L to R: MLA Kiel Giddens, COFI president Kim Haakstad, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Chief Dolleen Logan, and Prince George Mayor Simon Yu. wanted to see a forest sector that focused on sustainability and the environment but also had a strong focus on economic and socio-economic sustainability. “We need your help. We need your ideas, and I look forward to discussing these ideas with all of you over the next couple of days. Now, more than ever, we need resource champions who are willing to take on the partnerships and innovation needed for our prosperity and good family-supporting jobs right here in British Columbia,” he said. Giddens stated that nearly 90 per cent of people living in Brit-ish Columbia believe that the forestry sector is vital to the prov-ince’s economy, and that 78 per cent believe B.C.’s forest industry is among the world leaders in using sustainable and responsible forest practices. “We have a really great base and success from the past, but it doesn’t mean that we can rest on our laurels,” he said. “Our suc -cess is the result of the hard work and the many contributions of everyone in the forest sector. We are at a crossroads today. Now is the time for all of us in the forest sector to work together to build on our past success and address the challenges we face today.” NEW LEADERSHIP The final welcome address came from COFI’s new president and CEO Kim Haakstad, who began her speech by thanking former president and CEO Linda Coady for her hard work and dedication to B.C.’s forest sector. “COFI is better off as an organization thanks to you,” Haak -stad said to Coady, who was in the crowd. “You spent your time balancing economic and ecological values and championing strat-egies for wildfire resilience, forest health and efficient wood use. You’re a bridge builder. You brought together all the different forestry associations to have robust conversations about the chal-lenges we’re facing and deepened our connections with groups like the BC First Nations Forestry Council. While working with the provincial government, you worked hard to get the commit -ment to a target harvest of 45 million cubic metres into the gov-ernment’s election platform and Minister Parmar’s mandate letter. So, thank you for all of that.” Haakstad comes to the association with 20 years of leadership experience serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the BC Pre -mier, as well as working in North America’s agri-tech sector. She has also served on the board of B.C.’s DIGITAL Global Innova -tion Cluster. “I’m excited by taking on and finding solutions to challenges, and I’m pleased to have joined COFI,” Haakstad told the crowd. “Times are tough, but that’s when we can make the most differ -ence. For the last two months, I’ve been focused on learning and action, meeting with the members, and learning about their opera-tions in the industry, and getting feedback on how COFI can better support their businesses. • Canadian BIOMASS 25
Canadian Biomass Spring 2025: Page 25
