By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
A new chapter in the Osoyoos Indian Band’s (OIB) diverse business partnerships was unveiled today with the official opening of the Osoyoos Forest Nursery (OFN), a silviculture partnership between the Band and Oliver’s K&C Silviculture.
Located on 26 acres of OIB reserve land off Tucelnuit Dr, north of Oliver, the tree nursery includes 1,672 sqm. (18,000 sqft.) of greenhouse infrastructure and 46,452 sqm. of outdoor growing space with K&C Silviculture operating the facility under contract to the OIB.
The operation is expected to primarily grow forest seedlings including lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and western larch, which are well-suited to regional ecosystems but the nursery has the ability to expand growing capacity and potentially diversify production over time to other tree species including possibly deciduous trees.
Currently the nursery has 3.6 million seedlings started earlier this spring and when fully built out the nursery will produce 18.2 million seedlings per year and while significant, the number still pales in comparison to the K&C Silviculture facility which produces nearly 48 million seedlings each year.
The partnership comes at a time when seedling production capacity is in dire shape with the Canadian Tree Nursery Association (CTNA) warning in February that more than 7.3 billion seedlings are required to restore just 15 per cent of the forests destroyed by wildfires between 2023 and 2025 – more than 10 times Canada’s current annual seedling production capacity.
The two partners said the new facility will help strengthen British Columbia’s forest renewal efforts through “expanded seedling production capacity, First Nations partnership, and long-term investment in sustainable forestry.” The seedlings will support reforestation projects on OIB territory – about 5 million seedlings to support rehabilitation of wildfire damaged lands – and across BC and Alberta.
Aside from supporting reforestation efforts the new business will also create local employment, training, and economic development opportunities for the OIB.
The Osoyoos Forest Nursery (OFN) north of Oliver on OIB land off Tucelnuit Dr.
Don Urquhart photo
OIB Chief Clarence Louie expressed his pride around the fact it is the Band’s first “green business” project. “I’m so proud of this project. This is the Osoyoos Indian Band’s first green project.
“We have a lot of businesses and a lot of joint ventures, and K&C you’re our latest addition to the Osoyoos Indian Band’s family of joint ventures, but this is our first green project. So we can stand up, osoyoos indian band, and be proud that we’re not just cutting down trees we’re one of the few first nations . . ., that will be growing millions of trees each year for our forests,” he noted.
“We all depend on our forests for many basic needs. The wood builds our personal houses and all-important community buildings including our schools, hospitals, fire departments, and hockey rinks to name a few.
“The forests have an important ecological connection to fresh water and all the plants and animals. The Osoyoos Indian Band is proud to be one of the first First Nations in Canada to be growing millions of trees for our beloved forests,” Louie added.
Henry Yang, Senior Grower at K&C Silviculture points to the root plug of a lodge pole pine seedling.
Don Urquhart photo
The project was developed through a shared vision between the OIB and K&C Silviculture, the two said. The OIB leadership identified an opportunity to participate more directly in the forestry sector through growing trees and green economic development, while K&C Silviculture sought to expand growing capacity beyond its existing operations.
“K&C Silviculture is delighted to collaborate with the Osoyoos Indian Band on this project that represents a major investment in the future of forest renewal in Canada,” said Roopinder Goertzen, Chief Operating Officer of K&C Silviculture Ltd.
“With a full operational capacity of approximately 18.2 million seedlings per year, the Osoyoos Forest Nursery has been designed with advanced infrastructure and environmental sustainability in mind, including irrigation recirculation systems and efficient benching technology that help reduce water use, fertilizer consumption, runoff, and seedling handling throughout the growing cycle.
“The collaboration leverages the resources of the Osoyoos Indian Band and K&C Silviculture’s 30-plus years of experience in the forest nursery sector,” she added.
“Right now, there are very few large-scale tree nurseries in British Columbia with First Nations ownership or co-ownership,” said Peter Flett, Head of Operations for the OIB’s Nk’Mip Forestry division.
“Our goal is to create meaningful local opportunities in forestry, horticulture, and environmental stewardship while helping support long-term forest renewal efforts across the province,” he added.
Western larch seedlings growing out of doors at the Osoyoos Forest Nursery (OFN).
Don Urquhart photo
The project received support from the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program, which focuses on expanding Canada’s tree-planting and forest-restoration efforts. Funding provided to the OIB will support broader reforestation initiatives, including the development of local nursery capacity, the production of locally sourced seedlings, and long-term forest renewal efforts within the region.
Louie noted that the impetus for the project was a newspaper article about the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program launched in 2021 (since discontinued but existing contracts will be funded) designed to plant two billion trees by 2031 to combat climate change, restore biodiversity, and create green spaces.
“I always remind people, read the newspaper. You gotta read papers to keep up with the news and listen to the news. That’s how I first heard about this 2 Billion Trees program and right away I got on the phone and started making calls,” he laughed.
Osoyoos Forest Nursery (OFN).
Don Urquhart photo
“The Government of Canada is proud to support initiatives that bring together action on the environment and community development. The Osoyoos Forest Nursery will help grow the next generation of forests here in B.C., while creating meaningful jobs and training opportunities for the local community,” shared Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna and Secretary of State (Defence Procurement).
Offering his congratulations to the Osoyoos Indian Band and K&C Silviculture on opening, Ravi Parmar, BC Minister of Forests said: “This is where the next generation of B.C. forests gets its start. Millions of locally sourced seedlings will be grown here every year, supporting jobs, strengthening communities, and helping keep our forests healthy for generations to come.”
