Wood for replacing bridges and pedestrian walkways at Scout Island in recent years came from Toosey Old School Wood Products L.P. (TOSWP) at Riske Creek.
“We also provided 49 modular bridge deck panels for all 14 bridge structures that were destroyed in the Williams Lake river valley flood of 202o,” said Steve Ashley who has managed the TOSWP since 2018.
Located at Riske Creek, 50 kilometres west of Williams Lake, the facility is housed at a former elementary school, built in 1957 with 8.69 acres of land.
In 2014, Tl’esqox (Toosey) First Nation purchased it and has since renovated and regenerated the building for training and production, building economic capacity for the Tsihlqot’in territory.
Beginning in 2016, several training programs have been offered such has heavy duty equipment operator, first aid, forestry safety and trade programs.
“Right now we are offering a carpentry program with six students from Tsilhqot’in communities in conjunction with the Tsilhqot’in National Government,” Ashley said.
Since programs were offered there, TOSWP had partnered with the TNG.
“We have the facility, carpentry tools, and the land area to provide the on-site skills training and the TNG facilitates the curriculum and the funding for the students and work with the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology so it is all certified through the Industrial Trades Association.”
The program began March 18 and will run for three months.
“This one is level two - the second year apprenticeship program.”
Ashley said recently TOSWP has upgraded equipment to better utilize lumber products and is diversifying into a value-added program for higher value finished products such as siding, panelling and flooring.
“We purchase open market logs from Tolko, West Fraser, Williams Lake Community Forest and small business operators in the area,” Ashley said, adding they also have a contract with Drax for residuals to go toward making pellets in Williams Lake.
TOSWP provides hundreds of local customers in the Cariboo Chilcotin with material for timber frame, housing and outdoor construction projects.
There have been up to 22 employees working for TOSWP as the company becomes the largest supplier of modular bridge deck panels to all the major licensees and the provincial government.
The company is also a steady supplier to the surrounding First Nations communities, Cariboo region of dimensional lumber and structural timber requirements.
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