The Province is recognizing Ernie Day for innovation and excellence in woodlot management, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

Day, who runs a 730-hectare woodlot in and around the Mission Creek watershed, received the $2,500 Minister’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Woodlot Management for the South area at the Federation of B.C. Woodlot Association's annual general meeting in West Kelowna. The award recognizes Day’s 30-year commitment to forest stewardship and acknowledges the work he has done to integrate his woodlot into the surrounding community.

Day’s woodlot contains a portion of private land that has been in his family since 1897 and supports a variety of activities including horseback riding, hiking, biking, cattle grazing and timber harvesting.

The awards are funded by the Province of British Columbia and administered by the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations. This year, the awards recognize a woodlot licensee representing each of the Coast and South areas, along with an overall top performer.

Quotes:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson ─

“Ernie Day has is an example to everyone on how to run a business in an environmentally and socially responsible way. For 30 years, Ernie has built a reputation for his generosity, his hard-work and his dedication to woodlot management. Congratulations to Ernie and all award recipients. We appreciate your industry leadership and value your long-term commitment to the woodlot program.”

President, Federation of BC Woodlot Associations Mark Clark ─

“The federation is very pleased to join with Minister Thomson in recognizing Ernie Day. Ernie's woodlot is an area that is heavily used by the public. His commitment to managing his woodlot for timber, recreation and other resource values is exemplary. In addition, his many years of contributing to the woodlot program and managing his woodlot to a high standard make him well-deserving of this recognition. On behalf of the federation and all its members, congratulations!”

Quick Facts:

• Woodlot licences are small, area-based tenures managed by individuals, groups or First Nations.
• British Columbia has over 860 active woodlots. Each woodlot generates jobs in planning, harvesting, road construction and maintenance, reforestation, silviculture and small-scale timber processing.
• Woodlots generate $200 million of economic activity for the province every year.

Learn More:

B.C. Woodlot Licence program:
https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/timber-tenures/woodlots/index.htm

Federation of B.C. Woodlot Associations: http://www.woodlot.bc.ca