trees again. Our goal and trying to work through solutions. to our attention that we had a fire was always to ensure the forests In 2016, a great opportunity truck in Boyle and it was loaded and are growing for the future and to presented itself when the sawmill brought to the mill. Dave, Jeff and sustain our operation. In 1996, we at Boyle came up for sale. We again Craig worked at finding additional again faced a huge setback losing leveraged our business partners fire protection. Jordan was our water AlbertaForestHistory.ca the entire sawmill to a fire. It was and were able to purchase the truck driver and Barb went back time to reassess our commitment mill and timber from the Boyle and forth to Edmonton and cooked to running a sawmill. After some operation. This gave us a sustainable for the crew. Everyday brought tough discussion, reassurance and wood supply to run our mill. different challenges. Our logging help from our partners in business contractors provided support and we went ahead and rebuilt. We It was all looking good until that day manpower to tackle the Beast. Jason worked closely with customers, in May 2016 when the Beast (Horse Bobocell and Derek Tchir provided friends and suppliers to help us River Fort McMurray wildfire) ignited. equipment, expertise and moral 1. Plaque presented to the Ewashko 1. Plaque presented to 2018 31, family; August of Wood 2. Regional Municipality congratulating Buffalo Mayor Don Scott Products on planting Northland Forest McMurray; Fort their 30 millionth tree; 2018 31, August to come back to Fort McMurray we we McMurray back to Fort to come as soon producing wanted to get The mill upgrades as possible. and cut-offs with new continued installed in the HewSaw a new continued We after the fire. year ways to add value to to look for and with innovation our products suite. to our product changes the to celebrate here are we Today our 30 million trees planting of Many area. McMurray in the Fort this helped us achieve people have employees fantastic From milestone. not would We contractors. to great this milestone be able to celebrate without their dedication, hard approaches. and innovative work service, with the forest Partnerships Regional the Alberta Pacific, and Buffalo Wood Municipality of and various other industry members facilitated have providers service and success. growth our continued us to is an opportunity for This really associates, our business thank all of helping for friends and employees this milestone so thank us reach support and effort your all for you successful. Northlands to make

2 THE FIRE WAS CREEPING ALONG THE GROUND AND IT THINGS LIKE LOOKED WERE GOING TO CALM WEREDOWN. BOY WE WRONG! and how the fire was moving and was moving the fire and how movement what the forecasted up at was. Bernie set the cat groups that the mill along with firefighters helped us set up sprinkler systems as the days giving us some rest There to 24 hours. stretching were various from also many others were departments that were government information critical in providing that we and additional resources the unable to thank. Once were able were settled and people fire by the Alberta government. This Alberta government. the by to us through along was passed He had our back Bernie Schmitte. as to what us informed and kept 1 support as we battled the Beast. support as we day was bad, but one day Not every in my mind as will be remembered and was the only day we the worst loaded our wallets into our vehicles. It was the day after the Beast moved the and burnt about 30 kilometres That night it camp near Syncrude. the hill side of came to the west It stalled, along the Athabasca River. 300 were but carried flames that sunset at like high and it looked feet and I took Jeff 8 PM. In the morning, a trip up the hill to see what was was creeping The fire happening. like and it looked along the ground Boy to calm down. going things were By noon, the fire wrong! we were and jumping the was in the treetops at the mill site and coming highway set up the fire the south. We from coming onto truck to stop the fire but With little training, the mill site. and a cat helicopters with help from able to stop the fire were we group wicking down at the south end from and the mill property of the riverside inventory, our log taking out all of Integral and planer. the mill itself, was the help and to all our efforts to us that was given information Northland Forest Products Plants 30 million seeds Plants 30 Products Forest Northland

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 52 53 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

ALBERTA-PACIFIC FOREST INDUSTRIES CELEBRATES 25 YEARS BY PAIGE LAWSON

Twenty-five years ago, the Alberta- that encouraged continuous environmental impact assessment. Pacific Forest Industries Inc. education, innovation and creativity, Two months later, on the eve of a greenfield mill began producing Alberta-Pacific became the provincial election, Environment bright white pulp fibre for the successful business it is today. Minister Ian Reid announced that an papermakers of the world. Better independent panel would review Al- known as “Al-Pac”, it was one of On December 1988, Premier Getty Pac’s environmental assessment and those projects often described as formally announced the approval conduct public hearings – a major “biggest”, “newest” and “fastest”. of what would be Alberta-Pacific change from the previous procedure. Much has been made of the Forest Industries Inc. Construction In the Athabasca riding, newly technology that allowed Alberta- was scheduled to start by the fall of elected Progressive Conservative 1989, and start-up was predicted in Pacific to live up to those billings, Member of the Legislative AlbertaForestHistory.ca but anyone who has worked for, June 1991. Three trusted Crestbrook Assembly, Mike Cardinal, was a or with, the company knows the employees – Pulp Mill Manager Jerry strong supporter of the Alberta- real secret to its success – the Fenner, Engineering Manager Ted Pacific project and saw it as a vital people. By recruiting some of the Jackson, and Woodlands Manager economic stimulus that would bring finest people in the business, then Bob Rualt, joined by more than new opportunities to the community. building training programs for a dozen consultants and other To outsiders, the transformation in locals and developing a climate Crestbrook employees, immediately the mill’s proposal appeared to occur began preparing a 1,200-page and to respect and learn from their and learn from and to respect has values. The company cultural with partnerships numerous formed and communities, local businesses ways to cooperate new and found other with northeastern Alberta’s sector. such as the energy land users operations, beginning Since has prided itself Alberta-Pacific its leader for on being a world as practices management forest and social as its economic well were These efforts contributions. validated in September 2005, achieved when the company Council® Stewardship Forest The current certification. (FSC®) of 5.9 million hectares certification Al-Pac’s of (14.5 million acres) Agreement Management Forest the largest represents (FMA) area world. in the forest FSC-certified 3 with Woodlands team members team members with Woodlands Brown, Conn Plourde, including Ken Lefebvre. Doug Sklar and Ed the representing Directors – partners Alberta-Pacific three – Mitsubishi and Kazaki Crestbrook, on April 24, 1991, met in Edmonton to begin approval formal and gave September 1, Since construction. 1993, the mill has filled thousands bales of with millions of cars rail of $1.3-billion The pulp. kraft bleached had one of industrial complex smoothest start-ups the fastest, Sound any pulp mill anywhere. of the and incorporating engineering, a truly created latest technologies, on the edge facility world-class forest. vast boreal Alberta’s of a has demonstrated Alberta-Pacific to create commitment continuing Aboriginal people, opportunities for 2 1 overnight, but in fact, between the between but in fact, overnight, in 1988 proposal initial project in approval government and formal an weathered 1991, Alberta-Pacific political storm of unprecedented controversy. and environmental board review A federal-provincial scrutinizing the spent nearly a year impacts. anticipated environmental the project Looking back, however, allowed say the process leaders them to anticipate and address that might the problems many of Ruault, like arisen otherwise. have had foresters, many progressive to approach a new been envisioning a long time, for management forest both provided and Alberta-Pacific the opportunity and the necessity into practice to the put the concept This was assisted scale. on a large Daryl Hebert, a Dr. with the hiring of who worked biologist, professional

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 54 Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Celebrates 25 Years 55 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

4 5

6

In addition to being a world leader Previous Page: Tour of Alberta Pacific Forest Industries in kraft pulp production, Al-Pac mill construction; 1992 also produces renewable energy 1. Tour of Alberta Pacific Forest Industries site; from forest biomass to power crane construction; 1992 our millsite as well as supply this power to Alberta’s grid – enough 2. Alberta Pacific Forest Industries mill, north of Grassland, Alberta to power 22,000 homes/year. 3. L to R: Bob Ruault, Wayne Staudt, Ed Taylor, Jim Stevens, With innovation at its core, George Jackson, Ted Jackson, Jerry Fenner; Sitting: Al-Pac is continually investing in Stuart Lang; Core executive group charged with making the new opportunities to diversify its Alberta-Pacific project a success; early 1990s business including developing 4. L to R: Brent Rabik, Business Development and North America’s first bio-methanol Government Affairs; Dale Bencharsky, President and CEO; plant, and the development of Cal Dakin, Woodlands Manager; Alpac 25th celebration; November 21, 2018 cellulose-nanocrystals production in

Alberta. Al-Pac believes sustainable 5. L to R: Masayasu (Mike) Inoue, Bill Hunter, Jerry Fenner, AlbertaForestHistory.ca forest management is a pillar of the Wayne Staudt, Masatoshi (Mark) Kawakami, Canadian economy, but it requires Fumikazu (Fumi) Matsuura; Sitting: Shukuro Ishikawa leadership, vision, and the ability 6. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier presenting to adapt to, and invest in change. 25th anniversary plaque to Dale Bencharsky 1

Our very first reunion (17th year) was held in 1985 at reunion (17th first Our very Hinton, on the of northwest Camp, the Wild Hay Group a of I was in charge Park. Wilderness Wilmore of edge the Edson in program development recreational large and at the time, Service with the Alberta Forest Forest this felt we upgrades, with the Wild Hay campground Peter reunion. Premier our first was an ideal spot for the future Lougheed held a team meeting discussing our reunion. following Park Wilderness Wilmore the of in 1988, 1991, held reunions have then, we Since 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and our 50th is a reunions all our point of 2018. A focal this year, of wee hours often lasts into the which campfire, large day banquet is also a regular A second the morning. ball and a wind-up golf bocce Horseshoes, occurrence. the activities. During our 25th part of tournament are Bob and Patty baseball was on the agenda! reunion, and all the reunions, a photo album on kept Webb As donated this album to our care. graciously has Patty of documented account well a very have we a result, that day, From passing. up to Bob’s our reunions all of the 40th and myself, who organized Wakeford, Bruce a have the 45th and 50th reunions, who organized those reunions. from photographs of record good for being planned is already reunion Our 53rd Inn. Creek August 2021, again at the Prairie

REUNION TH

BY ED PICHOTA CLASS OF 1968 – 1968 CLASS OF 50 The NAIT Forest Technology School graduating class of of class School graduating Technology The NAIT Forest August from 50th reunion successful 1968 held its very Inn on the Creek met at the Prairie 14 to 16, 2018. We Rocky south of 17 kilometres Creek, Prairie bank of west 14 of 35 graduates, of a class Out of Mountain House. the Northwest Adlem from us attended; including Floyd B.C., George, Prince from Hochachka Walt Territories, us of Chemainus, B.C. The rest from and Brian Aaberg our last instructor Murphy, Alberta. Peter from were it, but did not make at the school, could and director was instrumental Peter the class. tribute for send a nice of group and strong professional a very in assembling rewarding long and on who started us off instructors Ontkean, included George These instructors careers. Hartmann and John Dick Hillson, Joe Richert, Paul Dick Stan Lockard, Wagar, year; and John in first Tewnion and Al Walker Harry Edgecombe, Altmann, Jack Macnab, since have our class Nine of year. John Benson in second our reunion only able to be part of on, and were passed Dave Arychuk, Gerald are in our hearts and minds. They Mulak, Harvey Jim McDermid, Ken Bob Gordon, Fournier, Randy Steiner and Bob Webb. Roswell, Bob Rickert, not able to attend. The reunion were others Several memories, stories not previously included re-lived plain and simple and a lot of (and some repeated), heard away. passed Fauville B.S. In January 2019, Dave

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 56 Class of 1968 - 50th Reunion 57 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. Forest Technology School sign; 2 Hinton, Alberta; early 1960s

2. Winter camp tent frames; Cache Percotte Forest; 1966

3. Campfire construction during winter camp; Cache Percotte Forest; 1966 (Brydon Ward front row, second from the right)

4. Back Row (L to R): Harold Evenson, Tony Wispinski, Don Law, Randy Steiner, Ian Brace, Norm Olsen, Bryan Allan, Brydon Ward, Kelly O’Shea; Middle (L to R): Ken South behind Walter Hochachka and Harvey Rickert; Front Row (L to R): Morris Walters, Walt Hochachka, Conn Brown, Bob Gordon, Ed Pichota, 3 Morley Christie; first reunion of the 1968 NAIT Forestry Class; 1985

4 AlbertaForestHistory.ca

th

th Reunion; 2008 th reunion; 1993 th Reunion; 2018 Reunion; 2018 th th Reunion; 2013 Ken 6. Back Row (L to R): Bruce Wakeford, South, Floyd Adlem, Rick Bambrick, Walter Don Ward, Brydon Ed Pichota, Hochachka, Allan, Harold Bryan Law (behind Brydon), Evenson; Front Row Kneeling (L to R): Conn Brown, Lafleur, Larry Brian Aaberg, Class NAIT Forestry Kelly O’Shea; 1968 50 reunion; 1993 Bob and 2. Reunion artwork from Webb Patty O’Shea, 3. Back Row (L to R): Audrey Sue Ward, Steiner, Janet South, Jean Ann Patti Anderson, Grace Brown, Margaret Webb; Front Row (L to R): Janice Pichota, Susan Christie, Lynda Allan, Donna Law, NAIT Joan Evanson; wives at the 1968 Class 25 Forestry 1. Back Row (L to R): Randy Steiner, Steiner, 1. Back Row (L to R): Randy Ed Pichota, Bob Webb, Harold Evenson, Anderson; Dennis Conn Brown, Don Law, South, Kelly Front Row (L to R): Ken Ward, Brydon O’Shea, Morley Christie, Class 25 NAIT Forestry Allan; 1968 Bryan 7. L to R: Brydon Ward and Kelly O’Shea Ward 7. L to R: Brydon Technology NAIT Forest wearing their 1968 School class jackets; 2018 8. Back Row (L to R): Donna Wakeford, Sharon Hochachka, Janet South, Marjorie Aabeg, Bambrick, Janice Pichota, Agnes Joan Evenson, Judy Lefleur, Sue Ward, O’Shea, Lynda Brown, Audrey Margaret Allan, Donna Law (behind Lynda Allan); Class Ladies NAIT Forestry 1968 50 4. Standing (L to R): Dick Hillson, Ken Harold Evenson, Arychuk, South, Gerald Bryan Rick Bambrick, Dave Fournier, Kelly Ward, Christie, Brydon Allen, Ryerson O’Shea, Joe Rickert (about to turn 90); Lefleur, Larry Aaberg, Brian R): to (L Seated Thor Bruce Wakeford, Hochachka, Walter Knapp, Conn Brown, Floyd Adlem; 1968 Class 40 NAIT Forestry 5. Back Row (L to R): Bob Glover (Basic Floyd Adlem, Bruce 1968), Course, Ranger Allan, Rick Ed Pichota, Bryan Wakeford, Kelly O’Shea, Ward, Bambrick, Brydon Gerald Hochachka, Rickert, Walter Harvey (L to R): Dennis Front Row Arychuk; Lafleur, Larry Brian Aaberg, Anderson, Conn Brown, Morley Christie, Harold Class 45 NAIT Forestry Evenson; 1968 Reunion Reunion th Although Peter Murphy was unable to attend the 1968 unable was Although Peter Murphy reunion, class School graduating NAIT Forest Technology Creek “The Prairie summary. the following he did provide I wonder if this is the site choice of location. Inn is a great in the and Claire Kennedy by Larry started of the operation if not the by, Creek Inn looks like it is close 1960s. The Prairie House. in Rocky Mountain raised Kennedy was same. Larry natural so it was a logger and sawmiller, was His father full- real the first at UBC and became that he took forestry Forest Service. He started for the Alberta time silviculturist at the then seedlings raised program, the cone collection first major seedling Oliver Tree Nursery and supervised the skiers, and were keen cross-country He and Claire plantings. outdoor their own business based on those decided to start activities. Theyan old house and a few bought the land with weekend guests. They with had modestly and started cabins and built trails cut rooms in their big house and a few cabins, and a major log building shelters, later adding more cabins with help. We visited that they designed and built themselves, hiking and winter skiing. They later for fall often as a family but left concerns arose, to the BC coast when health moved to give you but wanted This is a long story, a nice legacy. is their old property, some background, whether or not this setting with a ‘forestry’ historical Creek Inn is in a the Prairie influence. schools, NAIT at the class, not only Yours has been a notable in your individual and the Forest Technology School, but sense. I am sure that contributions to forestry in its broadest your individual careers, in satisfaction of you takes each achievements. and should feel good about your collective sessions, both in I have enjoyed your previous anniversary Your announcements have always person and vicariously. of to refresh memories me back to your yearbook drawn you as individuals and as a class. It also reminds me about the instructors at both institutions; we got lucky in their I and enthusiastic support of the program. availability perhaps the seem to be among the last of them standing, great alive in my memories. It was last, but they are all to be able to work with them and to share with them the as we went along. It seems strange trials and successes did not include the NAIT that your Yearbook in retrospect about you as we did at Hinton. As who felt as keenly team they Dick Joe Rickert, included George Ontkean, I recall, Hartmann and John Tewnion – a pretty talented Paul Hillson, Dick Hinton were John Wagar, and committed group! At John Benson, Harry Edgecombe, Jack Lockard, Altmann, Stan of us with our What a bunch! And, all Macnab and Al Walker. What a hoot to individual interests and quirks of personality. enjoyed sharing we all be able to work with you and, I know, we collectively, with you. As staff, our knowledge and skills savoured our own memories and stories of tribulations in the as you do from the of recollection spirit same light-hearted receiving end. And, at the end, “we done good!” Nice going – of you.” to all Class of 1968 – 50 Class of 1968

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 58 Class of 1968 – 50th Reunion 59 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8 AlbertaForestHistory.ca At the legion they with mitts; punch bags At at ping-pong we You do pushups and spar, - star all in town for 2-bits. It’s the best deal Guys are up on their toes from the time the goes; bell Some are mighty tough, like Henry Houle. They to win, and of course out go all Twin Laurence a clout like a kick from a mule. Packs And if you’re out of luck, if you don’t clinch or duck big black peeper; great end up with a You’ll when the gloves be the case well This can on you lace Charlie Ghostkeeper. or With Wilf Auger Chorus: Home, home in Slave Lake the cake; Yes, that boxing club sure takes Out of town or at home or wherever they roam - no mistake. and skill They show courage 2. Michelle Shesterniak with the new Lake Arboretum; sign at the Footner September 29, 2018 And all thrive without hullaballoo; And all Where they and only no man do fear drink beer When there ain’t nothing better to do. sure the Board of Trade With our brave town is just made - of a brand-new There is talk pulp mill; Not to mention a bank and a jail of rank first Hill. on Rabbit And a sky scraper sit our councilors a bit till And if you wait be progress forthcoming; really There will galore and What with sidewalks a posh liquor store, Plus the most up-to--date indoor plumbing. Yes, this is the place where the radar based was And the Forestry knows every dodge; to run For no longer is smoke allowed amoke, not since they Hodge. least hired Percy At of a great Sammy Sinclair is the Dean boxing team

1. The original 1968 sign at the Footner sign at the Footner 1. The original 1968 Area; Lake Arboretum; High Level Forest September 29, 2018 Oh, give me a home where the Slave River foams And the lake glitters bright in the sun; happy and Where people you find, friendly, kind, ‘round we have lots of fun. And the year Chorus: Home, home in Slave Lake Where the men do the cooking and bake; as theyWhere girls like to talk court or they walk And the horses and cows - goodness sake. and some like to Where some like to farm fish

The Slave Lake Anthem is a poem Lake The Slave in the a towerman Collins, Mike by who sent it to Mr. Forest, Lake Slave 1962. Donald Buck around and Mrs. in ranger Donald Buck was a forest 1923 to 1931, later from Lake Slave to Victoria, B.C. in 1956. retiring a package The poem was part of Frances Murphy by sent to Peter of a collection (Buck) Chapman, from had saved. documents her parents LAKE ANTHEM SLAVE SLAVE ANTHEM LAKE BY MIKE COLLINS

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 60 61 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

1 2 FOOTNER LAKE ARBORETUM TURNS 50! BY MICHELLE SHESTERNIAK

High Level Forest Area staff celebrated the 50th Footner Lake itself was named after Hulburt Footner, anniversary of the Footner Lake Arboretum in a Canadian journalist and author, who explored the September 2018. Due to the passage of time and upper Peace River country in 1906. He returned to department reorganizations, many records related Alberta in 1909, and with a companion explored the to the arboretum were not found; and as such, the mouth of the Hay River in the Northwest Territories. following article is based on what information is known and knowledge of staff within forestry. During the early days, the forest was viewed as a source of trees for products and economic development, with Forest Superintendent H.R. (Rex) Winn established the the main focus being improved coniferous timber Footner Lake Arboretum in 1968, shortly following the production. This is reflected in the motto for the AlbertaForestHistory.ca creation of the Footner Lake Forest. In 1966, the Alberta arboretum “Better Wood for the Future”. The original Forest Service made the decision to divide what was species planted in the arboretum were Douglas Fir, know then as the Peace River Forest into two forests, Siberian Larch and non-native pine and spruce, such recognizing the increasing importance of the forests in as Scots pine and Norway Spruce. The planting of the very far north part of the province, in the High Level these species was to determine if any of the most area. The new forest was named Footner Lake, from the popular timber species from other areas would do well local lake situated just north of High Level, Alberta. in northern climates. As forestry evolved to include other forest values, the arboretum also evolved. 62 Footner Lake Arboretum Turns 50!

TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 During the late 1980’s or early 1990’s, then forest superintendent Jordan Johnston introduced non- 1 timber species including Russian Olive, Honeysuckle and Hawthorn. Over the years, additional species were added. Today, there are 24 species including firs, spruces, pines, larches, lindens, elms, honeysuckle and hawthorn. Of special note are the Silver Maple and the Rocky Mountain Juniper.

In the last few years, there has been renewed interest in the arboretum and its potential value for education and public enjoyment. Realizing that 2018 was the 50th anniversary of the arboretum, the staff of the High Level Forest Area planned a major renovation project. A new entrance sign was commissioned, retaining the information from the original 1968 sign. A new entrance gateway and sign posts were installed using local tamarack, generously donated by La Crete Sawmills. Agriculture and Forestry staff, including summer students, patrolmen, Junior Forest Rangers, a Firetack crew, and several Helitack crew members did all of the work of peeling logs, building a gravel pathway, installing posts, hanging the sign, pruning and thinning. All the staff did a great job on a project that required creativity, ingenuity and lots of hard work.

A public bar-b-que was held on September 29, 2018 to celebrate the anniversary. Of the approximately 40 people who attended, some of them had not 2 even realized that the arboretum was there. Most were impressed and considered visiting again in the summer when all the trees would be leafed out.

Future plans are to add additional information, especially for some of the native species that form the ground cover and to include traditional uses of the plants. The arboretum is located between Pierre’s Pond, which is stocked with Rainbow Trout and has a picnic area, and the Northern Lights Forest Education Society walking trails along Footner Lake. A relaxing, informative nature tour could easily encompass all three sites.

The arboretum is one of those projects that has been affected by changing priorities and departmental AlbertaForestHistory.ca reorganizations over the years. By partnering with the Northern Lights Forest Education Society, it is anticipated that the arboretum can be better maintained and enjoyed more often by students and the public. 63 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

3

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS BY DEREK NIGHBOR

On November 11, Canadians will pay tribute to the men products industry was a dominating economic force and women who have served our country during times in Canada’s early history and the British Government of conflict and honour those who made the ultimate quickly discovered there was nobody more experienced sacrifice in order for all of us to enjoy the freedoms we or qualified to harvest timber than Canadians. In 1916, have today. What many people may not be aware of is British Colonial Secretary, Andrew Bonar Law, made a the story of the Canadian Forestry Corps, which made request of the Governor General of Canada to deploy a significant contribution to Allied efforts during the Canadian lumbermen to aid in the cutting and processing First and Second World Wars – but one which is often of timber. Later that year, the Canadian Forestry Corps overlooked. was created.

The Forestry Corps was created during the First World At the time, Canada shipped processed timber across War when it was discovered that huge quantities of the Atlantic to Britain. However, due to the high risk of wood were needed on the Western Front. The forest travelling overseas from German U-boats, it was deemed AlbertaForestHistory.ca

1. L to R: Michelle Shesterniak and 2. Barbeque celebration with 3. Bushman and Sawmill Hands Darren Tapp amongst the trees at Terry Jessiman cooking; Wanted; 1945 the Footner Lake Arboretum; Footner Lake Arboretum anniversary; November 29, 2018 September 29, 2018 64 Paying Tribute to the Canadian Forestry Corps

TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 safer to bring the manpower to work in the forests of Britain 1 and continental Europe. Approximately 24,000 men served as part of the Forestry Corps in various parts of Europe, producing lumber for barracks, trenches, bridges and railway beds – to build crates for food and ammunition – and sadly, to construct coffins. By the end of the war, the Corps had produced approximately 85,000 tonnes of round timber, 260 million board feet of lumber, and over 200,000 tons of fuel and slabs.

Besides producing lumber, the Corps was also trained as infantry and occasionally served on the front lines to assist in the quick construction of rail and road systems in the wake of attacking troops. On one occasion, when a request was made for 500 men to join infantry duty, records show that almost 1,300 volunteered. By the time the offensive had been halted, a large number of Corps members had served in some capacity on the front lines.

When the Corps was disbanded in 1920 shortly after the end of the war, it is estimated they were responsible for 70 percent of all lumber that had been used by Allied forces.

In 1940, the Canadian Forestry Corps was re-established in response to the start of WWII to play the same role. Once again, thousands of volunteers came forward, many 1. The Pulp and Paper Industry of of them veterans of the First World War. Thirty companies Canada ‘War Magic’ advertisement; 1945 were drawn from all regions of Canada including Quebec. Altogether about 7,000 men were deployed to Scotland. 2. Dr. Marty Alexander holding his Ember Award, Missoula, Montana, As we mark Remembrance Day, let’s pause and honour May 23, 2018. Photo by Steve Miller the many contributions and the ultimate sacrifice made by so many – and have touched the lives of all Canadians, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or social class. The Canadian Forestry Corps was made up of men who went from the back bushes of rural Canada to the front lines of war – and to all of them and their families and loved ones, we owe a debt of gratitude.

To learn more about the Canadian Forestry Corps you can visit these resources:

Canadian Forestry Corps, canadiansoldiers.com: http://www. canadiansoldiers.com/corpsbranches/forestrycorps.htm

AlbertaForestHistory.ca Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Canadian Forestry Corps, Library and Archives of Canada: http://www. collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.010-e.pdf 65 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

2 ALEXANDER RECEIVES EMBER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN WILDLAND FIRE SCIENCE

Dr. Marty Alexander, formerly a senior fire behavior Marty had previously received the International Wildland research officer with the Canadian Forest Service (1976- Fire Safety Award from the IAWF in 2003. 2010) received the Ember Award from the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) at a ceremony held in In semi-retirement, Marty has continued to stay active Missoula, Montana, on May 23, 2018. The Ember Award in the field of wildland fire science, with a particular has been bestowed on six previous recipients since emphasis on the application of fire behavior knowledge 2006, including two previous Canadians -- Charlie Van to ensuring the safety of firefighters and members of the Wagner in 2012 and Brian Stocks in 2017. public from wildfires. AlbertaForestHistory.ca The purpose of the IAWF Ember Award is to recognize sustained excellence in wildland fire research and to encourage innovation, exploration, application, and dissemination of important research results. 66 HOT OFF THE PRESS TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 LEARNING FROM THE LANDSCAPE, THE fRI RESEARCH STORY BY ROBERT D. BOTT AND ROBERT W. UDELL

One notable project of the CFA from 1919 to 1973 was the Tree Planting Car, a joint project with the two As a teaser for the recently released national railways. The “travelling schoolhouse” criss- Learning from the Landscape, The fRI crossed the Prairies each summer, teaching farmers Research Story; Chapter Eight, CCFM and townspeople to plant shelterbelts, fruit trees, Criterion Six, Society’s Responsibility has a historical context section on Knowledge and ornamentals. Its lecturers also gave educational Exchange and Informed Decision Making presentations for schoolchildren. After 1933, it doubled (Pages 263 to 266) that have been as the Conservation Car and also toured parkland areas included in this edition of Trails and to promote the wise use of all renewable resources, Tails with permission of the authors. including forests and trees. The railcar hosted more than 1.5 million visitors and travelled more than 400,000 kilometresii. Greg and Gladys Stevens joined this project in 1962 and continued by motor vehicle for another 10 years after the railway car was retired.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT “For 21 years, Greg, as Smokey the Bear, and Gladys, as Bertie Beaver, travelled across the prairies In 1900, a group of influential citizens from government speaking to more than 600,000 children, teachers, and industry established the Canadian Forestry parents, and other adults about conservation, the i Association (CFA) , the nation’s first and oldest forest, and the need for its protection. Driving a conservation organization. Though emphasis has varied, truck, hauling a trailer, or being hauled in a forestry it has continued to pursue the founding objectives: conservation railway car over thousands of miles of rail or pavement, gravel, mud, and streams, they • Advocate and encourage judicious methods survived many highway hazards, flipping over once, in dealing with Canada’s forests and three train wrecks. He [Greg] received numerous • Awaken public interest in the dangers awards, including the Alberta Achievement Award, resulting from undue destruction of the Alberta Teachers Association Environmental and timber along rivers and streams Outdoor Education Merit Award, the Calgary Board of Education Lamp of Learning Award, and was • Consider and recommend improvements regarding the first Western Canadian to receive the Tourism the development of forested public lands Industry Association of Canada Governor General’s Conservation Award in 1983.” • Promote tree planting in treeless areas, along – Obituary of Greg Stevens, AlbertaForestHistory.ca streets, and in parks of villages, towns, and cities Winnipeg Free Press, November 14, 2001iii • Collect and disseminate information on forestry Other CFA initiatives have included sponsoring forestry issues for the benefit of the Canadian public conferences, National Forestry Week, tree-planting programs, Envirothon1 competitions, and Forest Capital of Canada events in various locations. The association published The Canadian Forestry Journal until 1959, and since 2000, it has produced the Canada’s Forests Hot off the Press 67

1 Envirothon is an environmentally themed competition for high school students TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 in Canada and the United States. The annual competition includes problem-solving presentations and written field tests. Winning provincial and state teams go on to a bi-national competition. The U.S. sponsor is the National Conservation Foundation. The competition dates back to a 1979 Environmental Olympics in Pennsylvania, and Canadian provinces became involved in 1992. Topics include environmental ecology, forestry, soils, land use, and wildlife.

2 Canada’s other faculties of forestry are at the University of New Brunswick (established 1908), Laval University (1912), University of British Columbia (1921), University of Alberta (1970), Lakehead University (1971), University of Moncton (1985), and University of Northern British Columbia (1993).

3 The Junior Forest Wardens originated in British Columbia in 1930, where they were initially called Junior Forest Fire Wardens. The outdoor-oriented program, for youth aged 6 to 18, was administered by the provincial government in Alberta from 1961 to 2007. The national and provincial organizations continue today.

4 Michael Voisin left the AFPA in 1994 to become director of communications for Weldwood Canada at the corporate head office in Vancouver. In that position, until 1998, he continued to play an active role in communications for the company’s Hinton operation, the model forest, and the Alberta forest industry. After a stint in Ontario, he returned to Alberta in 2003 as director of business and public affairs for Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries. He retired in 2015.

Teaching Kit Series. In 1986, the provincial affiliate, At Hinton, one of the first employees of North the Alberta Forestry Association, published Alberta Western Pulp & Power in 1955 was former forest Trees of Renown: An Honour Roll of Alberta Trees.iv ranger Robin Huth, who soon moved from timber cruising to managing public relations and later The CFA’s professional counterpart, the Canadian industrial relations. Huth joined the Hinton Chamber Institute of Forestry (CIF), was founded in 1908, one year of Commerce and became president of the Home after the University of Toronto established Canada’s first and School Association. He and the company’s chief 2 Faculty of Forestry . The institute’s journal, The Forestry forester, Des Crossley, established the first Alberta Chronicle, began publication in 1925 and continues to chapter of the Junior Forest Wardens3 to involve young provide a major means of peer-to-peer communication people in forestry. Until he left the company in 1964, about policy issues, scientific research, and best Huth wrote regular columns for the Hinton Herald practices in Canada. CIF conferences and regional section newspapervi. He later wrote Horses to Helicopters: meetings provide forums for knowledge exchange Stories of the Alberta Forest Service, published in 1980, among professional foresters in industry, academia, and a memoir, Outdoor Junkie, published in 2006. government, and non-government organizations. Since 2011, the CIF and CFA have pooled resources to develop Crossley and other company foresters such as Jack and deliver educational programs and services. Wright and Jim Clark were active in the Rocky Mountain Section of the CIF, and Crossley also served as national From 1948 to 1973, the federal-provincial Eastern CIF president in 1966–1967. They advocated for creation Rockies Forest Conservation Board undertook public of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Alberta education in the foothills region regarding wildfire risks, in 1970 and the establishment of the Forest Industry forestry, land use, water resources, and erosion. From Lecture Series there in 1976–1977. Crossley produced 1958 to 1971, the provincial Department of Lands and more than 40 publications in his career, including an Forests published a bimonthly magazine called Land- invited paper, “Application of Scientific Discoveries Forest-Wildlife (Land-Forests-Parks-Wildlife after 1967). and Modern Technologies in Silviculture,” for the AlbertaForestHistory.ca W.H. (Bill) MacDonald, the department’s “publicity Sixth World Forestry Congress in Madrid in 1966 and officer,” edited the magazine for nine years and also his major paper for the Alberta Forestry Association, v published booklets on specific topics such as fishing . “Toward a Vitalization of Canadian Forests,” in 1985. Various short-lived publications followed, but there He also served at various times on the Senate of the were few government or non-government conservation University of Alberta, the regional advisory board of the publications of similar scope for general audiences Canadian Forest Service, the advisory committee of the until the Alberta Conservation Association launched provincial Environmental Conservation Authority, the the semi-annual Conservation magazine in 2003. 68 Learning from the Landscape, The fRI Research Story

TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 federal Arctic Land Use Research Advisory Council, and In January 1991, the Rocky Mountain Section of CIF the Alberta Forest Service Research Advisory Council. held a technical session in Calgary on the “Forestry- Media Relationship” to address the profession’s In 1986, the Government of Alberta embarked on public image. Two journalists and an academic told an ambitious program to expand and modernize the about 70 attendees that foresters needed “intelligent province’s forest industry. This effort was led from responses” to “help media separate fact from fiction.” 1986 to 1993 by Al Brennan as executive director Voisin outlined the ForestCARE Program, which was of a new Forest Industry Development Division in then being formulated, and said it would show the the Department of Forestry, Lands, and Wildlife public and the media that the forest companies (Department of Environmental Protection after 1992). were “responsible and good corporate citizens.”vii Brennan’s division produced publications, speeches, and presentations to inform the public and investors Later in 1991, FEESA tested the concept of 12-day about the potential opportunities in Alberta’s forest professional development institutes for teachers. With resources. The effort succeeded, but the new mills and support from government and industry, one institute forest management agreements (FMAs) also attracted focused on forestry and the other on water issues. unprecedented levels of attention and controversy. The institutes gave teachers first-hand exposure to industrial operations and introduced them to experts and Directors of the Alberta Forest Products Association practitioners from industry, government, academia, and (AFPA) recognized by 1990 that they could not rely non-government organizations. This approach gained solely on government public relations to assure financial backing in 1992 from the Canada-Alberta the public about the industry’s sustainability. Partnership Agreement in Forestry, which led to a series 4 The AFPA recruited Michael Voisin , who had of Forestry Education Institutes in 1992, 1993, and faced somewhat similar challenges while working 1994. The institute programs included sessions in Hinton in the Ontario chemical industry, to become with participants from Weldwood and the model forest. the association’s director of communications. Participants included school teachers, administrators, Voisin’s experience and advocacy helped consultants, post-secondary instructors, and educational staff from government and industry. In addition, the AFPA member companies to develop the ForestCARE Canada-Alberta Partnership provided funding for FEESA Codes of Practice, a monitoring and improvement to produce three educational videos (two 60-minute program backed by third-party certification. Soon after and one 45-minute) on forestry-related issues. Voisin’s arrival, the AFPA also partnered with the Friends of Environmental Education Society of Alberta (FEESA) to produce educational materials and programs. At the same time, the association commissioned Robert Bott to write a 64-page educational booklet on the Alberta forest industry, Our Growing Resource, published in 1992. AlbertaForestHistory.ca

5. FEESA was founded in 1985 by educator Jim Martin (1949–2016) to provide teachers and students with “bias- balanced” knowledge of environmental issues. The organization was known as FEESA, An Environmental Education Society, until 2004, when its name changed to Inside Education. Martin served as executive director until 2005, after which he founded and led the Centre for Environment-Economy Learning. In 2011, he received an Alberta Emerald Award for individual commitment to environmental protection. FORESTRY DIVISION 69 MEETING 1961 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

A three day conference of Forestry Division branch heads, superintendents, assistant superintendents and foresters was held February 1961 in Edmonton. Chaired by E. S. (Eric) Huestis, Director of Forestry, the meetings covered those aspects of administration, protection and management of Alberta’s forests.

Fred McDougall saved the article and provided the following historical context. “I think this particular photo was designed for the newspapers in 1. Newsprint article from Thursday, AlbertaForestHistory.ca and surrounding the old Peace River Forest, which at the time, covered all February 16, 1961 on the Alberta Forest of northwest Alberta, including what later became the Footner Lake Forest. Service conference in Edmonton; My presence was as a member of Larry Gauthier’s Peace River management Peace River Gazette; February 16, 1961 team. Note also that Ray Smuland (Grande Prairie) and Jack MacGregor (Slave Lake) represented neighbouring forests. Eric Huestis, and particularly his executive assistant Lola Cameron, were particularly media smart, and knew how to give the media what they wanted while getting good positive Alberta Forest Service coverage in return. Larry Gauthier was a very good Forest 70 Forestry Division Meeting 1961

TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 Superintendent. He was in the firm but fair category, with cruised by Forest Surveys so he did not have to divert a reputation for being very intense when crossed. He his field staff. He directed that I should work through the believed in the chain of command, but delegated well District Ranger, Jack Grant, who was his usual affable and backed up his staff against criticism, particularly self and very helpful in making arrangements with local if it was political. Rex Winn was a personal friend. We suppliers and an outfitter. There was no Ranger Station hunted ducks and geese together, and I (a bachelor) at Hines Creek, Jack ran the district out of his home. He was a frequent guest at his home for Sunday dinner, was tagging beaver hides on his front lawn on one of my after which we re-organized the Peace River Forest, the visits that spring. When my crew assembled, coming by Alberta Forest Service, the Alberta Government and bus from Peace River, we used an empty boxcar at the John Diefenbaker’s policies and politics. Rex was highly “end of steel” of the NAR railway line as a temporary regarded by the staff, very knowledgeable, and very bunkhouse. I agree with Fred’s assessment of Larry – he good at organization, preparedness, and firefighting. was keen and dedicated to the Alberta Forest Service. No one ever won an argument with Rex, but at the same time, he knew how to listen and learn. Later on, At the end of July we moved to Grande Prairie, crossing in the 1970s, Rex did a fabulous job starting up and the Peace River on the Dunvegan ferry, and got the running the new Pine Ridge Forest Nursery as it’s first same kind of help from Ray Smuland and his assistant superintendent. My only direct contact with Senior Ev Stanley. The Forest Headquarters was in a converted Superintendent Ted Hamer was the time I called asking house, quite cramped, but there were not that many to use one of the new J helicopters to ferry my cruising at Forest Headquarters then; the Radio staff were a crew into a particularly remote location. Just a lift in major component. Ev had arranged for an outfitter and a lift out. In those days Forest Protection managed from Wembly; we met them at “Smoky City” – one of the government aircraft. Hammer was known to guard the first wells in that area and the end of road south. them with his life. I called, knowing it was a long shot We left with about 16 packhorses, fording the Cutbank but thinking, ‘what have I got to lose’. When I called and River to work between the Cutbank and Smoky Rivers. made my request, there was a long silence. I thought, Ray, too, was glad to see his timber cruised for him, maybe I have a chance after all. Then there was a reply they had tried a cruise during the previous winter NO-NO-NO-NO, and he hung up. I got the cruise done but could not do much for lack of access and staff. with my trusty John Deere caterpillar tractor and wagon.” I suspect there may have been two factors that When asked for his comments on the photograph, may have influenced Ted Hammer’s “No, no, no, no” Peter Murphy provided the following. “I attended response to Fred’s request for helicopter assistance. that Superintendent’s meeting held in January 24 One was that Ted Hammer had been a horse-back and 25, 1961. I was at Hinton at that time, and gave ranger on the Brazeau-Athabasca Forest and would a review of the new school and training programs on have been conditioned to tough things out on the the second day then drove back to Hinton – we were job. The other, perhaps most influential point, was in full training mode at the time and getting started on sensitivity to perceptions of the use of aircraft. fire control training programs. The Superintendent’s I recall discussions at Head Office, in the old Natural meetings were useful sessions for updates, proposals Resources Building, about getting approval to purchase and discussion of problems, and great opportunities the first AFS aircraft, the Fleet Courier IYZ in 1957. to meet field staff. I agree with Fred’s assessment As I understood discussions, the AFS (or at least the of Lola Cameron’s role, she was a great organizer Alberta government) had a fixed-wing aircraft during and was a major link between Head Office and field, the late 1940s, early 1950s. Although it had been used fully dedicated to the Alberta Forest Service. by AFS on occasion, its use was dominated by one of AlbertaForestHistory.ca I met Larry Gauthier in 1955 when I was with Forest the Ministers, who used it as part of his ministerial Surveys under Reg Loomis. I was assigned two major activities, at times criticized. This ended when he timber cruises that summer, first in the Clear Hills north pranged it on a difficult landing at Morinville; Premier of Hines Creek and Eureka River, then south of Grande Manning then decided there would not be any more Prairie around Musreau Lake. Both were with packhorse Government aircraft. All this is hearsay as I recall it. access. Larry was supportive, glad to have the timber Forestry Division Meeting 1961 71

However, Huestis, Hammer and Platt were keenly had the Highway 16 access, connection to utilities, and TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 aware of the edict and when they got approval, after presence of the pulpmill. We narrowed the decision serious representations, they were resolved that to two locations: Hinton and Fox Creek, summarizing use of the aircraft would be tightly monitored to both advantages and disadvantages. Huestis agreed honour the AFS commitment not to be seen to mis- to present the two options to Hon. Norman Willmore use it. I have the impression that the main rationale – Huestis said that Willmore considered them both for the later purchase of the helicopter was for its and said that if there was a choice, he would choose importance in fire control, so Hammer’s multi “no” to have it in his riding. And so it was. As it turned to a non-fire application is not surprising to me. out, Ted Hammer had already identified the site in Hinton and had arranged a land reservation on which In 1959, when it looked like funds for constructing to build both a new Ranger Station and the future a new Forestry Training School would be approved, FTS – based on his knowledge of the area from his it re-opened the question about where to build it. Forest Ranger days. He was undoubtedly strongly Several sites had been suggested in a review by Victor influential in the decision, but he was remarkably Heath around 1953, that included Nordegg, Hinton and objective in our discussions – I give him a lot of credit the Fox Creek area, but no decision had been made. for that. And, in my opinion, it was the right decision.” Nordegg offered the facilities of the abandoned town, including the relatively new school. Fox Creek offered the opportunity to focus on the boreal forest and Hinton

SOVEREIGN’S MEDAL FOR VOLUNTEERS

In an interview with Laura Button from the Rocky Mountain House The Mountaineer, Pat said “I got a phone call on a Saturday morning, and you know AlbertaForestHistory.ca you get a few crank calls once in awhile. It was this man saying ‘Mr. McDonald, you’ve won the Governor General’s award,’ and I said ‘bull!’ Well I had to apologize to the guy, but I thought he was joking.” Pat McDonald was one of a handful of Albertans It was no joke. McDonald is one of only a handful presented with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by Governor General Julie Payette as part of the of Alberta recipients of a special medal, minted in Canada 150 celebrations; May 2018 honour of Canada 150. 72 TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019

MARKDON’T FORGET YOUR YOUR TEETH AND CALENDARDON’T FORGET YOUR STONES AND BRING IT BRING IT

MARCH 8-9, 2020 MARCH 8-9, 2020 AFS OLDTIMERS E.S. HUESTIS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT CURLING BONSPIEL ND AFS OLDTIMERS ST E.S. HUESTIS 32 ANNUAL Athabasca,HOCKEY Alberta TOURNAMENT 41ANNUAL Athabasca,CURLING Alberta BONSPIEL MARCHContact Charlene 4-5, Guerin at 2017 MARCHContact Greg Boyachuk4-5, at 2017 [email protected] MULTIPLEX | ATHABASCA, ALBERTA [email protected] MULTIPLEX | ATHABASCA, ALBERTA

Contact Charlene forGuerin further at [email protected] information to register to play Contact Greg Boyachukfor further at [email protected] information for futher information. hockey and/or help with the tournament (volunteers and referees needed).

JUNE 4-6, 2019 MARCH 20, 2019 NAIT 1969 CLASS REUNION 15TH FHAA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AlbertaForestHistory.ca Join us at the Maskuta Creek (west of Hinton) Executive Royal Hotel group camp from June 4 to 6, 2019 to celebrate 50 years. 10010 - 178 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta Anyone who graduated in 1969, Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] Contact Bruce Mayer at [email protected] for further information 73

RETIREMENTS TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

NAIT, I moved to Prince George, B.C. of, but we persisted with requesting and worked for Industrial Forestry salvage on dispositions, and it Service for two years, and then it finally became the norm. The early was back to Hinton. I was hired 1980s also saw huge exploration by Jack Wright, Chief Forester for programs with straight line, 20-foot North Western Pulp and Power, in wide seismic lines running as far as June 1976. Through organizational the eye could see. Thank God times and purchase changes, I worked for have changed. In 1988-89, I got six different companies, but never my first taste of harvest planning left the Hinton operation. I retired and I knew right away that I was from West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Hinton doing a job that I loved and as it Wood Products) at the end of 2017 turned out, I was pretty good at after spending 41 years working it. I have always maintained that with a dedicated, knowledgeable to be a good harvest planner you team of professional foresters need to know something about MORRIS ARCHIBALD managing the Hinton Forest harvest logging equipment. As a My forestry career started at a Management Agreement. result, in 1989, I applied for and got the job of Company Crew young age growing up as a Cub My first three years were spent Harvest Supervisor. Expansion of Scout, and Boy Scout in the in the silviculture (tree planting) the Hinton FMA was taking place in woods north of Prince Albert, department in the summers and the early 1990s to accommodate Saskatchewan. I had to move, with cruising Permanent Growth Sample the expansion of our pulp mill. my parents, to Drumheller, Alberta (PGS) plots in the winters. In those As a result, new roads were being in 1964, but always knew I wood days, tree planters worked directly developed and I was on the logging have to get back to the woods. My for the company being paid by the crew as we cut our way north on the one and only job with the Alberta hour, and they were all university newly planned Willow Creek Road. Forest Service was joining Junior students. Starting in 1979 through Around this same time, we were Forest Rangers in the summer of to 1987, I worked in the Land Use developing areas to the west of 1971. I was stationed at the Cache department, which was headed up Highway 40 and Switzer Provincial Percotte Forest for the month by Ray Ranger. I helped Ray (Paul Park and just to the northwest of of July, where the main job was Folkman was also part of our group) Hinton and Brule. The company peeling all the logs for the Forestry manage what we thought, at the undertook their first, extensive Museum at the Forestry School time, was a huge increase in oil and public involvement planning in Hinton. We also re-erected the gas activities. Compared to today’s process in the development of the old Moberly Cabin, which sits activities it was not really a huge Athabasca 4 compartment. I was beside the museum. The month increase. In the early 1980s, most the lead harvest-planning forester of August was spent at Emerson of the activity was taking place and engaged with numerous Lakes building the campground. north of Edson in the Marlboro

stakeholder groups from the Hinton AlbertaForestHistory.ca working circle by a large player In 1972, I attended the NAIT area. Between 2002 and 2004, a named Dome Petroleum. Gulf Forestry program, with the second harvest plan was developed, and Canada was also active southeast of year being in Hinton at the NAIT subsequently approved by the Robb with the building of the Robb Forestry School. Memorable names Alberta government. Harvesting Hanlan Gas Plant, and all associated from the school were Bernie took place in 2005, with the wellsites and pipelines. Salvaging Simpson (Head), instructors Harry haul distance being only 40 of timber from energy activities was Edgecombe, Dick Altmann, Al kilometres to the Hinton mill. In Walker, and Stan Lockhart. After something new and maybe unheard DAVID WEST in forestry, nearly 40 years After Industries Tolko from retired Dave up in on May 31, 2018. Brought a Forest as graduated Dave Ontario, University Lakehead from Technician varied, from career in 1979. Dave’s work contract private industry, many spanning to government; to 1981 he 1979 From provinces. with foreman was a woodlands Enterprises in Prince Woodlands moving Albert, Saskatchewan; as a British Columbia to Winlaw, at Slocan Forest technologist woods and BC Timber. Products Forest the early During the hiring phase of the Alberta joined 1980s, Dave as in 1982, working Service Forest Fort in Alder Flats, officer a forest and Slave McMurray Fort Chipewyan, then moved He and family Lake. worked Dave where River to Peace Daishowa created in the newly In shop. operations woods Canada’s was a loading and haul 1997, Dave before River, in Peace coordinator as in 2000 High Level to moving then General Manager the Woods Products. Forest Footner for Manager to Barwick, then moved The West’s took Dave Ontario in 2004, where with role Manager on the Woods Returning Engineered. Ainsworth worked to Alberta in 2011, Dave for consultant as a management because it kept him in shape for for him in shape because it kept not to do when the things he liked skier and Morris is an avid at work. opening day an missed never likely knew We at Marmot Basin in Jasper! dump of was a good that if there be sending that he’d overnight snow taking a an email saying he was hit he could vacation day so that most on the slopes! For the powder of his career, years the last five of our with training Morris was tasked planning group. in the hires new him show to have keen were We to how foresters of crop the next operational approach efficiently Despite being in his planning. our one of sixties, he remained Morris planners! most productive that the best also demonstrated day was a field day and was forestry ones out to the first one of always often headed out before the field, at the even were many other staffers bear story, respect to the With office. to mention that Morris neglected laying on with his day he continued out the cutblock after the bear left with a his dog and he rewarded steak that night! Then he plugged the bear’s the holes in his boot from teeth with duct tape and used them another pair of get until he could When Morris Legendary! Hanwags! knew 2017, we in December retired our group the soul of that part of Morris had a great was leaving. with the younger connecting way of an incredible and brought hires to our entire attitude positive and to work team. His approach on knowledge to pass willingness were experience of his years from in the appreciated greatly always and all that worked planning group He with him during his career. and has been, missed! will be, Addendum by Richard Briand and Hal Jackson planner Morris was an exceptional all employees model for and a role team. His on the Hinton Woodlands was evident his work for passion that day and he demonstrated every feel it doesn’t job, your love if you always at all. He would work like so long working say that he kept 2006, I brought a cable-yarding a cable-yarding 2006, I brought Valemount, from over contractor Berland steep slopes in B.C. to log on the FMA. 11. This was a first Natural a part of In 2008-2009, I was Planning group Harvest Disturbance The group Andison. David by chaired and industry, government involved a large developing of with the goal the plan for landscape harvest corner in the northwest caribou zone Foothills FMA, portions of our of and area, operating Products Forest FMA. Alberta Newsprint’s parts of In 2006, mountain pine beetle of the hit the northern portion first significant, more FMA with another, efforts attack in 2009. Harvest in the Berland concentrated were FMA. I was part of Circle Working Planning Area The Berland WC and also became Coordinator, the western the main planner for the FMA with emphasis portion of On June on steep slope logging. grizzly by 5, 2010, I was attacked bear while laying out cutblocks in It was a young north Berland area. cubs. The bear new with two sow after I fell the right foot had me by to away while trying to back down her and the cubs some space… give Thanks up. showed and then the dog the bear. distracting for to my dog laying out main I finished my career portion of in the southwest roads FMA. This Products Forest the Edson has more Blackstone area Chungo harvesting. future for steep ground

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 74 Retirements 75

Carson, Atco and Alpac, based out a pretty good trip. Not every day TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 of Edmonton. His last role prior to was a day to write home about but retirement started in 2013 with the good days far outweighed the Tolko Industries, where Dave was not so good ones. As I grew from the Manager Stewardship and a baby forester into an adolescent Tenures. Dave is well respected one and on to an adult forester and in industry and government for finally a retiring one it has been the his collaboration and “how can new and interesting experiences we make this work for everyone” and people that helped to keep it attitude. He sat on many national fresh. Fellow timber management committees over the years, and crew members in Footner Lake, recently as a board member at Crowsnest and Fort McMurray the Forest Resource Improvement provided many memorable Association of Alberta serving experiences for an impressionable two terms. Retirement for Dave young boy from Camrose. Even the DAVID BRAA AND has been “recess” as he calls it summer on Petitot Tower in extreme since May 2018, with canoeing, northwest Footner Lake Forest JOAN SIMONTON camping, motorcycling, touring provided memorable moments, Dave retired as the Hinton and generally enjoying things in an like flying into Rainbow Lake at Training Centre IT Coordinator, the end of the season and being “unstructured time” environment. and Joan retired as the Edson dazzled by all the street lights and Forest Area Information people. Yes, it really is that remote! Coordinator, both in June 2018. The years in Slave Lake and When asked about their history, Whitecourt, 37 of them in total, Dave provided the following. were filled with interesting and memorable people; colleagues and You had asked about our time with friends both inside and outside the government. That goes back of government that I will never to 1990 when Joan started with forget. There were far too many Water Resources in Edmonton experiences and people over the and moved from Winnipeg. In years to do them justice here 1991, when our house in the ‘Peg so I won’t try. Suffice to say that sold I moved to Edmonton and people in the forestry sector and eventually found work with Public particularly people in the Forest Works Supply and Services in a Service are the best people in the data centre in the pedway by the world. I will reiterate that working Legislature. Both of us were wage, WAYNE JOHNSON for the Forest Service, regardless of my position lasted until 1993. Monday April 30, 2018 was my last the current structure, organization Shortly after, I went back to NAIT day in the office (officially because or affiliation, has been and remains for a two-year Computer Systems I came in today to send this email). challenging but fulfilling and, Technology diploma. During that Tuesday, June 19, 2018 will be in my opinion, should remain a time I had two student Co-op jobs, my last official day with Forestry career of choice for future baby first supporting the 8th floor in the Division of Alberta Agriculture and foresters and technologists. 108 Street Forestry building as they AlbertaForestHistory.ca Forestry, or the Forest Service, as were just setting up the wide-area it will always remain to me. From network you see today; then filling the summer jobs in Footner Lake in while another IT worker went off and the Crowsnest Pass, and the on a project. Back in school, I was post-graduation wage employment placed in another position with in Fort McMurray, to my 14 years Alberta Education. Just before I in Slave Lake and 23 years in graduated from NAIT Joan accepted Whitecourt, I have to say it has been the Resource Information Generalist and we moved back to Camrose back to Camrose moved and we and my Mom to help my brother in stayed We farm. with the family 1991, during which until Camrose purchased Heather, time my wife, Drug Mart. Grain the local Shoppers operations and cow-calf farming interesting but very work hard were to be said for something (there’s the However, rotations). one-year when so, great, wasn’t cash flow another Heather was offered moved we in Millwoods, store area. back to the Edmonton position in the A short-term at the Indian Lands Program lead Service Forest Canadian to an opportunity to apply for position in woodlot a contract Alberta under the Canada extension in Forestry. Agreement Partnership in agriculture My background fit, so I was a good and forestry to lead the Woodlot was hired to town across I moved Program. headquarters in the forestry work My time as centre. at government with an coincided Manager Woodlot private demand for unprecedented market by timber that was driven stumpage and new conditions policy in B.C. It was busy! I met in small landowners of hundreds the province across workshops by more hundreds to and spoke interested I was always telephone. they story; how in the landowner’s land and why; their forest acquired wanted to do with it, what they do with it. There could what they with many communications were as professionals other resource by impressed I was always well. their to share their willingness with me and with the expertise These conversations landowners. in private interest my sparked began we time, and over woodlots land as we private forest to acquire relatively it. Land was afford could of 1975 when I participated in 1975 when I participated of Junior Service’s the Alberta Forest experience work Ranger Forest was stationed Our crew program. and River Muskeg at Pine Creek, Edson, staff at The ranger Entrance. and Hinton did Cache Grande a wide providing job of a great included tasks. Work crew variety of surveys, regen planting, tree site recreation timber cruising, It building. and trail maintenance and sawmills of also included tours operations. harvesting commercial a good provided This program in forestry peek at what a career Still, I was uncertain might include. in a career whether to pursue This was one or agriculture. forestry I chose the nascent reasons the of of at University program forestry established the more Alberta over of at University program forestry to This proved British Columbia. a variety of for choice be a good my studies at U. I began reasons. in September 1976. Summer A. of Alberta in Hinton jobs at St. Regis as forestry in my interest confirmed and, living (playing) choice; a career camp that in the trailer conditions Hinton in provided the company was a blast. I made many life-long summers. friends during those three in spring 1980, graduation Come (which in forestry the job market the most of languished through was time I was at university) the first For suddenly buoyant. the of the inception time since A., the B.C. of at U. program forestry did some serious Service Forest I was in Edmonton. recruiting graduates or more among the dozen to the rocks that headed across B.C. My stint in our careers begin included various positions there in Williams Lake, in reforestation Vernon, but it ended in and Horsefly away passed 1986 when my father Retirements BYRON GRUNDBERG BYRON on a mixed- I was born and raised just north of operation farming with experience My first Camrose. came during the summer forestry (RIG) position in Edson in 1996. We in 1996. We (RIG) position in Edson and I followed Joan to Edson moved Through NAIT. from upon graduation Joan met her position in Edson, and mentioned her Don Podlubny That led husband was an IT worker. touch base. to my calling Don to me to asked A short while later he a for to Hinton, I assumed out drop out it was an Turns meet and greet. I signed on so in 1999 interview, The Centre. with the Hinton Training to the Hinton Joan moved year next in a GIS support position. In office to work government 2006 she left Model Forest, the Foothills for Institute in Research later Foothills In 2012, area. their communication to the government Joan returned where Officer as an Information On until this June. she remained to Nanaimo, moved July 1st we for two. bedrooms five trading electric bicycles purchased We taking advantage been and have If it’s beautiful weather. some of be at a beach hot and sunny we’ll house organization somewhere, of will be plenty can wait. There come. time when the winter rains

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 76 Retirements 77

cheap and eventually my wife and before that). Over the years, I’ve TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 I managed to acquire forested planted tens of thousands of property at La Corey, Harmon Valley, trees and been involved in the High Level and Beaver Ranch. planting of many millions more. Although the mechanics of regen In 1996, I became one of the surveys get tiresome one thing founding partners of Ezra never does; that’s walking through Consulting Ltd. After a year or two, a well-stocked regenerated stand I stepped out of this venture to and appreciating the sustainability operate as Agfor Consulting Ltd. of our industry. I still stop from Shortly thereafter, I completed a time to time to look at stands that course-based Masters of Forestry I planted or spaced during my program at U. of A. During this time, summer jobs in the late 1970’s. my work included many projects for a variety of clients – private Another career highlight was my land forestry, ForestCare audits and involvement with FRIAA from CLEM WOLFATER regen surveys were common work their inception in 1997. I take Submitted by Mike Lutz tasks. Beginning in 1997, I began great pride in participating in Clem worked with the Alberta contract work with KPMG (later the growth and diversification government since 1972, and racked Bearing Point) to help them manage of this organization and its up 44 fire seasons, and has been the Forest Resource Improvement accomplishments. However, more an invaluable member of the team Association of Alberta (FRIAA). than either of these, I look back from the moment he started. He Although I didn’t know it at the time, with great pleasure on all the first started with Forest Officer Peter this client would figure prominently people I’ve met during my career. Stoochnoff at Dixonville, moved to for the rest of my career. By 2007, Whether its private landowners the airtanker base in Peace River most of my work revolved around that I worked with in woodlot in 1978, and then to Manning FRIAA; so, when Bearing Point extension or the forest industry or when it opened in 1982. Clem’s closed their office in Edmonton, government staff that I’ve worked industriousness, level headedness, I became one of the founding with over the years, my greatest ability to improvise and partners of Redstone Management career highlight is easily the people troubleshoot have made him the Ltd. (with Rod Simpson and Todd I’ve worked with. Aside from my go-to person for many fire seasons Nash) and we continued to provide busy career, I always managed to and is a huge part of the success services to FRIAA under this new stay involved in a variety of not-for- at the Manning Airtanker Base. It is entity. This changed again in 2009 profit organizations – the Woodlot of no surprise that Clem has done when Redstone Management Association of Alberta, Forests so well, he was trained partially Ltd. merged into a larger entity without Borders, Agroforestry and by Ralph Cowie who himself has and I became a partner in Meyers Woodlot Extension Society, my local over 50 fire seasons under his belt. Norris Penney (now MNP LLP). I church and its mission activities – The Manning base is truly a more retired from MNP in May 2018. just to name a few. Involvement in beautiful place due to Clem’s effort these organizations have enriched and care. Whether it be his giant What were some of the highlights my life experience enormously. I Adirondack chair, fountain, or his of my career? There are many also know that my family has been landscaping and gardening, Clem of course but a couple come to and continues to be a blessing took a professional approach to mind. One has been my career- to me. I’m thankful for Heather AlbertaForestHistory.ca each project he began, and it is long involvement in reforestation who has been my companion evident when hearing feedback activities which began with my since 1977, my wife since 1980 from all who visit the airtanker base. first forestry tree planting with and my business partner since the JFRs in 1975. (This wasn’t 1987, and for my daughter actually my first experience tree Taylor and her husband Chris. planting as we had completed a fairly significant expansion of the shelterbelt on our farm shortly and Grand Rapids-Athabasca Rapids-Athabasca and Grand patrols and aerial fire River, Canadian the lakeland through Chipewyan, Fort of Shield ecology the Lake Athabasca dunes and Athabasca delta. Pre-suppression in the man-up camp assignments included District McMurray Fort at Dunkirk River stays of a cycle and and Algar Staging Bases, export assistance fire-relief District. Chipewyan to Fort and their Lorraine With his wife the Jim left children, young three in June Service Alberta Forest II, to a Officer 1989 as a Forest opportunity as the Woodlands new Supervisor - Land Use Program with Diashowa-Canada’s Coordinator Pulp Division River Peace new was He River. in Peace operation Berry Thorp, Wayne by recruited and Tom Luchkow Heinen, Steve start-up initial the of part as Hoffman Management Forest a new team for West, Dave tenure. Agreement and Al Larry Kaytor, Oberle, Frank around recruited Dumouchel were some Gaining the same year. program pre-existing from guidance & Gamble at Procter colleagues and Weldwood Prairie) (Grande inaugurated Jim Kehr), (Warren initial Daishowa’s of development protection forest land use program, with planning and in collaboration Partners-in- a regional McCrae, Ken awareness prevention fire Protection a 2.5 million hectare for program Agreement Management Forest he years, During start-up tenure. applications for also prepared of network 50-kilometre a new dispositions, while co- haul road field team the operations assisting location and construction in route uncharted into formerly access of landscapes. north boreal remote would Daishowa-Canada In time, DMI. become eventually on novel Sustainable Forest Sustainable Forest on novel partnerships. science Management foothills in the Edson The years ranger Jim’s the basis of formed timber harvest regulatory career; multiple land uses, monitoring, management, facilities recreation and behavior regimes wildfire with Indigenous interaction Those days also communities. with the Medicine included working Minimum Security Crews Lodge inmates for Program Work Forestry projects, service on various forest clay and learning to navigate with a standard- mud back roads ¾-ton 1970’s vintage green issue manual winch, pick-up c/w PTO and manual steering. transmission, and accepted In 1985, Jim pursued to Athabasca transfer a lateral District until McMurray Fort Forest, of 1989 serving under a succession Rick (Ralph Woods, Rangers Chief Arthur) and FO-III Rick Hirtle (master jet boat instructor). Memories river retreats, survey include regeneration patrols operation campground with the up the Clearwater River winter jetboats, and government Ft McKay. north of cruising projects a continued Jim also experienced with the Minimum work of era Work Forestry Security Crews service on forest Inmates Program projects, site construction recreation Dan with Jail Guard interacting eventually MacLennan (who would AUPE). of as president on to serve go landscapes in northern The scale of jurisdictions Service Alberta Forest aircraft, utility of dictated extensive frequently collaborated so staff then with various helicopter, bush and grass-strip float-plane memories Aircraft pilot legends. to a collection included assignment fly-in look-out towers remote of to open, close and support tower of the flyovers low-level personnel, oilsands operations Athabasca River Retirements JIM WITIW with the career a 37-year After Jim and DMI, Alberta government 1, 2018. Born on December retired his interest in Edmonton, and raised came career resource in a natural vacations in western family from and summer visits with Canada, the US Forest for an uncle working During in Sandpoint, Idaho. Service summers high school, Jim spent two in Lac La Ranger as a Junior Forest summer a third Biche and Edson, role support service in a wildfire District. Ranger in the High Level in Jim enrolled Upon graduation, program Technology the NAIT Forest in 1981. Other in 1979, graduating Nimco, included Wes graduates Herman Stegehuis, Henry Grierson, Milne Shawn Karl Peck, Otway, Steve on With recruitment Lind. and Dave the rise in the early 1980s, many with job opportunities existed, Ranger Jim starting in the Edson his District in May 1981. Following Jim was flown that summer, marriage and export a three-week out for into the widespread inauguration 1981, serving on of burns large in wildfire an 181,000-hectare a northern Alberta. Thus began with natural fascination frontline that would regimes disturbance much later context set firsthand interacting during his capstone years

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 78 Retirements 79

Jim moved through a collection instilling development of an TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 of positions following land use aptitude for assessment and program development; novel synthesis of risks and opportunities harvest plan and legal contract inherent in the messages from templates development promoting research investment. On occasion, good practices on private timber he was asked to collaborate sales; purchase wood programs in published manuscripts and delivery; tenure planning; contract technical reports on conservation operations supervision; and and ecological themes. forest management planning engagement with Public Advisory Jim’s curiosities in partner-driven Committees. Notable fellow staff research led to novel northern influences included Bob Wynes, amphibian research that would Steve Luchkow, Stefan Szabo, see Alberta recognition of a new Joerg Goetsch, Larry Kaytor, boreal ecology feature (vernal MICHELLE SHESTERNIAK Steve Krahn and Rob Berndt. As pools) and Alberta practices for their conservation. A new industry- evidence of a progressive industry Born in Fort Vermilion, Alberta, I government working group was HR-development policy, DMI grew up on a small mixed farm co-established in northern Alberta supported Jim’s personal interest near Rocky Lane. I attended school to address local grizzly bear in in 2005 to transition from core- until grade 11, then grade 12 in knowledge gaps and novel tools forestry work to a non-typical lead Peace River. After a few years of bridging western science with role in biodiversity stewardship assorted jobs from gas station citizen science. Jim represented programs and collaboration in attendant, to KFC, to administration DMI’s interests in world-leading research-to-practices initiatives at the town of High Level, I got my research partnerships; the to his 2018 retirement. first job with the Alberta Forest EMEND forest research station Service in September 1980. I During this period his engagement (Ecosystem-based Management was a clerk typist and at a time in new questions and research Emulating Natural Disturbance) before computers, I did all of the collaboration intersected the and the fRI Research’s Healthy typing and filing for the Timber complex challenges of the federal Landscapes program, both guiding Management section of the Footner Migratory Bird Conservation Act and affirming experimental Lake Forest. The summer of 1981 and Species at Risk Act; woodland ecosystem-based strategies and brought my first experience of caribou, grizzly bear, wolverine, harvest designs. Jim was also tragedy when helicopter CG-OOM amphibian species; accommodating engaged in establishing longer term went down in the Peace River multiple public and Indigenous stewardship and science project near Fort Vermilion. James Mason values associated with forest budgets for various collaborative (who’s desk was next to mine) landscapes today; and assisting NSERC programs, including a new and Roger Oneski (a Forest Officer practitioner and workforce NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Fort Vermilion) were killed. stewardship training. Hidden in that in Ecosystem-Based Management Unfortunately, these were not the work for him was a discovery of at the University of Alberta. last friends to be lost this way, rewarding learning through cross- and they are all sadly missed. pollination that is borne of multi- Retirement for Jim will include quiet walks in the woods, disciplinary collaboration between Sometime during the following

discoveries wandering up the AlbertaForestHistory.ca forest and biologist professions, winter I decided that I had enough center-line of small creek-valleys, participation in government policy of typing and filing. I applied slow-water kayak paddling around consultation, as well as the cross- and was accepted into the Forest with my soul-mate, photography, sector leveraging of industry- Technology program at NAIT, rock-hounding, and of course government-academia partnership graduating in 1984. During the bluegrass and folk music immersion models. These relationships fed a summer months, I worked as an with his pal Marty O’Byrne. Plans are personal interest for contributing aerial observer and then as a in-play to re-locate in 2019 to the pragmatic perspectives while compassman and cruiser on the Okanagan area of British Columbia.

GORDON SANDERS Submitted by Richard Briand In September 2018, Gordon In September 2018, Gordon a long from retired Sanders spanning career and successful forest in Alberta’s 43 years over to call Gord I am proud industry. mentor, model, advisor, a role that and friend. I know colleague I am not alone in that regard! Norway up in the New grew Gord to Alberta, close central of area his maternal and paternal where homesteaded just grandparents the 20th century. the turn of before his four, of He is the youngest In both teachers. were parents thoughts high school, his career due forestry, turned toward he had primarily to discussions one working relatives, with two and Service Forest the Alberta for the Northwest for another working Although service. forest Territories what he sure for know he didn’t in 1971, he put his into, was getting for Manpower name in with Canada he later, weeks Two work”. “forestry based an Edmonton a call from got Forestry firm, Sauze consulting a looking for were they Services, Gord member. junior field crew year in the field says that first rugged challenging, was exciting, He turned 18 rewarding. but very camp in the upper in a remote Moving to Grovedale in the fall of of in the fall to Grovedale Moving many in 1990 was a big change my life of spent most ways, having Forest. Lake within the Footner lots hills and mountains, were There and conveniences! people more on Landing in a helicopter or driving that last Ridge Copton up to Torrens road of stretch challenging were Lookout a flat lander! for experiences With the major department 1995, I was of reorganization Prairie to Grande transferred after and looked headquarters for the small timber operators that had been the areas both of and Spirit River the Grovedale Districts. This was fun, Ranger and I enjoyed challenging work, As with the loggers. working I became continued, restructuring and in October ranger, a wildfire back to what was 2005, I moved Area the Upper Hay Forest now In Technologist. as a Wildfire to Wildfire 2008, I was promoted Wildfire Officer. Prevention interesting is always prevention and has seen many changes including the the years over and FireSmart of introduction the Forest of a major overhaul Act. The Protection and Prairie violation tickets ability to issue and different more has brought It opportunities and challenges. 36 years over to condense is hard and memories into experiences of it all; enjoyed I have one article. the friendships, the mentorships the difficult times. even and yes, Retirements timber management crew doing crew timber management planting contract timber cruising, supervision and regeneration I graduation, After surveys. Forest Lake to the Footner returned and continued Lake at Footner in the Timber Management working jobs was my winter section. One of the old Phase III 1:50,000 coloring on paper timber type maps (yes, Being paid using actual crayons!). still brings amusement to colour but at the time it was to my family on the eyes. actually quite hard In September 1986, I obtained my appointment, Officer Forest first still with the Timber Management but now Lake section in Footner supervising the timber management during the our work Most of crew. summer months was conducted with tent camps in the bush from I the modern conveniences. none of were we one time when remember hockey in a planting camp in May, were on and the guys were playoffs the crew debating injuring one of to town to go had an excuse so they to and watch the final! I transferred in August 1988 as a Lake Rainbow Grovedale II, then to Officer Forest in October 1990. Workload timber management, of consisted Fond land use and firefighting. include Lake Rainbow memories of being in Mobil Bistcho on man- that bears up and shooting two into the kitchen. I breaking were think this helped me gain respect On another the firefighters. from myself and an eight-man occasion, on a fire squad had to overnight and Delta Bistcho Lake north of Morrison pilot Rob Helicopter made one last flight to bring us though he even gear, and food to sleep in have he would knew because he did his helicopter it back to time to make not have time. down legal base before

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 80 Retirements 81

Saulteaux River area laying out was building a deciduous BCTMP TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 cutblocks. Each day started with mill in Slave Lake. Gord was an eight-kilometre walk to where successful in securing a transfer and the block layout started, which moved with his family to Slave Lake “almost put an end to my short to build a woodlands department for forestry career”. Many of you will Slave Lake Pulp. He was promoted be able to relate to his description to Woodlands Manager in 1995, of the general work conditions: the same year that AEC sold Blue Ridge Lumber and Slave Lake “This was back in the day when Pulp to West Fraser Mills. In 2000, check-in times were +/- one week. Gord’s role grew as West Fraser There were no quads (other than the acquired Zeidler Forest Industries’ four-legged ones with hooves) – we Slave Lake Veneer and Edmonton walked a lot. No GPS – we relied Plywood operations, and with that, on the compass. No cell phones or he became Woodlands Manager DOUG SCHULTZ two-way radios. We didn’t think of for an expanded woodlands snowshoeing as a fun sport – it was team supporting both pulp and Born and raised in Edmonton, really hard work.” The following plywood operations. In 2012, he Doug graduated from Bonnie Doon year (1972), Gord enrolled in Forest was appointed to the position of Composite High School in 1976. Technology at NAIT. His first job Chief Forester for West Fraser in Summer holidays were spent around after graduation was with Canfor in Alberta. He worked extensively the Fernie area, where Doug and Chetwynd, B.C. It lasted only a few with government, provincial and his dad would fly fish every day, months before he was laid off due national industry associations, sometime twice per day. It was the to a difficult lumber market. After a research organizations, Indigenous time spent fishing in the mountains few more months back working with communities, environmental groups of British Columbia, where Doug got the consulting company, he landed and internal company leaders in all interested in forestry. Following high a permanent position as a Forest matters related to forest tenure and school graduation Doug enrolled Technician for Simpson Timber, forest management. Gord always in the University of Alberta and who were about to build a sawmill took an optimistic, professional, obtained is BSc in Forestry in 1980. at Blue Ridge, near Whitecourt, collaborative approach to the Summer jobs for Doug started with Alberta. Soon after, he got married many interesting challenges he the Canadian Forest Service in 1978, and started to build a home life and had the opportunity to work on then the Alberta Forest Service a family. Over the next 12 years, over the term of his career. As a in the High Prairie Ranger District he worked as a forest technician, result, he built many relationships on an initial attack crew in 1979. then contract logging supervisor, which will extend far beyond his After graduating in 1980, Doug then logging operations planner. professional career. Gord started was hired by the Alberta Forest Simpson Timber later sold to the his retirement with an incredible Service as a project forester with the Alberta Energy Company (AEC) who trip to Peru in October. He is active, Mountain Pine Beetle crew located formed Blue Ridge Lumber. In 1987, has several hobbies and has more in Blairmore. In September 1982, he Gord transferred to a production travel plans. He has lots to keep moved to Peace River as a project coordinator position in the new him as busy as he wants to be forester on the Maintaining Our Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) on a well-earned retirement. We Forests (MOF) program and then was plant at Blue Ridge. He says that wish him nothing but the best! hired as a permanent forester in the he learned that the Woodlands AlbertaForestHistory.ca silviculture and timber programs. Department is not actually the In the fall of 1990, he moved center of the universe in the to Edmonton and worked with forest industry. The purpose of Evelynne Wrangler as a planning the Woodlands Department is to forester. During that time, he led support the manufacturing facility the team in the development of the and the business – not the other way Timber Production and Reporting around. In 1989, AEC announced it System (TPRS). Doug retired as From there, he worked the next two two the next he worked there, From firefighter as an emergency years District. In River within the Peace stint as a first 1959, Ralph did his closed at the now observer lookout in the Grande Lookout, Codesa 1960-1992, From Forest. Prairie on back to working Ralph went His crews. the wildland firefighting challenging himself is very for drive leader he became a crew apparent; his sector leader for in 1970, went his in 1971, and received training From in 1972. training boss fire 1971-1992, Ralph was the sector District, River the Peace for boss campaign seeing action on large River, Peace Fort McMurray, in fires and Swan Whitecourt, High Level, Hills. In 1982, Ralph was certified 1993, Ralph hung In as a line boss. and started coveralls, up his nomex observer as a lookout working there working at Battle Tower, He trained 24 years. the next for lookout many new and mentored officers and forest observers Forest River within the Peace stopped in for Anytime you Area. on count always could a visit, you at Battle Tower, a warm welcome and hunting exploits with tales of tea a hot cup of over pest control, cookies. Dare baked and freshly From busy. kept Ralph always as an truck driving while working to becoming firefighter, emergency Aid, chainsaw, First an instructor for Ralph and firearms. Bear Awareness some the need to fill recognized in the instructors gaps in available north, and took it upon himself to help the training the to take maintain in the offseason crews Ralph certifications. their required of with the Order was recognized work exemplary for Saint John’s, Aid First of training in the field Ralph also worked Responders. with and winters falls numerous on their predator Fish and Wildlife

forests, helicopter him to the top helicopter forests, beetle mountains just to find of like was more This trees. infested and the forests hiking through a living! for not actual working Jill built a new Doug and his wife and have home in Summerland, to do work basement and yard retirement. of stage as their first will be found summer they Next kayaking boating on the Okanagan, in the the smaller lakes many of the and dipping a line in area, back He plans on getting water. group into fly fishing and joining a individuals who minded like of the fishing spend their summers and lakes rivers streams, numerous Doug and Jill have in the Okanagan. in the area been hiking the trails and will be joining with their dog, the to experience a hiking group And with trails. number of huge 60 wineries in the region, over sample the fine wines and craft for. is famous the region beers RALPH COWIE Submitted by Tom Patreau with the Ralph started his career in 1956, as a Service Alberta Forest the then called Standby member of the summer out for working Crew, Station. the Manning Ranger of Retirements the Director, Timber Production, Timber Production, the Director, and Enforcement Revenue Auditing, Management the Forest Section of 2018. One in November Branch on worked his team final project TPRS, for was the replacement called FORESTS. program a new he Doug commented Leaving, to be fortunate was extremely of to many aspects exposed and worked in the province forestry both people, with many good and industry. in government about people he When asked with and memorable worked the moments, he provided Vern River, In Peace following. gave both Cook Danes and Dave and latitude him the freedom in the region. to run programs with the working His experience his skills helped develop two Doug’s in managing people. philosophy was to tell people is, help them what the end goal them the but allow when asked, In the goal. to reach freedom in Wrangler Evelynne Edmonton, Planning the Timber Management a strict Section, although having on passed she freely approach, and knowledge her considerable management forest of experience This helped Doug to her staff. in the province, forestry understand him with the skills to providing field by raised any issues solve This industry staff. and forest to tackle him the confidence gave Doug’s any questions or issues. moments included tent memorable scarification and camps on planting, could You surveys. regeneration of group on a good count always as the occasional people as well the camps. through bear roaming on During his time in Blairmore the Mountain Pine Beetle crew, someone believe Doug couldn’t the pay him to walk through would

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 82 Retirements 83

control teams. For 60 years, Ralph Northern Affairs in the summer TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 was part of the forestry family, and a and fall of 1977. I then returned to cornerstone within the Peace River Alberta and worked on the timber Forest Area. Although he has now management crew in Whitecourt retired his fall arrest harness, Ralph until August 1978, at which time is still active in providing training I was hired as a Project Planning to industry and non-industry folks, Forester in the Timber Management active with his guiding business, and Planning Section of the Timber is still working his trapline northwest Management Branch. In this position, of Manning. Tea is still hot, and I was involved in developing Beatrice’s home baked cookies are integrated resource plans, forest readily available for all that stop in. management plans for crown and FMA forest management units and participating in annual TM program reviews with individual forests. I STAN KAVALINAS worked there until January 1988, Stan started his career with the when I transferred to the Grande Alberta Forest Service in 1975, Prairie Forest as a field forester. working on the Valleyview fire In this position, I was involved in crew. He graduated in 1978 from forest operations, reforestation and the University of Alberta after reclamation activities, operating studying forestry and did a stint with ground rules, forest management resource evaluation and planning, planning, landuse planning and doing watershed assessments on program reviews. In the fall of the Highwood and Sheep River 2002, I transferred to the Calgary systems. After applying for a Forest Area as a Senior Forester and particular job, the superintendent team lead for the development of told him, “If you want to get ahead, strategic landuse plans and forest you need to come and do timber JEAN CLAUDE LUSSIER management plans. After a brief cruising.” With that, he was off to period, my role and responsibilities High Level in 1979 for a few years Born in McLennan, Alberta, I was were expanded to include First on the timber management crew. raised on a mixed farm, a homestead, Nations and public consultations, He then took on a project forester just south of McLennan where I forest operations, reforestation, role in the Footner Lake Forest at learned to work with my parents and reclamation, monitoring and High Level; doing timber cruising, my siblings in maintaining cattle compliance, operating ground regeneration projects, silviculture and cultivating the fields and a large rules reviews and the forest and scarification. He then moved to garden. I worked with my father health program. During this time, Edmonton in the early 1980s and clearing the forest on the homestead I supervised a team of six to eight spent three years in the recreation to make way for putting in an annual staff. I am planning on retiring as program. At that time, the Alberta crop. I also helped my father do the Senior Forester for the Calgary Forest Service had around 160 some logging at a very young age for Forest Area effective March 29, campgrounds to manage. In 1984, firewood and building materials. This 2019 after a very successful career his wife Jocelyne and Stan moved was my first exposure in forestry. of 43 years in forestry. I have been

to Grande Prairie where they lived AlbertaForestHistory.ca I graduated from the University of very privileged to have worked with for the next 11 years. Their children Alberta with a Bachelor of Science many people that have supported Amy and Scott were both born there. in Forest Science in 1977. After and mentored me over my career. In 1995, Stan returned to Edmonton graduation, I worked on the timber Retirement plans include spending in the Forest Management Branch, management crew in Edson and was more with my grown-up children with a focus on silviculture. Later in a Party Chief on a forest inventory and family, to enjoy nature and 1999, he moved to the new Forest project in Northwest Territories outdoor activities, to better my Industry Development Branch for the Department of Indian and photographic skills and to travel.

Diane started her Forestry career on career Diane started her Forestry by August 31, 1973. She was hired fill a STEP program to Dennis Cox Station. Ranger Creeks at the Three and that, she applied for After a permanent for was successful in the position administrative the old Section of Administration As things were Forest. River Peace back then, Diane program based by wanted to learn all she could to all so she moved about Forestry the sections as positions became Timber Land Use, (Forest available Protection). and Forest Management, the last stops in her career One of to Clerk 5 (same as an was the move Ranger the East Peace AS5 today) for Station in the early 1980s. There changed until logistics she remained the administration and she took over Centre Fire River the Peace of team during the administration Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic in 2007. Diane then became the senior for the lead financial administration on a full time basis. Diane centre fire started with the Alberta government but on paper it is ago, 45 years years actually 42.3 (had a couple a son children, two to have off and her and a daughter). Her life She fondly is “forestry”. passion DIANE LALIBERTE Submitted by Trevor Lamabe started with the Alberta government government started with the Alberta in August in the Lac La Biche Forest management 1978 on the timber in the Forest enrolled While crew. he at NAIT, program Technology supervisor as a man-up worked District Ranger Lake at the Beaver 1979 and of during the summers NAIT from 1980. Upon graduation Corey to the La went in 1981, Wes Officer District as a Forest Ranger to I, then in June 1982 transferring In August 1986, River. Wandering to the moved and family Wes District in the Rocky Ranger Nordegg staying there Clearwater Forest until January 1989. In February to took a promotion 1989, Wes to moved III and Officer a Forest Forest. Lake Slave High Prairie, in July occurred Another move District, 1993 to the Smith Ranger the Following Forest. Lake Slave in reorganization centralization became the Wildfire 1995, Wes in the Athabasca Forest Technologist Athabasca. located out of Area, was the Area The Athabasca Forest the Smith, Calling amalgamation of Ranger River and Wandering Lake became Districts. In June 2001, Wes in Officer Prevention the Wildfire Centre Lac La Biche Fire the new another centralization following the Athabasca where reorganization was eliminated; and the Area Forest Division and Land Protection Forest created. were Division’s and Forest took on In September 2013, Wes Manager Wildfire of role the new in Manager Area and later Forest until Area the Lac La Biche Forest 2018. in November his retirement and advocate was a strong Wes prevention wildfire in the driver and and was a coach program; including those staff, new mentor for in the aerial ignition program. Retirements WES NIMCO got Wes up in Colinton, Brought a neighbor in through into forestry Forest Larry Huberdeau, the area. Superintendent in the Lac La Biche mother if Wes Wes’s asked Forest, high school, had plans following opportunities were and if not, there Wes Service. with the Alberta Forest and was involved in wood supply in wood and was involved timber small community options for in engaged Stan became programs. intergovernmental the pan-Canadian the from files in the early 2000s, forest of criteria and indicators of the to the files management, of Councils various Canadian and the Environment of Ministers the years, Over Ministers. Forests of member Stan has been an active Forestry Institute of the Canadian Mountain Section, sitting Rocky on and leading various technical and as a Director committees, Stan time, In his off and Chair. volunteering spent many hours hockey with his kid’s ringette, activities. With 41 and lacrosse plans his belt, Stan’s under years include canoeing, retirement for cross-country jogging, swimming, and his woodworking skiing, I history. War World for passion

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 84 Retirements 85

remembers all the people she has cruiser, aerial observer, camp boss, 1980, and a BSc in Forestry from TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 met and worked with over the years, initial attack crewmember and the University of New Brunswick in they are all very special to her. leader and man-up supervisor). In 1984. I worked in Fort McMurray 1987, I started as a project forest for both the Alberta Forest Service officer in Fort McMurray, Fort McKay and ATCO, Lac La Biche, the Pine and Fort Chipewyan Districts of Ridge Forest Nursery in Smoky Lake, the Athabasca Forest until January Slave Lake, Red Earth, Wabasca 1988, when I became a permanent and finally Edmonton. I enjoyed forest officer at the Nordegg the field experiences, so coming Ranger Station, Rocky Clearwater into downtown Edmonton in Forest. In the spring of 1991, I 1993 was a change. This was the transferred as a forest officer to same time the government also the Whitecourt District, Whitecourt started changing, addressing the Forest. In 2000, I became a forest fiscal realities of the day. I spent protection technician, a role I held time in reforestation, the ADM until my retirement in January office, program support, wildfire 2019. Retirement includes time management, Corporate Services to enjoy the summers, family Division in Sustainable Resource time, travel, hunting and fishing, Development, and eventually KENT MCDONALD and maybe the odd job. Environment and Parks. I have met and worked with many people I was born in McLennan, Alberta over the years who allowed me to on October 27, 1963 to parents understand that the people you Hylo and Stella McDonald. I am work with do make the job better the oldest of four boys, with Cavin, even in the most stressful times. Eran and Wade. We lived in various I appreciated the opportunities locations in Alberta, including to participate in updating the McLennan, Grande Cache, Hinton wildfire program in Alberta, creating and Edson. I completed high school the Land Stewardship grants for in Edson in 1981, and graduated conservation, and modernizing from the NAIT Forest Technology the contract processes in various program in 1984. There were two iterations of the department. I reasons for making forestry a volunteered as the Treasurer for career after graduating NAIT. First, the Canadian Institute of Forestry forestry runs in the family, both my for several years, and recently dad Hylo, and one of my uncles, volunteered with Girl Guides in Irv Allen were in the Alberta Forest ANNE MCINERNEY Edmonton. On my first trip north Service for their entire careers. As to Fort McMurray in the early well, my youngest brother Wade Brought up in Saint John, 1980s, I was astonished at the vast was also in forestry for ten plus New Brunswick, I had many landscape with little development, years. The second reason, was the opportunities to enjoy the and the one road in and out. I diverse jobs that a person could outdoors, both on land and on have a great memory of working have working for the government, water. My Mom took the family on north and east of Fort McKay on a from land use, timber management, many adventures; hiking, swimming, planting camp in late summer and AlbertaForestHistory.ca silviculture, recreation Girl Guide camps, etc. Logging sitting around the campfire looking management, and of course wildfire. and running sawmills dates back at the night sky and realizing that I worked seasonally for the Alberta to the 1800s in the family, with many people pay for this type of Forest Service throughout high one relative losing thousands of experience. Meanwhile we were school and after NAIT until 1987, in acres in the Great Miramichi Fire actually paid to be out there. I numerous locations and positions in October 1825. I obtained my met my husband while working (Junior Forest Ranger, compassman, BSc in Botany from Dalhousie in in Fort McMurray, and after we Forest Products Association was Association Products Forest representing to be that one voice In industry. Alberta forest all of companies the mid to late 1980s, strand with pulp mills, oriented plants and plywood plants board the association. became a part of Rytz in 1989, Arden When he retired Garry Leithead. by was replaced their then expanded The AFPA a health and safety adding role and environment section, a forestry program Care department, a Forest department. In and a public affairs me the early 2000s, Garry asked to be closer to Edmonton to move and learn to Clayton Anderson, about the lumber grading more In 2003, I became the program. when bureau the grading head of He had joined the Clayton retired. most in 1960, and developed AFPA today have we program the of I’m planning on his 43 years. over 2019, after in February retiring continue will golfing 33 years; past time. to be my favourite MIKE POZNIAK is has a story…here Everybody I was born in April 1947 in mine. up on a farm Athabasca, and grew the Athabasca River. just north of operation farming had a mixed We land, and a half of quarters on four I slowly moved to different jobs to different moved I slowly until I had inside the planer mill a lumber an opportunity to take these At that time, course. grading taught in Edmonton were courses The House. at the Kinsmen Field Anderson, instructor was Clayton Larson Mack and Ken with Harold and inspectors. as a field teachers Normand Boucher In High Level, about work and I’d connected opportunities, but unfortunately, Level had in High they the sawmill Normand Boucher burned down. Swanson for logging contract a got Lumber at Chisholm, and in 1978 Jean I joined him and his brother winters I spent five Louis there. them, and then for or so logging to Nampa to help them build moved grading mill. With my lumber a new I was hired and experience, training planer the Boucher Bros. to manage for Boucher Bros. for mill. I worked and in 1986, eight years, a total of a job with the Alberta applied for when Association Products Forest Mack, Harold their filed inspector, was with Arden My interview retired. and Ritz and Clayton Anderson, a phone call I got soon afterwards, In 1986, I started with a job offer. for the Alberta as a field inspector (AFPA), Association Products Forest looking Prairie, stationed in Grande Alberta. of corner after the northwest In those days, the Alberta Forest inspected over Association Products the to each of went We 70 facilities. per month, and the once sawmills a twice facilities remanufacturing hired we month. With the workload, in the mid-1990s. inspector a fourth Rytz’s Arden Director, As Executive the job was to not only oversee but the business, side of grading with the Alberta to also work policies, on forestry government the of quotas, and other issues the Alberta vision for Arden’s time. Retirements Born on January 30, 1959, in in McLennan, Alberta, I was raised Alberta, speaking French Falher, and learning English in at home, as school. My dad spent 35 years with the Alberta operator a grader my mother had odd government; school, After Falher. jobs around with I ended up in High Level job as and started my first relatives, a lumber piler with Swanson Lumber. That was 1976. Swanson Lumber a planer mill, the logs operated the satellite (or gypo) from coming Garden in Bros Boucher like sawmills, Construction. and Brewster River, kiln dry it, plane it, Swanson would stamp it. The forester and then grade at Swanson was Norm Denney; was the general Allan Wahlstrom the Swanson overseeing manager, Stationed in Edmonton, operation. to up to High Level come he would doing. were at what we a look take NORM DUPUIS travelled separately around the around separately travelled finally we careers, our for province I Lake. in Slave to be together got I had a look back and appreciate in Alberta, in spite of career great that I know the challenging times. Alberta the people in the most of to committed are government Albertans. better for making life

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 86 87

section of grazing land. Along with the year, I saw an ad for a position getting the chutes down. TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 two sisters, we did chores, feeding as a Forest Officer I (FO I) in Conklin. the animals and helping in the fields. Peter Murphy interviewed me and 4. Make sure that your cook and None of us liked picking rocks. I got the job. After graduation, I flunky are wearing their hard In 1965 and 1966, I worked for a reported to Beaver Lake where hats while sleeping when a beekeeper during the summer. In Harry Jeremy was the FO II. My next Mark III pump kit hits their tent. the fall, I attended the University big question, how do you get to I can still see Paul Rizzoli of Alberta studying Education, but Conklin? Fly or Speeder down the grinning as he pushes the that wasn’t for me. I worked on the rails? Now, I have to get a Speeder chutes out of the plane. rigs near Stettler…not for me. In license, where the answers to the 1968, big fires started at Calling test questions had to be word for I left the Alberta Forest Service Lake and I heard that Forestry was word from the book. Well, I passed in 1974 to work for R.H. Pollock short of firefighters and were picking and made one trip to Conklin to Construction as a bush foreman, people up in the bar to go fight do grazing lease inspections, and where I worked with Nick Bobocel, fire. So, I sat in the bar and waited one trip to Imperial Mills with the Hector Toutant, Walter Weibel and for two days…no luck. I drove up to RCMP to apprehend a bad guy. He Norman Cardinal, to name a few. Calling Lake and met up with John handcuffed him to the speeder, and My main duties were regeneration Pacholok of Pac Construction. He he said to the bad guy, “for your sake surveys, road layout, block layout asked if I wanted a job running Cat. I hope a train doesn’t come along”. and running equipment. We lived I told him I had never run Cat and at Imperial Mills and on November After six months with Harry at Beaver he said the only difference from 5, 1974, our son Wendell was born. Lake, I was called to the office by a tractor is that it doesn’t have a Another opportunity came along Wilbert Coast, Forest Superintendent steering wheel or tires. For the next with Al Owen who had purchased at the time, who asked if I was few weeks, I learned how to run a Pelican Spruce Mills from George willing to trade places with an FO I in Cat, and spent my time building fire Golden, and was building a modern Wandering River who didn’t like the line. Joe Smith and Dennis Howells mill near the House River. We moved country life, and wanted to be in a were the Rangers at Calling Lake at to Boyle, and I worked helping to town. I agreed and moved to a small that time. I observed them being build the mill while living in camp. trailer at Wandering River Ranger the bosses of the whole operation. We started in August and the mill Station where Dave Brown was the That’s when I said to myself “hey, was producing around Christmas. FO II and Leon Graham was the other I’d like to be a boss” and I signed At Pelican Spruce Mills, I worked as FO I. A third house was constructed, up for the Forest Technology bush foreman along with Camille so I then moved into Dave’s house. Program at NAIT. I believe it was the Morin. In Boyle, we lived beside a I met a gal (Wendy) and got married programs fifth year of existence. gravel trucker, and since my long on October 2, 1971. One particular stretches away from home wasn’t My first summer job with the Alberta fire DA1-26, was actioned from good for family life, I bought a Forest Service was in Fort McMurray, Wandering River where I was the gravel truck and started in the gravel where I met Dale Huberdeau at Fort fire boss. How did we get our business. I worked many long hours McKay. There we cruised timber supplies way out in the muskeg – around Boyle, Skeleton Lake, Amisk along the McKay River; I then went para-cargo. I was the para-cargo Lake, and Buck Lake putting in septic to Embarrass on fires where I met guinea pig. Things that we learned: tanks, clearing brush, hauling dirt, Al and Gail Mitchell; off to tree gravel and trees from lake lots. In planting along the Clearwater River, 1. Make sure you pack chutes 1980, there were numerous large and then finished the summer that will actually open. AlbertaForestHistory.ca fires in the Lac La Biche Forest and cruising near the Horse River 2. Do not pack liquid dish soap in the DND weapons range. For about south of Fort McMurray. My second the same chute with the meat. a month, I worked as service chief year of Forest Technology was in out of Beaver Lake for Nick Galon, Hinton. Our logging lab made lots 3. Be more accurate with drops; the Chief Ranger from the La Corey of money that year because I had many supplies ended up in district. I continued with the trucking previous experience running Cat the trees, where we ended and backhoe business, and in about and Skidder. Before I was finished up clearing a few acres 1988, I worked as a consultant for 88 Retirements TRAILS & TALES FEBRAURY 2019 Crawford Sawmill, Spruce Valley Mills my next 26 years of working as them. Here you will learn how to and Double R Forest Products doing a consultant for Alberta-Pacific use them and if you stick around logging plans and cut block layout. Forest Industries. The company I for two, three or four years, you worked with underwent various will be a sought after commodity In 1989, I got on as Sector Boss name changes, today it’s called by Industry and Government. My based at Wandering River where TimberNorth Consulting. I was a biggest accomplishments are the Leon Graham was the Chief Ranger. one-fifth owner of the company. My hundreds of young people that I I worked with some great people main job was hiring and managing have trained and influenced, they for the next three summers: Brian block and road layout personnel have all gone on to bigger and better Stanton, Karl Peck, Wally Born, and permanent sample crews. The things. I am very proud of all that Jeff Scammell, Diane Peacock, Alpac FMA covered a big chunk of have succeeded. To me, retirement Barney (Ed Barnett), Don Bunter, northeast Alberta, so there were means you can do whatever you Gail Mitchell and Kay Hankinson. many challenges with access, want. That means trapping, fishing, One summer, there were an awful accommodations, weather, etc. prospecting and with global warming lot of fires when I worked 56 days Words of wisdom from Paul Rizzoli raising the level of oceans, Andy straight. Leon called me in and said to me during this time was “If you Gesner his wife Kim, Wendell and I “you better take a day off”. Two are carrying a piece of paper or will be doing a lot of fishing lowering days later, I was back. In 1991, Tim clipboard no one will ask you to do the levels of the oceans and lakes. Juhlin asked me to come and work anything.” The people I hired were for Pearson Forestry Consulting. So, mostly folks coming to their first Everyone has a problem you after a summer of planting trees at job. I would tell them you have the know nothing about, so be kind. May Tower, in September I started tools and have an idea how to use

100 MILLION AlbertaForestHistory.ca TREES PLANTED

Sundre Forest Products presented Minister Oneil Carlier with a ceremonial shovel on July 26, 2018, to commemorate the planting of 100 million trees. L to R: Richard Briand, Tom Daniels, Minister Oneil Carlier, Greg Neale and Gordon Sanders; Alberta Legislature grounds; July 26, 2018 89

OBITUARIES TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

ALVIN SCOTT then promoted to Ranger III and was the great outdoors. As a was transferred to Smith, where he child, he would be found in the Born March 13, 1943, Alvin passed spent 15 years. Bud went to the woods making lean-tos, camping away on March 3, 2018 just shy new Hinton Forestry School in 1966 overnight, canoeing, rafting, and of his 75th birthday. Alvin spent for the Advanced Ranger Course. whatever he could think of to do 33 years with the Alberta Forest He moved back to Slave Lake and out there. His favourite pastimes, Service as a mechanic, starting retired in 1987 after 30 years with all through his life, were wilderness first in Lac La Biche in 1964, then the Alberta Forest Service. Bud was camping, fishing and hunting. Dan moving to Fort McMurray and finally an avid hunter and fisherman; and chose his life’s work to focus and Edmonton at the Depot (Provincial donated a set of moose horns to revolve around the wilderness. Forest Fire Centre). Most of his hang above the fire place at the In 1978, he graduated from the career was spent in Fort McMurray. Hinton Forestry School. For those Forest Technology Program at NAIT who had the pleasure of knowing and became a Forest Technologist LEO (BUD) SLOAN Bud, we can say with certainty that (Ranger) serving Alberta for Submitted by Viney Sloan he was a hardworking, sociable 11 years. Dan was an early man who always enjoyed being advocate of a forest technologist Bud was born on December 1, active and always wore a smile. association, making presentations 1931 on the family farm up the He especially treasured time to senior government leaders in Swan River valley, near Kinuso, spent with his family and found the late 1980s. In 1989, ‘Walton Alberta, and passed away in Slave immense joy in his grandchildren Woodlands’ was created with his Lake on May 22, 2018 at the age and great grandchildren. Bud will wife, Shirley, spending many years of 86 years. Bud worked for the be remembered for his kindness working together servicing Alberta’s Alberta Forest Service from 1958 and great sense of humour. When forest sector, involved in a variety to 1986, retiring after 28 years. He he wasn’t smiling or laughing he of business endeavours, including was the youngest of 11 children, was whistling a cheerful tune. regeneration surveys, forest and worked on the farm and in the harvesting (forwarder/de-limber) forests in his early years. In 1950, DANIEL WALTON and planting contracts. It was during he married Viney, and together Submitted by Walton Family, Edited this time that Dan adopted his they had three sons. In 1954, they Pat Guidera (2019-01-05) signature uniform; khaki or flannel moved to Quesnel, B.C., where plaid shirt, khaki shorts, suspenders Bud worked in sawmills and the Born March 3, 1956, Wildman and a dirty, rat hat. Always looking forests logging. In 1956, the Sloan’s Dan Walton walked off into the to learn new skills and expand his moved back to Alberta, and Bud wilderness for the very last time mind, in 2002, when Dan was in his went into the pulpwood business. on Thursday May 17, 2018, at the forties, he successfully completed In 1957, Bud joined the Alberta age of 62 years due to a massive his Executive Masters of Business Forest Service as an assistant to Joe heart attack. As he faded off into Administration from the Ivey AlbertaForestHistory.ca Kirkpatrick in Slave Lake. He then the distance, we could almost hear Business School at the University transferred to Red Earth as a Ranger him say, “Adapt, improvise and of Western Ontario, London, II. In 1959, Bud went to the Forestry overcome”. So, that’s what we will Ontario. Afterwards, Dan applied Training School in Kananaskis, then do. Dan was born into a military his Business Masters Degree and moved to Sunset House, where family, spending his childhood in knowledge in the far north, as the the family spent six years. He also Minden (Germany), CFB Petawawa General Manager and Executive spent nine months in Wabasca, was (Ontario) and CFB Griesbach Director for Indigenous Boards (Edmonton). Dan’s greatest passion hired as assistant ranger on March on March ranger assistant as hired at Lac La 7, 1956, and stationed he was 1960 to 1962, From Biche. Prairie, III at High Officer a Forest to then moved Forest; Lake Slave III. Bill Officer a Forest as Edson Forest the Alberta from retired June 30, 1986.” Joe Smith on Service July 1963, Bill and “Around recalls, the Sheep I built a fuel cache at Grande of northwest airstrip, Creek and in September 1963, Cache; Campbell Bill, myself and Gordon ranger built the Eagles Nest Pass cabin, in the Wilmore, stop-over Bill and I were Lake. Rock north of at technicians protection forest in headquarters Forest the Edson the early 1980s. Bill had a brother the in a ranger who was Andy, awhile.” for Lac La Biche Forest ROGER OLSON Born on April 26, 1942 in passed Alberta, Roger Drumheller, on October 7, 2018 in Truro, away 76 years. of at the age Scotia Nova high school, Roger graduating After Training his Basic Forestry completed at Hinton, Alberta, spending 13 years in Service with the Alberta Forest and Lac Lake Slave the High Level, to moving before La Biche Forests in 1975. with his family Scotia Nova in forestry his work He continued Department of Scotia with Nova as the provincial Lands and Forests, until Officer, Training Control Fire in 1999. As a well- his retirement community, of the fixture known St. Bridget’s was a member of Roger his time volunteered and Parish, and District Lions with 652 Milford as the as well Squadron, Air Cadet his After organization. local Scouting busy with various he kept retirement, activities, which included being a musician with a local dinner theater the St. being a member of troupe, Columbus, Knights of Bernard’s to forest officer in Fort McKay in the in officer to forest moving 1969-70, then winter of District in the Creeks to the Three 1980 in 1975. In Forest River Peace Grovedale to moved family and Frank and Forest, Prairie in the Grande moved years, after just under two In 1984, Frank to High Level. the last time to Hinton, for moved Frank Ranger. as Chief retiring with the Alberta spent 30 years in 1997. retiring Service, Forest Frank With the many quick moves, attended children and Margaret’s year period. four schools in a five WILLIAM (BILL) KOSTIUK 13, 1929, Bill Born on March on September 22, away passed 89. Bill was of 2018 at the age of in the community known well he spent the Alberta where Edson, to He moved his life. majority of work in the early 1960s to Edson He Service. the Alberta Forest for technician in the control was a fire Art Lambeth 1970s, and replaced in 1978. in Edson Ranger as Chief spanned career Bill’s 30-year 1956 to 1986. With his from he helped with golf, for passion golf the Edson of the development countless He enjoyed course. with his course on the golf hours and many sons, grandchildren the years, friends. Through great was the hockey he coached, or was in the photographer, booth. His hobbies timekeeper’s music, and included photography, his to share sports; and he liked the teacher always knowledge, Murphy said Peter and storyteller. class Bill, “he was in my first of 1956, and of at Kananaskis, fall he was the top student I believe He participated well academically. My review and added to the class. staff lists indicates he was of FRANK LEWIS passed Born October 6, 1942, Frank 2018 at the on September 13, away started as Frank years. 75 of age on McMurray in Fort Chief a Party Cliff for January 1, 1968, working He was then promoted Henderson. (six) in the Northwest Territories. Territories. (six) in the Northwest friendships built lifelong Dan Here business strong for and advocated peoples and Aboriginal of success to Upon returning communities. and Alberta with this knowledge arena, learning in the political his time to local Dan committed when successfully political work Brazeau for elected as a Councillor a senior as and eventually County, advisor and leader in the Wildrose In 2006, Dan and Alberta. of Party meat a successful developed Shirley a forward-looking with business which included antibiotic brand, grown meats and natural free their ranching healthy meats from in Drayton families community to any and with delivery Valley, location in Alberta. His winning was established model business Meats”, located on as, “Easyford Alberta. in Edmonton, Road the Fort lives, in their was the rock Easyford Shirley’s and is the actual location of they homestead where family Once their family. and grew lived Meats, Dan closed Easyford they job landed his dream successfully the hunting supply with Cabala’s, the of specialists, as the Manager stores two Hunting Department for the for His passion in Edmonton. his hunting and fishing, outdoors, people skills and strong excellent was finally knowledge business into this final dream crystallized to the fullest his life He lived job. friends by missed and is greatly last trip great your Enjoy and family. for us! some fish Dan, and save

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 90 Obituaries 91

political events, and any other overseas in WW2. While in England, open with the steam rolling off him. TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 events that Yvonne volunteered his he met and married his first wife, I think he was the toughest guy services. Roger was known for his Connie in 1945. Upon returning there.” He attended the Advanced love of Country and Celtic music, to Canada, he started work for the Land Use course with Wayne Bowles played a variety of instruments Alberta Forest Service. He worked during the summer of 1976. Dan and often spent time attending as a forest ranger at Clearwater worked in Pollution Control in the jam sessions with various groups. and Red Deer Ranger Stations from Land Use Branch in Edmonton Every autumn, Roger would load 1946 to 1952. For him it was much in the late 1970s, then moved to up one of his vehicles with apples, more than a job, but a lifestyle he Wandering River as assistant chief and other assorted produce and grew to love. It was during these ranger. Dan then moved to Lac La headed to Cape Breton to sell his years that Jack started his work Biche headquarters as the Land Use wares. What started as a fundraising with horses and it would remain Officer in about 1984, a role he idea for the Truro Girls Pipe Band, a lifelong hobby. His love of the held until his retirement in 2001 blossomed into an enjoyable Fall West Country stayed with him and after a 32 year career. Dan was well past time that spanned 40 years, he would return whenever the respected, worked diligently with leading to him being known as “The opportunity came a long. In a 2004 the energy and forest industry to Apple Man” of Inverness County. interview with Dennis Friske, Jack implement new policies on land said he participated in the flagging use, especially with new efforts Walter Fanning, the Executive of the right of way for the Forestry on caribou protection. Brydon Director, Regional Services Branch, Trunk Road between the Red Deer Ward commented “his diplomacy Nova Scotia Department of River and the Clearwater River. saved our ass more than once with Lands and Forestry, said “Roger industry and dispute resolution.” was a well-loved and dedicated DAN SLAGHT employee to the Department of When asked about Dan, many Lands and Forests, later renamed Born on March 9, 1946, Dan passed people indicated that Dan was a Natural Resources a few years away on May 31, 2018 at the age of kind and compassionate person, prior to his retirement. Warmly 72 years. Dan graduated from the always wanted to do the right remembered as the ‘Gentle Giant’, NAIT Forest Technology program thing, and would give you the he was instrumental in setting the in 1969, with Wayne Bowles, Mel shirt off his back. While in Lac foundation of what is now a high White, Gerald Sambrooke and Jim La Biche, he and his wife Mary quality and respected Wildfire Skrenek. Dan’s first posting upon were named citizens of the year Team in our Department, with a graduation was to Red Earth, then for their ongoing volunteering reputation nation-wide. In the moving to the Smith Ranger District, work. They continued supporting early days, every employee was both in the Slave Lake Forest. The Ducks Unlimited for years, even required to help with forest fires, yearbook write-up on Dan had after their move to Edmonton. so they knew him and he knew “Came to us from Winterburn them. I had the pleasure of working and vainly tried to maintain our EDWIN (ED) JOHNSON with Roger for a few years before high moral standards. He has a he left the Shubie Fire Control serious weakness for nurses and Born November 30, 1940, Ed Center. It was an honour that I, enjoys our parties. He is a firm passed away on July 2, 2018 at and the many staff who knew him A.F.S. enthusiast and is going to be the age of 77 years. Ed started much longer, will long remember.” posted at Red Earth.” Mel White with the Alberta Forest Service as said that during first year he, Dan a lookout observer in 1963 out JACK WALKER and Terry Turner worked together of Fort McKay, then moving to a AlbertaForestHistory.ca cruising timber in Fort McMurray. ranger position in Slave Lake in Jack was born in Sibbald, Alberta Joe Smith said he worked with November 1964. Ed attended the on July 8, 1923, and passed away Dan on a cruise northwest of Basic Ranger Course at the Hinton on October 12, 2018 at the age Wabasca during winter 1971-72, Forestry School while in Slave Lake. of 95 years. In 1936, the family “where it was -50F at night, and He was the Land Use Officer in the moved to Markerville area. Jack would warm up to -25F during the Slave Lake Forest in the late 1960s, joined the RCAF in 1942 and served day. Dan always had his coat wide then Chief Ranger in Wabasca in for Wayne. It complimented well well It complimented Wayne. for his hobbies in woodworking, He retired painting and drafting. back to in 2010, but contributed the years-as over his community department and fire a member of Museum Society. End-of-Steel FREDERICK (FRED) SUTHERLAND FREDERICK (FRED) on February River Born in Peace Sutherland passed 26, 1923, Fred Mountain House on in Rocky away 95 of January 21, 2019 at the age a developed Fred As a boy, years. spending the outdoors, of love great As moment in the “bush”. free every also discovered Fred a schoolboy, Margaret love, his other lifelong In 1941, as soon as he Baker. high school and left turned 18, Fred Air Force Canadian joined the Royal to the He was seconded (RCAF). and served Force, Air British Royal in the 50 and 617 (Dambuster) gunner was front Fred Squadrons. the Eder that broke in the aircraft Dam in May 1943. On September bail out to 17, 1943, he was forced Holland. bomber over a crippled of with the help Hiding and travelling Resistance, Dutch and French the of From the Pyrennes. he reached the Basque guided him into there, in in Gibraltar Spain. He arrived and Margaret 1943. Fred December on married in Edmonton were January 5, 1944, the day after his 73 married for were they return; was a gunnery instructor Fred years. in the RCAF until he left in Canada 1944. He then worked November as a clerk, and with night classes, his high school. Fred completed of the University from graduated in with a degree British Columbia for in 1952. He worked Forestry in companies logging numerous joining before British Columbia in 1958. Service the Alberta Forest Calgary, postings in Blairmore, After started with the Rocky District started with the Rocky Social Services of Alberta office Office Health as an and Community in this She remained Manager. 16, 1987, position until October the Rocky/ to when she transferred Headquarters Clearwater Forest as Services with Lands and Forest Through Officer. an Administrative the changes, various organizational became Forest Rocky/Clearwater part then Region, the Parkland Southern East Slopes, the the of and finally the Centre Fire Rocky Management Clearwater Wildfire was the in 2001. Connie Area section and Administration Finance head until 2006, when the finance, and administrative human resource within Sustainable Resource roles amalgamated were Development into one unit in 2006. Connie management supported the wildfire as a Time Unit Leader and program with export Section Chief Finance on the Mariana McMurray to Fort Val d’Or, in 1995 and wildfire Lake Quebec in 2005. In 2004, Connie led the Time Unit Leader task the Time Officer to redesign force public of 32+ years After Course. her announced Connie service, April 1, 2007. effective retirement WAYNE SMITH WAYNE Born on May 28, 1944 in Sussex, a long Brunswick, Wayne, New Hines Creek, of time resident on January away Alberta, passed 74. Wayne of 6, 2019 at the age NAIT the first from graduated in 1966 class Technology Forest Larry Dennis Cox, with people like and Lieskovsky Revie Huberdeau, as served Wayne Bisgrove. Gordon fire patrolman and officer a forest also working his career; most of for Forestry Sawmills. Zavisha for it was than a job, was much more and passion as much a lifestyle Obituaries CONNIE KADYK 13, 1951, Connie Born on February 30, on December away passed 67. Connie of 2018 at the age with the Alberta started her career in January 1971. government in the Organization She worked Division, Public Development Edmonton in Office Administration February In Manager. as the Office to Grande transferred 1974, Connie she was the Office where Prairie Mental Health Services, for Manager and Alberta Social Services in Health. She remained Community when 1979 March until position this to transferred her husband Andy, took Connie House. Mountain Rocky a for public service from time off stay home with to years number of In May 1982, Connie her family. early 1970s. In 1970, Ed completed completed Ed early 1970s. In 1970, at the Course Ranger the Advanced moved School. Ed Hinton Forestry as Forest to the Lac La Biche Forest in the mid-1970s, Officer Protection Forest then later to the Whitecourt In the mid-1980s, in the same role. as the to Edmonton moved Ed the Mechanical and of manager he held Section, a role Warehouse in 1995, after until his retirement the Alberta Forest with 32 years with was involved Ed Service. over teams overhead many wildfire the was chair of and the years, that developed 1985 task force the early priority mapping system Alberta. In 1988, he and for paper the presented Lou Foley Determining System for Alberta’s Priorities, at the Protection Fire Council Fire Interior West First Annual Meeting and Workshop, held in Kananaskis Country. instructed Ed Upon retirement, Regional Prairie at the Grande with Mort Timanson, College and Joe Smith. Brown Dave

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 92 Obituaries 93

and Edmonton, he moved his to become more efficient. He TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 family to Rocky Mountain House in introduced principles of logging 1964 to become Superintendent planning and encouraged upgrading of the Rocky Clearwater Forest. He of logging equipment and really loved his work, especially sawmilling machinery. As a result, when he could get out of the office production and quality of products into the “bush”. One of the main increased, along with utilization. His reasons Fred stayed in Rocky was combination of practical experience the amazing people he had to and his quiet but very persuasive work with. He retired in 1986. approach highlighted his success in effecting changes. He was highly Peter Murphy, forest historian and respected, both for his capabilities friend of Fred provided additional and for sincerity in his relationships. context on Fred’s career. “Fred was Fred and Margaret missed the a gentleman of the old school; forest, so in 1964, he transferred quiet, personable friendly and to Rocky Mountain House to unpretentious -- knowledgeable serve as Forest Superintendent and visionary; he had a great way of the Rocky-Clearwater Forest. with people, showing respect Again, his quiet but encouraging and humility while being very approach revitalized the outfit, convincing about what was needed and enlisted the support of forest to achieve. He got results while industry, the burgeoning energy engaging the support of his staff. He sector and increased recreational was effective and highly respected. users to collaborate in protecting I was working out of Edmonton with and managing the area. Fred was the Forestry Training School and highly regarded and respected. the Alberta Forest Service training On retirement in 1986, he and program from 1956, until the Margaret stayed on in what had training school was built, and we become their ‘home’ area and moved to Hinton. During that time, continued to explore it together. Fred and I shared an office (four of us) in the old Natural Resources JOE BURNSTICK Building, so I got to know him quite well; Joan and Margaret were also On January 25, 2019, Joe friends. Following his graduation in Burnstick passed away at the age Forestry at UBC in 1952, he worked of 73. Joe started working for the four years in British Columbia Alberta Forest Service in the late with forest industry on logging 1960s, until early in the 2000s. operations. Wishing to return to his Joe primarily worked out of the home province of Alberta, he signed Whitecourt Forest, mainly from on with the Alberta Forest Service in the Fort Assiniboine and Swan 1958, as forester for the Crowsnest Hills offices and bases. He was Forest. With his forest industry a firefighter, man-up supervisor, background and managerial skills, it sector boss; and more importantly, AlbertaForestHistory.ca was only four years before he was a mentor and trainer for young recruited to fill a new position in forest officers and Indigenous the Forest Management Branch in firefighters. Joe was instrumental Edmonton as Forester in charge of in working with Chief Ranger Woods Operations. During his next Ken Porter on the all Indigenous four years, he worked with forest helitack crew in the 1980s. industry for forestry operations

3 1

BUD SLOAN COLLECTION BUD SLOAN Service Alberta Forest the for Leo (Bud) Sloan worked He was a after 30 years. to 1987, retiring 1957 from Wabasca Earth, Sunset House, Red Lake, in Slave ranger School Training and Smith. Bud attended the Forestry was held in Kananaskis training in 1959, the last year to Hinton in 1960. Bud was part moved training before the Alberta for clan who all worked Sloan a larger of was This collection area. Lake in the Slave Service Forest Viney. his wife by provided PHOTO CORNERPHOTO FOREST HISTORYFOREST

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 94 Forest History Photo Corner – Bud Sloan Collection 95 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

2

1. L to R: Bud Sloan, Art Peter, Don Lowe, Don Harvey, Bruce Johnson, Eric Seyl; Forestry Training School year end celebration; Kananaskis; December 1959

2. Peter Murphy, instructor at the Forestry Training School; Kananaskis; December 1959. This was the last year training was held in Kananaskis, the Forestry Training School in Hinton opened in 1960.

3. Department of Interior general receipt issued to Jesse Sloan, father of forest ranger Bud Sloan. Receipt was for $35.00, as a guarantee deposit for a timber sale in the Lesser Slave area. C. H. Morse was the Dominion Forestry Branch Timber Inspector that issued the receipt on February 24, 1930. In October 1930, forest resources were transferred to Alberta

from the federal government; this would have been among AlbertaForestHistory.ca the last of the timber sale transactions Charles Morse would have been involved with. 8 1 6 3 7 5 2 HERB WALKER COLLECTION HERB WALKER timber in 1958 as a Service with the Alberta Forest began Herb Walker timber and He then cruised Forest. Lake in the Slave cruise compiler in Ranger an Assistant becoming before operator, as a radio worked before Creek, and Cold Creek positions in Smith, Fox 1960. He then held In 1983, Herb 1979 as the land use officer. in McMurray to Fort moving McMurray to Fort returning Ranger, Chief as the to Hines Creek moved in 1993. years after 33 retired in 1987. He as the land use officer – Herb Walker Collection – Herb Walker Photo Corner History Forest

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 96 Forest History Photo Corner – Herb Walker Collection 97 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Jack Macnab (FTS), Joe Burritt, Dave Schenk, Melvin Tessmer, Laverne Larson, Andy Kostiuk, Wayne Cole, Larry Derbyshire, Wayne Robinson, Bill Wuth, Lou Blasius, Ernie Duchesne, Stan Fischer, Gordon Japp, Albert Cauchie, Peter Klymchuk, Herb Walker, Gordon Matthews, Bob Richmond, Conrad Bello, Larry Kennedy, Roman Bizon; Basic Ranger Course; 1962

2. Student John Stepaniuk on the bronco barrel at the Forestry Training School Bull of the Woods, 1962

3. Land use reclamation field tour; Gordon Bisgrove (back only), Ed Dechant (white jacket), Don Law (blue jean shirt), Howard Anderson (to the right, green jacket);

4 4. Alberta Forest Service wooden bridge, built at Mile 27 on the Whitefish Road; 1963

5. Lorne Goff in drafting class; Advanced Ranger Course; 1960s

6. L to R: Rangers Phil Nichols and Herb Walker; 1963

7. Alberta government Bell 47J CF-AFK helicopter lowering Laverne Larson by winch; Forestry Training School; 1962

8. Ranger Vic Hume on patrol in Flatbush; 1965

9. Norm Rodseth on the Dog River; Athabasca Forest; 1980s

9 10. Wayne Cole outside tent; cruising in Red Earth; 1963

10 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 1 7 5

4 3

Forest History Photo Corner History Forest FOREST HISTORYFOREST CORNERPHOTO

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 98 Forest History Photo Corner 99 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Forest Officer Ed Pichota 2 with Chief Ranger Bill Kostiuk; Ed- son Ranger District; Edson Forest; late 1970s

2. Don Cousins; Alberta Sled Dog Racing Association; 2011

3. Department of Lands and Forests display; Natural Resource Conference; January 1959

4. Wes Nimco providing an over- view of the May 2018 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area; May 26, 2018

5. Alberta Forest Service display; World Forest Congress; 1960

6. Don Cousins and his sled dog racing team; Anchorage World Championship Sled Dog Race; 2017 6 7. Jason McAleenan, Mike Wagner, Tim Juhlin, Darren Tapp, John Whitworth, Ross Spence and Bruce Mayer; Highwood forest manage- ment woods operations tour; Calgary Forest Area; April 4, 2018

8. L to R: Don and Faye Cousins; Anchorage World Championship Sled Dog Race; 2017

8 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 2 6 5 3 1 Forest History Photo Corner History Forest

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 100 Forest History Photo Corner 101 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. Bruce Mayer presenting the 4 wildfire retirement print to Wayne Johnson on his 38 years of service to the Alberta government; Swan Hills Wildfire Base; May 15, 2018

2. Alberta Forestry Division Senior Foresters; Tracy Parkinson, Derek Bakker, Bert Ciesielski, Jean Lussi- er, Wayne Johnson, Rob Popowich, Tim Heemskerk, Rob Stronach, Amy Wotton, Kevin Johnson, Andre Savaria; Swan Hills Wildfire Base; May 15, 2018

3. Female wildland firefighters from across Canada (represented by Hayley Hallihan, Natasha Ael- lelle and Olivia Amos from New Brunswick; Nichole Selk, Ali Gillis and Kara McCurdy from Nova Scotia; Sara-Jay Nogel, Samantha Salisbury and Ashley Gammie from Alberta; and Yanne Dufresne from Ontario); Rock Island Lake wildfire; Lac La Biche Forest Area; May 2018

4. Marten Mountain Lookout and Communications Tower; note square cupola half way up the tower; Marten Mountain, Slave Lake Forest Area; June 14, 2018

5. L to R: Kevin Johnson and Brian Lopushinsky; student tree plant- ing day; Huestis Demonstration Forest; May 31, 2108

6. Wildfire LWF-121-2018, 10 kilo- metres south of Janvier; Back Row (L to R): Patrick Loewen, Morgan Kehr, Wally Born and Forrest Bar- rett (Incident Commander); Front Row Kneeling (L to R): Adrian Mac- Donald (Operations Chief), Bruce Mayer, Wes Nimco, and Tyler Kehr (Branch Director); Lac La Biche Forest Area; May 26, 2018

7. Darren Tapp presenting a mar- 7 quetry plaque to Wayne Johnson on his 38 years with the Alberta government; Swan Hills Wildfire Base; May 15, 2018 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 2 7 6 4 1 Forest History Photo Corner History Forest

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 102 Forest History Photo Corner 103 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Tyler Kehr and Morgan Kehr; Wildfire LWF-121- 3 2018; Lac La Biche Forest Area; May 26, 2018

2. Lookout Observer Roy Schneider; Marten Mountain Lookout; June 14, 2018

3. Norman Quilichini, Wildfire Telecoms and Facilities; Marten Mountain FireNet and Alberta First Responder Radio Communication System; Slave Lake Forest Area; June 14, 2018

4. Field visit to Little Buffalo and Cadotte Lake; L to R: Bruce Mayer, Henry Auger, Derek Bakker, Vicky Bosse, Trevor Lamabe, Amy Wotton and Ken Greenway; Little Buffalo; July 18, 2018

5. L to R: Bertie Beaver and Evelynne Wrangler; Stan Kavalinas retirement party; June 15, 2018

6. You thought hooking up your VCR was a challenge! Marten Mountain FireNet and Alberta First Responder Radio Communication System; Slave Lake Forest Area; June 14, 2018

7. Minister Oneil Carlier with Whitecourt Junior Forest Ranger crew; L to R: Minister Oneil Carlier; Whitecourt 5 airshow; July 28, 2018

8. L to R: Bruce MacGregor and Paul Rizzoli; July 28, 2018

8 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 104 Forest History Photo Corner TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

1 32

4 5

7 AlbertaForestHistory.ca Forest History Photo Corner 105 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Patrick Loewen, Bruce Mayer, Wally Born and 3 Morgan Kehr; Alberta Wildfire Klondike Days Parade pancake breakfast; June 20, 2018

2. Alberta wildland firefighters and orientation on a U.S. Park Ranger boat; Angel Springs, Washington State; August 2018

3. L to R: Jessica Cornish, Minister Oneil Carlier, Bertie Beaver and Malcom Robertson; Whitecourt airshow; July 28, 2018

4. Alberta wildland firefighters waiting for transport; Angel Springs, Washington State; August 2018

5. L to R: Stan Kavalinas and Bertie Beaver at Stan’s retirement; June 15, 2018

6 6. L to R: Gordon Bisgrove, Dennis York and Ed Dechant; Ed Johnson Memorial; St. Albert; August 2018

7. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry wildland firefighters; Back Row (L to R): Jordan Wolfe, Chris Cayabyab, Jorgo Van Ovost and Cyprian Zaleski; Front Row (L to R): Logan Mahoney, Jenelle Fenty and Trevor Leslie; Angel Springs, Washington State; August 2018

8. L to R: Lyle Dechief, Darren Tapp, Owen Spencer, Tim Heemskerk, Wendy Crosina, Vashti Dunham, Darren Aiken and Bruce Mayer; Weyerhaeuser Grande Prairie forest management field tour; August 23, 2018

8 9. L to R: Tim Heemskerk, Lyle Dechief and Vashti Dunham; Weyerhaeuser Grande Prairie forest management field tour; August 23, 2018

9 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 106 Forest History Photo Corner TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019

1

4 5

7 8

9 AlbertaForestHistory.ca Forest History Photo Corner 107 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. Back Row (L to R): Linda Witham, 2 3 Dave Heatherington, Bart McNally, Colin Campbell, Mike Woods, Marc Cormier, Ken Yackimec, Darnell McCurdy, Eric Enokson, Brent Schleppe, Roger Marchand, Joe Lyons, Elaine Mayer, Steve Janzen, Bruce Mayer; Front Row (L to R): Mark Storie, Val Majeau, Barb St John, Greg Westlund, Christine Woods, Dean Polvi, Peter Koning, Paul Hostin; 1981-1983 NAIT Forest Technology 35th reunion; Devon, Alberta; September 15, 2018

2. L to R: Linda Witham, Carol Doering, Carol Schmanke; 1981- 1983 NAIT Forest Technology 35th reunion; September 15, 2018

3. L to R: Gordon Bisgrove and Don Law; Ed Johnson Memorial; St. Albert; August 2018 6 4. L to R: Gordon Bisgrove, Norm Olson and Rick Smith; Ed Johnson Memorial; St. Albert; August 2018

5. Quilt Linda Witham created for the 1981-1983 NAIT Forest Technology 35th reunion; September 15, 2018

6. L to R: Leroy Reitsma (President and COO), Rob McCurdy (CEO), Minister Oneil Carlier; Pinnacle Renewable Energy pellet plant grand opening; Evansburg, Alberta; September 25, 2018

7. L to R: Kevin Johnson, Darren Tapp, Shawn Barraclough and Bruce Mayer; forest management woods operations tour; Whitecourt Forest Area; October 3, 2018

8. Rick Moore (bottom row, right) was honoured with Parks Canada staff for their collaboration in managing the fall 2017 Kenow Mountain wildfire in Waterton Lakes National Park; Ottawa; September 12, 2018. Back Row (L to R): Daniel Watson, Michael

Wernick, Ifan Tomas, Natalie Fay, AlbertaForestHistory.ca Stephen Cornelsen, John Stoesser, Kevin Ferrier, Jed Cochrane; Front Row (L to R): Scott Murphy, Jonathan Large, Dennis Madsen, Victor Kafka, Joe Fontoura, Rick Moore

9. L to R: Tim and Hope Klein, Marj and Gord Graham; Nova Scotia; September 2018 6 2 7 5 3 1 Forest History Photo Corner History Forest

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 108 Forest History Photo Corner 109 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Cliff Smith, Con Dermott, 4 Fred McDougall and Bruce Mayer; Vanderwell Contractors private land plantation field trip; October 18, 2018

2. L to R: Quinn Archibald, Dylan Eaton, Christopher Vawter, Michael Schmidt; Fort McMurray Forest Area staff participating in Operation Christmas Child, through the Samaritans Purse International Relief Canada; November 2018

3. L to R: Fred McDougall, Cliff Smith and Con Dermott; Vanderwell Contractors private land plantation field trip; October 18, 2018

4. L to R: Con Dermott and Fred McDougall reviewing maps of Vanderwell private land holdings; Vanderwell Contractors private land plantation field trip; October 18, 2018

5. L to R: Bruce Mayer, Darcy Dickson, Peter Andrews, Tyler Steneker, Hal Jackson, Rich Briand, Jeff Morris, Steve Blanton, Jed Begin, Mark Cookson, Darren Tapp, Mark Dewey, Shane Sadoway, Stacey Pike; Blueridge West Fraser FMA field tour group picture; December 6, 2018

6. L to R: Kevin Jewett (Tolko), Oneil Carlier (Minister, Agriculture and Forestry), Danielle Larivee (Minister, Children’s Services and MLA for Lesser Slave Lake), Kevin Albrecht (West Fraser), Ken Vanderwell (Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.); Marten Hills Forest Management Agreement Signing; Slave Lake; December 13, 2018

7. L to R: Chris Ingram, Kevin Vander Haeghe, Erica Samis, Aaron Jones, Peter Andrews, Darren Tapp, Hal Jackson, Robert Popowich, Tracy Parkinson, AlbertaForestHistory.ca Richard Briand; Agriculture and Forestry and West Fraser mountain pine beetle tour; Edson and Hinton forest management areas; December 12, 2018 5 3 1 Forest History Photo Corner History Forest

TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 AlbertaForestHistory.ca 110 Forest History Photo Corner 111 TRAILS & TALES FEBRUARY 2019 1. L to R: Nathan Friesen, Bruce 2 Mayer, Darcy Dickson, Jeff Morris, Shane Sadoway, Rich Briand, Hal Jackson, Jed Begin, Tyler Steneker, Peter Andrews, Mark Cookson, Darren Tapp

2. L to R: Nathan Friesen, Hal Jackson, Shane Sadoway, Rich Briand, Darcy Dickson, Jeff Morris, Darren Tapp, Mark Cookson (hidden in shadow), Jed Begin, Tyler Steneker, Bruce Mayer, Peter Andrews; Hinton West Fraser FMA field tour group picture; December 7, 2018

3. L to R: Left to Right: Kevin Jewett (Tolko), Kevin Albrecht (West Fraser), Oneil Carlier (Minister, Agriculture and Forestry), Danielle Larivee (Minister, Children’s Services 4 and MLA for Lesser Slave Lake), Ken Vanderwell (Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.)

4. Back Row (L to R): Dan LeFleur, Ross Spence, Rob Berndt; Front Row (L to R): Tim Juhlin, Ed Kulscar, Wally Born, Kirk Hawthorn, Chris Jolly, Bruce Mayer; Mustang Hills forestry tour; Calgary Forest Area; January 4, 2019

5. Alberta Wildfire Ranger Chad Williamson at the Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation fallen firefighter memorial; family with helmet Chad presented; Prime Minister Trudeau in the background; Ottawa; September 9, 2018

6. L to R: Paul Lane and Ed Pichota exchanging business cards; Forest History Association AGM; March 6 18, 2018 AlbertaForestHistory.ca FOREST HISTORY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA JoinJoin oror RenewRenew youryour MembershipMembership Today!Today!

Sign up today to be part of NAME (individual/company) Alberta’s only Association dedicated to perserving NAME of SPOUSE (family) and promoting our unique forestry heritage. ADDRESS

Yearly membership fees POSTAL CODE PHONE are: $25 - Individual EMAIL

$40 - Family Send your application and fees to: For more info contact Bruce Mayer Forest History Association of Alberta Phone: (780) 644-4656 $250 - Corporate 22 Hutchinson Place, St Albert, AB T8N 6R3 Email: [email protected]

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES CAN START WILDFIRES Keep your machines clean. Report all wildfires: 310-FIRE (3473)

wildfire.alberta.ca DON’T FORGET YOUR STONES AND BRING IT

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES CAN START WILDFIRES TH E. S. HUESTIS 44 ANNUAL CURLING BONSPIEL Keep your machines clean. Report all wildfires: 310-FIRE (3473) MARCH 8-9, 2020 ATHABASCA MULTIPLEX ATHABASCA, ALBERTA

Contact Greg Boyachuk at [email protected] for further information wildfire.alberta.ca TrailsTrails & TTalesales

Published by: Forest History Association of Alberta

Design by: Michelle McBride

Please send story ideas to: Bruce Mayer (780) 644-4656 or [email protected]

Mailing address: 22 Hutchinson Place St. Albert, Alberta T8N 6R3