Lisa Raitt Honoured As Community Champion By Canada's Forest Products Sector

  |  
September 21, 2020

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today announced the recipients of  its annual Awards of Excellence which include former MP and Federal Cabinet Minister Lisa Raitt as a 2020 Forest Community Champion.

FPAC presents its Awards of Excellence to recognize leadership in the sector and to honour the achievements of our workers and community partners. The Forest Community Champion award is presented to a leader who demonstrates support for the forestry sector and its contributions to Canada’s environmental, economic, and social priorities.

“Whether she was on the government side as Minister of Natural Resources, Labour, or Transport – or in the opposition benches – Lisa Raitt was always there ready to stand up for Canadian forestry workers. This was especially remarkable given she represented a Greater Toronto Area riding,”  said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “As an MP and Minister, Ms. Raitt demonstrated leadership and support for our sector, its workers and our communities. She was always quick to reach out to see how she could help. Her commitment was perhaps best demonstrated during the 2009 economic downturn when she played a lead role in securing a $1 billion green transformation package to help Canada’s struggling pulp and paper industry. The initiative saved thousands of jobs and investments allowed the sector to improve environmental performance at our mills,” Nighbor added.

Raitt entered public life in 2008 when she was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Halton until 2015. She then became MP for the riding of Milton until 2019. Raittserved in several portfolios during her eleven year political career and served as Deputy Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition between 2017 and 2019. She was also a champion of mental health in the workplace, supporting the development of the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace – the first of its kind in the world.

“As a former Natural Resources minister, I know well firsthand how Canada’s forestry industry plays an essential role in growing our economy, creating jobs and ensuring sustainability for future generations,” said Lisa Raitt, “I’m honoured to receive this award and want to thank the women and men across the country working in the forestry sector, in communities small and large, for their dedication to ensuring this important industry thrives.”

For further details about FPAC’s Awards of Excellence recipients, including photos and videos, please visit: www.forestryforthefuture.ca

-30-

FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $73.6-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing GDP and is one of Canada’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 230,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.

For more information contact:

Kerry Patterson-Baker
Vice President, Communications
e : kpatterson-baker@fpac.ca
t : 613-563-1441 ext. 314
Follow us on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC

For more information contact:
Kerry Patterson-Baker
Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
kpatterson-baker@fpac.ca
(613) 563-1441 x 314
Follow FPAC on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC
May 8, 2023
FPAC Announces Recipients of 2023 National Forestry Innovation Awards
FPAC Announces Recipients of 2023 National Forestry Innovation Awards
Read This
April 14, 2023
Canada’s Forest Sector Welcomes Federal Emissions Report’s Focus on Worsening Fires
Following the submission of Canada’s 2023 National Inventory Report (NIR) of greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) Vice President, Indigenous Relations and Forestry, Etienne Belanger, issued the following statement
Read This
March 28, 2023
Federal Budget Recognizes Canadian Forestry Leadership and Benefits of Forest Biomass
Earlier today, Forest Products Association of Canada President and CEO, Derek Nighbor, released the following statement on the Federal Budget 2023 tabled by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
Read This
March 27, 2023
FPAC Looks Forward to Support for Canadian Forestry Workers and Communities in 2023 Federal Budget
Endorsing of a Sector Specific Approach to Accelerate Industrial Decarbonization, Recognition of forest biomass, Renewal and expansion of core sector programs
Read This
November 13, 2019
The Search for Canada's Greenest Workforce
Canada's forest industry is a top employer and global leader in sustainability, forest management, clean technology and innovation
Read This
March 21, 2019
Standing Tall with Canada's Forest Workers on International Day of Forests
Forest Products Association of Canada celebrates forestry communities, workers and world leading forestry management for International Day of Forests
Read This
February 20, 2019
Opinion | Workforce Diversity - Canada's Forest Sector Branches Out
Forest Products Association of Canada embraces diversity and encourages women and indigenous to join the forestry workforce
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: Sharing my first experiences at Resolute: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
My name is Aidan, and I was born and raised in the Denver Metro Area of Colorado, USA. Although I lived in suburbia, I could see the Rocky Mountains from my bedroom window and got to spend a lot of time out in nature.
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: Interview with Seth Kursman, VP, Corporate Communications, Sustainability, and Government Affairs: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
An important part of working in a corporate office is networking within the company. Resolute Forest Products promotes this practice and encourages us, interns, to interact with multiple departments.
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: Interview with Maria Komourdjian, Logistics Director at Resolute: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
In my series of interviews, I decided to meet the director of Logistics, Maria Komourdjian. Maria has taken a step up within the Logistics department, while the vice president, Karen Roach, has taken a temporary relocation assignment to be the general manager of one of our mills!
Read This
August 25, 2022
Aidan Starosta: All about logistics: FPAC 2022 Green Dream Internship Program
An important part of the forestry industry is logistics. Without the logistics department, mills would not be able to create new products, as the old ones would still be taking up space on the floor.
Read This
October 20, 2021
Canada’s Forest Sector Supports New National Program for Indigenous Youth
Earlier today, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) made a $10,000 commitment to support the Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP) and its education and training program for Indigenous youth.
Read This
October 5, 2021
From Zero Waste to Net Zero, Canada’s Forests Are Critical to a Cleaner, Greener Future
Canada’s sustainably-managed forests and the carbon-storing wood products they provide are key to supporting Canada’s transition to a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 - meeting conservation targets and creating the quality green jobs of tomorrow at the same time.
Read This
August 26, 2021
Universal Access to High-Speed Internet must be a National Priority
It is our hope that during this federal election campaign all parties will continue to support the important call to ensure all Canadians have reliable access to high-speed internet. The future of our northern and rural communities and their ability to strengthen their post-pandemic economies depends on it.
Read This
July 15, 2021
Canadas Forest Sector Announces Winners of Annual Green Dream Internship Program
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual Green Dream Internship Program. Winners will blog about their work experiences in Canada’s forests and mills over the course of the summer. 
Read This