Okanagan-Thompson Region

Chinook Cove Contracting, owned by Don Matthew, a Simpcw First Nation member, provides timber harvesting and silviculture services.

The company’s commitment and operations relating to silviculture – the branch of forestry that deals with the development and care of forests – has become renowned.

In business for over a decade, the company has established a reputation for its sustainable forestry and safety practices. This contributed to its success in winning the bid to operate in the ecologically sensitive Jasper National Park area, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

According to Don Matthew, Chinook Cove’s success is due to “great lines of communication - from the very first safety meeting to when the final machine is being moved out, no one is afraid to speak with anyone else to make sure goals are met.”