Top Employer: Western Forest Products Inc.

Recognized as one of BC's Top Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Feb 11, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Western Forest Products Inc. was selected as one of BC's Top Employers (2025):

Western Forest Products launched The Breakfast Club program to provide opportunities for employees to connect with the CEO and senior leaders on a regular basis and discuss their career paths and ways to improve the organization
Western Forest Products invests in ongoing education with job-related tuition subsidies (to a maximum of $1,000 per year) and financial bonuses for some course completion, ranging from $700 to $2,000
Western Forest Products supports employees who want to start a family with maternity and parental leave top-up for new mothers, to 100 per cent of salary for 17 weeks, followed by 70 per cent of salary for nine weeks -- new parents also have the option to phase-in their return to work, gradually increasing their hours to help transition

Forest stewardship team members at Western Forest Products join a field tour in Powell River, BC, to gain knowledge of the land for forest planning

Highlights

Industry	Lumber products
Established in Canada	2004
Publicly traded	yes
Major Canadian locations	Vancouver BC, Nanaimo BC
Full-time employees in Canada	1,507
Part-time employees in Canada	161
Average age of employees in Canada	45 years
Longest serving employee	57 years
Benefits note	Western Forest Products Inc. has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position
Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), telecommuting
Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $100 each year
Maternity top-up (mothers)	up to 100% of salary for 17 weeks
Parental top-up (mothers)	up to 70% of salary for 9 weeks
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Outside survey period	outside consultant surveys are held every 24 months
Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
In-house training initiatives	apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, mentoring, leadership development programs, paid internships
Annual tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer

The Career Directory

Western Forest Products Inc. has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.

Greenhouse at Western Forest Products' Saanich Forestry Centre

Highlights for New Grads

Industry	Lumber products
Full-time employees in Canada	1,001 to 2,500
Major Canadian locations	Vancouver BC, Nanaimo BC
Student opportunities	summer jobs, co-op opportunities
Training	subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring
Annual tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Typical new grad positions	Administrator, Analyst, Operations Planner, Sales Trainee, Management Trainee, Coordinator, Sales & Marketing Representative, Assistant Accountant
Starting salary	$50K to $60K
Work benefits	health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees receive paid time off to volunteer
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Academic fields recruited

Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
Bachelor of Engineering
- Electrical
- Environmental
- Forestry
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical
- Production / Manufacturing
- Pulp & Paper
- Welding
Bachelor of Science
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Ecology
- Environmental
- Forestry
Master of Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
Master of Science
- Environmental
Professional Accreditation
- Accounting (CGA)
- Accounting (CMA)
- Financial Planning (CFP, FMA)
- Human Resources (CHRP, CEBS)

Recruits at these schools

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Camosun College

Capilano University

Douglas College

First Nations University of Canada

Fleming College

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Lakehead University

Maritime College of Forest Technology

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Northern Lights College

North Island College

Okanagan College

Royal Roads University

Sault College

Selkirk College

Simon Fraser University

Thompson Rivers University

Trinity Western University

University College of the North

University of Alberta

University of British Columbia

University of Calgary

University of Guelph

University of New Brunswick

University of Northern British Columbia

University of the Fraser Valley

University of Victoria

Vancouver Community College

Vancouver Island University

Western Forest Products Inc.

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