Kalesnikoff Lumber is building an expansion to their operations in the Kootenays, which will translate into more job opportunities for the region.
The current production line is capable of handling over 50,000 cubic meters of mass produced timber each year. The existing mill in South Slocan will be expanded by 20,000 square feet.
“We produce material applications all over western Canada, and in the U.S.,” says chief operations officer Chris Kalesnikoff. “We have clients using the material from as far away as Texas, for various industrial applications.”
According to Kalesnikoff, the expansion will enlarge their structure to 130,000 square feet and let them focus more on what they refer to as “finishing depths.” This will also allow for growth within the company, and offer more jobs to the local economy.
“We are expecting the new expansion will allow us to have continuous growth, not just in staff but also in production as demand grows over the next three to five years,” says Kalesnikoff.
According to Kalesnikoff the market is dictating the use of more wood; this means the new expansion will allow for an increased workforce, and allow the company to keep up with the high market demand.
“The market is growing as a whole,” he says. “We are seeing a large demand for mass timber production in affordable housing as well as commercial buildings, institutional structures, schools, day care centers and industrial centers.”
Kalesnikoff Lumber began in 1939 with three brothers who began horse logging and evolved into manufacturing mass timber.
The expansion is scheduled to be completed in spring of next year.