Forestry Talks

In this episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic sits down with Dr. Uldis Silins, Professor of Forest Hydrology at the University of Alberta, for a fascinating conversation about one of the most important and often underappreciated parts of forest management: water. Dr. Silins shares how Alberta’s forests play a critical role in storing, filtering, and delivering water across the province, and...

In this special Forestry Talks episode, recorded on-site at AFPA’s 83rd AGM in Jasper, host Aspen Dudzic welcomes back Alberta’s Minister of Forestry and Parks, the Honourable Todd Loewen. Together, they get into a wide-ranging conversation covering wildfire mitigation, trade advocacy with the U.S. and Asia, the economic impact of tariffs and duties, and Alberta’s growing role in sustainable fores...

In this special episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic is joined by Alberta’s Premier, the Honourable Danielle Smith — the first sitting Premier to attend the Alberta Forest Products Association AGM in over a decade. The two dive into the big-picture view of Alberta’s forestry industry, including its growing importance to Indigenous and rural communities, the economic impact across the provi...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic sits down with Craig Werner, Director of Partnerships and Engagement at Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), to discuss the exciting intersection of climate innovation and forestry. Since 2009, ERA has invested over $1 billion into technologies that improve environmental performance while boosting Alberta’s economy—including $70 million into fores...

You might associate wood pellets with backyard barbecues, but their real potential lies in shaping a sustainable energy future. In this episode, Aspen speaks with Gord Murray, Executive Director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, about how Canada’s wood pellet industry is helping reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, supporting sustainable forest management, and leading the bioeconomy. Go...

Canada has the most sustainably certified forests in the world, yet we still rely heavily on exports instead of building more with our own wood. In this episode, Aspen Dudzic speaks with Rick Jeffery, President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council, to explore why that needs to change—and how it can. Rick shares insights from his 40-year career in forestry, discusses innovation in Canadian forest p...

Trade is top of mind for everyone right now, and market diversification is a key part of those conversations. In this episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic is joined by Bruce St. John, President of Canada Wood, to dive into the decades-long efforts to diversify Canada’s forest product exports.  Bruce shares fascinating insights into how countries like Japan, China, and Vietnam are integrati...

In this episode, host Aspen Dudzic sits down with Jason Krips, President and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association, to discuss Alberta's forestry sector as a solution to key challenges. They explore wildfire mitigation strategies, the province’s role in international trade, and the importance of showcasing Alberta’s sustainable forestry practices to global markets. Jason shares key i...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic sits down with Kathryn Wagner, Executive Director of Inside Education, to explore the transformative power of environmental and forestry education. Kathryn shares her journey from high school teacher to leading Inside Education, an organization at the forefront of natural resource education in Alberta. Together, they discuss the impact of field...

In this special panel episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic moderates an engaging panel discussion recorded at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel during the Annual General Meeting and Conference. Aspen is joined by Wendy Crosina of Weyerhaeuser, Sithara Fernando of Northwest College, and Robin McCullough of Brinkman Reforestation to explore equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in Canada’s f...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, host Aspen Dudzic sits down with John Desjarlais, Executive Director of the Indigenous Resource Network, to explore the vital role of Indigenous leadership in the forestry sector. They discuss economic reconciliation, the competitive advantage of Indigenous partnerships, and how shared values between Indigenous communities and industry are shaping a sustainable f...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen sits down with Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), for a look into the SFI’s extensive work supporting sustainable forestry, conservation, and environmental education across North America. Kathy shares insights into the importance of forest certification, the role of Indigenous knowledge in sustainable forestry, and...

Join us as we kick off the 2024 AGM series with a special return guest, Minister Todd Loewen, Alberta’s Minister of Forestry and Parks. In this episode, Minister Loewen expands on the lessons learned from Alberta’s unprecedented wildfire seasons and the steps being taken to protect Alberta’s forests, communities, and wildlife.  From the advanced use of night vision helicopters and drones to the in...

In the final episode of the Forest Capital of Canada celebration series, Aspen sits down with John Thurston and Gale Hayday, President and Vice President of the Northern Lights Forest Education Society, to explore the transformative power of forest education. They discuss how their programs are overcoming students' fears of the outdoors and introducing hands-on learning experiences in Alberta...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen is joined by Reeve Josh Knelsen to discuss the rich history and resilience of the Mackenzie Region in Alberta, recently designated as the Forest Capital of Canada. Reeve Knelson shares stories of overcoming natural disasters like floods and wildfires, the unexpected relationship between agriculture and forestry, and what makes life in northern Alberta so un...

Join Aspen as she sits down with Terry Jessiman, Forest Area Manager for High Level, to discuss the critical role of wildfire management and timber operations in Alberta. Terry dives into the 2024 wildfire season, new programs enhancing firefighting efforts, and the unique relationship between forestry and local communities. From night-time firefighting helicopters to engaging locals in wildfire s...

In this episode of Forestry Talks , Aspen sits down with Jesse Petroskey, a Woodland Supervisor in the Mackenzie Region, recently designated as the Forest Capital of Canada. Jesse shares his unexpected journey from aspiring dentist to passionate forester, and how the forestry program at NAIT changed his life. The pair explore the critical role of adaptive management in Alberta's wildfire-pron...

In this special episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen takes us to the Mackenzie Region of Alberta, which is recognized as the Forest Capital of Canada for 2024. Aspen is joined by Lisa Wardley, a dedicated councilor from Mackenzie County and co-chair of the Forest Capital initiative, along with co-chair Melanie Plantinga, a seasoned forestry contractor.  Together, they explore the significance of this...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen is joined by Chana Martineau, the CEO of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC). Chana shares her personal journey and background, and talks about how she came to be involved in her organization's mission of addressing Indigenous communities access to capital. The Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) is a non-profit association t...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen sits down with Lyman Rorem, the mill manager for International Paper's facility in Grand Prairie, to chat about his career, the history of the mill and the significant milestone they reached last year.   The Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) is a non-profit association that has been the voice of the sustainable forest industry in Alberta since...

In this episode of Forestry talks, our host Aspen sits down with Sandra Cardinal, who describes her journey to working in the forest industry, her experience working as the Director of Indigenous Relations for Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries (Al-Pac), and unpacks how she fosters positive relationships and understanding between Al-Pac and the communities she works with. The Alberta Forest Product...

In this episode of Forestry Talks,  Councilor Leo Alook of the Municipal District of Opportunity from Trout Lake First Nation joins Aspen to discuss his 41-year career as a municipal leader. Councilor Alook shares his background and experiences with the local government and the forest industry. He emphasizes his love for helping people and his community and discusses his experience working with di...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen Dudzic interviews Cal Dakin, the Director of Innovation and Woodlands at Mercer Peace River, who discusses insights on how innovation is changing the forestry industry. Cal talks about how his role involves collaborating with specialists to develop new ideas and bring them to life. He also shares the importance of planning and having a clear pathway to impl...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Aspen sits down with Terry Ungarian, Reeve for the County of Northern Lights, to discuss Terry’s long-standing relationship with the forest industry, including a history of involvement in advocacy files with such as rail service and northwest species at risk. Terry shares his passion for his role in the municipal council and his appreciation for the forest indust...

In this episode of Forestry Talks, Shenandoah Johns, West Fraser's Chief Environment and Sustainability officer, joins Aspen to talk about her role within West Fraser and to unravel what a big topic like sustainability is all about.  Shenandoah emphasizes the importance of transparency and humility in this big, bold work, and reinforces the value of action over perfection.  The Alberta Forest...