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BC-based Forestry Company to Acquire Resolute F.P.

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Resolute Forest Products is being sold.

The BC-based Paper Excellence Group says it has entered into an agreement to acquire Resolute.

The deal is worth an estimated $2.7 billion U.S.

Under the agreement, Resolute will continue to operate its mills under its name but will become a subsidiary under Domtar, that Paper Excellence acquired last year.

Resolute operates a pulp and paper mill in Thunder Bay and sawmills in Thunder Bay, Ignace and Sapawe. Domtar has operations in Dryden.

There are no changes expected to the management team, which will remain at Resolute’s headquarters in Montreal.

The deal still needs to be signed off by shareholders, with a vote planned for this fall.

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Domtar Gives Back To Community With Mask Donations

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The Domtar Dryden Mill is supporting the community with several donations of masks, as concerns of the second wave of COVID-19 increase across Ontario.

The mill has provided 4-thousand disposable face masks to all Dryden schools.

Domtar’s Bonny Skene says with students back in the classroom, it’s important to support the community.

“Now that a number of other things are opening up in the community, including schools, we had the ability to make this donation and wanted to do that to support health and safety of those in our community.”

The Kenora District Services Board is also welcoming a donation of face masks from the Dryden mill.

The local mill donated 12-thousand masks to the Northwestern Health Unit and KDSB to help keep their staff and the people they serve safe.

The KDSB will distribute the masks to their Early Years programs, Northwest Emergency Medical Services, and area emergency shelters.

Skene says the donation of masks during this time goes hand and hand with Domtar’s community involvement.

“As our mill manager says, we’re a tight nit community and we need to be helping where we can, so we saw this as an opportunity to do that and we’re glad to do it.”

KDSB Chief Administrative Officer Henry Wall says the gift embodies the spirit of Northern Ontario of working together and supporting each other.

Eagle Lake First Nation and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation also recently received a total of 2-thousand masks.

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Domtar At Work For The Planet: A Better Place To Work, Live And Play

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Community members took time out of their Saturday morning to help make our town a cleaner, safer and better place.

About 35 volunteers showed up at Lions Park and Laura Howe Marsh to take part in Domtar’s, in partnership with the City of Dryden, ‘At Work For The Planet’ clean up day in celebration of National Forestry Week.

Wilkinson Family

 

Among the volunteers were Jill and Duncan Wilkinson with their three daughters.

“We like to try and get them involved in the community and show them ways they can help out and be good citizens. We live near the park and use it really often. I know in the past it’s had a lot of garbage so it’s nice to see everyone come out and help to keep the park clean so that everyone can enjoy it.”

Raje Kumer, another volunteer explains why he took part.

Raje Kumer

“We’re here to work for the community because community and business has to grow together. So by making the community clean, we make it safe, healthy and a better place.”

MP for the Kenora Riding, Eric Melillo was also at Lion’s Park and he was glad to participate.

“It’s great to see lots of people come out for an important cause and help clean up the community and out spaces we all enjoy. I also want to thank the folks at Domtar for their efforts and working with the town to make this a reality, especially in these really difficult times right now. It’s important we keep out community strong and we stick together even if we are physically a part from each other. I know the resilience of Northerners and we step up to the challenge.”

Volunteers cleared brush, assisted with some repair work and cleaned up garbage.

Speaking for Domtar, Bonnie Skene says they greatly appreciate all the volunteers who make this initiative and clean-up days possible.

With help from the Northwestern Health Unit, the event was able to proceed despite new provincial regulations of gatherings due to COVID-19, as it was a monitored event that followed health of safety guidelines.

https://twitter.com/sarahmckdr/status/1309887100410621954

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Community Clean Up Day In Dryden Saturday

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“At Work For The Planet”

That’s the theme of a community clean up day scheduled for Saturday at Lions Park and the Laura Howe Marsh.

Dianne Loewen is the Coordinator for Forestlands and Public Affairs at Domtar and says it’s a joint initiative between the mill and the City of Dryden.

“If you have some time and you want to come out and help and volunteer we would welcome that. We would love to see a number of people come and help us out and get some fresh air and enjoy the beautiful City parks that we have.

Registration starts at 8:30am and the event runs from 9:00am until noon.

Volunteers will be clearing brush, doing some repair work and cleaning up garbage at both sites.

Loewen says the annual event has always been well received and notes refreshments will be provided.

This is part of National Forest Week celebrations.

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Domtar Celebrating National Forest Week

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The beauty of northwestern Ontario and the importance of a major economic driver will both be in the spotlight this week.

This is National Forest Week.

Dianne Loewen is the Coordinator of Forestlands and Public Affairs with Domtar in Dryden and she is encouraging everyone to go outside and enjoy the fall weather in our forests.

“This is a celebration that takes place annually across the country. And because we live in the heart of the Boreal Forest and the Boreal Forest is what feeds our Domtar facility in Dryden, we just wanted to take an opportunity to celebrate that a little bit.”

Loewen says they are trying to make things fun and focusing on the younger generation.

“So we’re running a Pulp Decorating contest for elementary students in Grades 6, 7 and 8. Pulp squares have been delivered to the schools and the students are working very hard to create some beautiful pieces of art that we are very anxious to see.”

Loewen says each school will select a winner and Domtar will then decide on the overall winners and award prizes.

She adds they are partnering with the Canadian Institute of Forestry to launch a national photo contest.

To hear more from Dianne Loewen and National Forest Week, visit the Audio link below.

 

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Domtar Touts Wabigoon Forest Certification

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Domtar has successfully completed a comprehensive audit and has received certification for the Wabigoon Forest.

Bonny Skene is the Regional Manager of Public Affairs and says some of their customers have asked them to go above and beyond current standards and have the third party ‘Forestry Stewardship Council’ come in and review their sustainable forest management plans.

“They look at endangered species. They look at work with Indigenous peoples. They look at workers rights. They look at landscape management and they look at conservation. There’s a whole set of very rigorous criteria under each of those subject areas.”

Skene says it’s important to receive additional certification as they are managing a public forest and it shows the company is on the right path.

She notes they did receive some suggestions on how to improve, noting there was nothing glaring or serious but just some minor pointers.

“We always look at those carefully to say ‘What can we be doing better? What can we change? How can we implement this suggestion?’ And then the next time we’re up for audit, then that’s reflected in the outcome.”

Skene stresses the certification is “Important to a number of their customers. We take it seriously and a lot of work goes into this certification on the part of the forest land staff at Domtar and also our contractors in the bush.”

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Domtar To Educate Public About Hazardous Substances

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Like many facilities, Domtar is now required to educate area residents about hazardous substances.

This comes after a change was made by Environment Canada to the Environment Emergency Regulations.

The new requirement starts August 24 and requires companies like Domtar that work with hazardous substances to educate the public, in case of an environmental emergency were to occur.

Bonny Skene with Domtar says this is a proactive measure so that community members are aware and understand the health and safety risks.

Skene explains the two hazardous substances used to make of pulp.

“Two substances that we use in the making of pulp-and we’re not alone we’re similar to any craft pulp mill in operation- one substance is chlorine dioxide and hydrochloride acid. With chlorine dioxide its inhalation. If you inhale it it can be very severe. Range from mild to severe symptoms. We are constantly working on prevention, preparation and response.”

Skene adds that in the event of an emergency, residents would receive further instruction to shelter or even evacuate.

“We work hard to ensure employee, community safety and to protect the environment. We are constantly working on prevention, preparation and response. We prepare for an emergency of this type.”

Domtar also works with Dryden Emergency Services to make sure they are prepared and fully trained to respond.

Skene stresses that there is no emergency and this is a proactive measure to inform the public of health and safety risks associated with the hazardous substances used on site.

Residents and area businesses will receive a brochure in the mail with more information.

You can also view the brochure here.

 

BACKGROUND:

In 2003 the Government of Canada rolled out the Environmental Emergency Regulations. The purpose of the regulation was to “help reduce the frequency and severity of accidental releases of hazardous substances into the environment”, and it mandated facilities to develop systems and plans to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from accidental releases of specific substances.

REVISED E2 REGULATION:

The regulation now requires that we proactively inform the public about the risks these substances could pose, and the actions we’ve taken to prevent, prepare for, communicate during and respond to in the unlikely event of an environmental emergency.

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Domtar Thanking All Health Care Workers

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The Domtar “Difference Makers” campaign has come to an end.

For the past couple of months the company has been selecting individuals and groups in our community who have been making a positive difference during the COVID-19 crisis.

Forestlands and Public Affairs Coordinator Dianne Loewen says their final selection is all healthcare workers win the Dryden area.

Loewen notes they received numerous nominations for folks at the hospital, Princess Court and ambulance drivers.

“We’re in such unprecedented times right now. These people are putting themselves and their families at risk every day dealing with the unknown and we as a company and as a community are just so appreciative of the efforts that everyone has been putting forward.”

Loewen stresses it was impossible to acknowledge everyone who continues to make Dryden such a great place to live in.

“We wanted to share some good news stories and acknowledge all of these people who are going above and beyond and trying so hard to make a difference in our communities.”

 

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Domtar Recognizes Two Difference Makers

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Domtar in Dryden has recognized its weekly ‘Difference Makers’.

Every week the company selects someone in our community that is making a positive difference during the COVID-19 crisis.

Yvonne Lozej has been instrumental in feeding certain members of the community.

She has been providing baking to front line workers at Princess Court and the Dryden Regional Health Centre.

Lozej has also been preparing freezable meals for seniors.

Karen Mol has been going the extra mile at Safeway to ensure her department is clean, organized and well stocked to meet the needs of consumers.

Mol has been putting in countless hours and doing it all with an incredible smile.

The campaign ends next week and to make a nomination email differencemaker@domtar.com

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Domtar Difference-Makers: May 15, 2020

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DOMTAR DIFFERENCE-MAKERS

This week, we’re featuring two people who are making a difference in Dryden.

First, is Yvonne Lozej. Yvonne was nominated as a difference-maker for providing baking to front-line workers at Princess Court and the Dryden Regional Health Centre, as well as preparing freezable meals for seniors.

Next, Karen Mol, nominated for going the extra mile at Safeway. Karen has put in countless hours to ensure her department is clean, organized, and well-stocked to meet the needs of the community – and doing it all with an incredible smile!

Great work! Thank you for going above and beyond to make difficult times easier for everyone. You’re making a difference!


Nominate A Difference-Maker!

Do you know of someone in our community that is making a difference during the COVID-19 crisis?
Someone that is working extra hard, going above and beyond to help out or being especially thoughtful?

We want to hear all about it!
Nominate a community DIFFERENCE-MAKER by emailing differencemaker@domtar.com.
Tell us what this person or group is doing that makes them a difference-maker.
We will select a community difference-maker of the week to be profiled on CKDR and they will receive a voucher for a take out meal at restaurant of their choice in Dryden.

It’s Domtar’s way of saying thank you to our community!

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