November 7, 2025
RED FM News Desk
The West Fraser Timber Co., a major employer in Central B.C., has announced the permanent closure of its lumber mill in 100 Mile House. The company cited the persistent trade dispute with the U.S. as the primary factor, stating that the mill is no longer economically viable. The closure process is scheduled to begin an “orderly wind-down” and be complete by the end of 2025.
The Vancouver-based company pointed to softwood lumber duties and U.S. tariffs as key reasons for the shutdown. In a statement released Thursday, West Fraser explained, “The 100 Mile House lumber mill is no longer able to reliably access an adequate volume of economically viable timber. Challenging softwood lumber demand, higher duties and additional tariffs have compounded this situation.” The company also noted that it will be closing its American mill in Augusta, Ga.
The local impact of the closure is significant. Approximately 165 employees at the 100 Mile House site will be affected, which represents about 8.6% of the community’s population based on 2021 census data.
West Fraser stated its commitment to mitigation efforts, expressing hope to lessen the impact by providing “work opportunities at other company operations, where available” for the affected workers.
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