After nearly seven years at the helm of the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA), President and CEO Jason Krips will step down from his role at the end of the calendar year to join the executive team at the University of Alberta. Krips will remain with AFPA through the end of 2026 and support the organization as the Board Executive undertakes the recruitment process for AFPA’s next President and CEO. Read the full news release here: tinyurl.com/yckbzcyu

Sustainable housing starts with wood. 🪵 This #WorldHabitatDay, we are reminded not only of the importance of affordable housing but also of the responsibility to build more sustainably and strengthen climate resilience. Alberta forest products provide solutions like glulam and mass timber that check all the boxes, all while bringing natural elements into our built environments. 🏘️ #SustainableBuilding #BuildwithWood #WoodWorks #BiophilicDesign

Today marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which honours residential school survivors, those who never returned home, as well as their families and communities. This is an important time to reflect and recognize how our history has shaped present-day relationships with Indigenous peoples. We are committed to learning and to charting a new path forward as part of our ongoing journey and commitment to reconciliation. #NDTR #TruthAndReconciliation #everychildmatters🧡

That’s a wrap on our 84th Annual AFPA AGM & Conference! The energy, collaboration, and thoughtful dialogue displayed this week are another crucial step towards navigating the challenging times. A huge thank you to all speakers, panellists, government officials, attendees, participants, and sponsors! The countdown to 85 is officially on! #AFPAAGM2026 #NationalForestWeek #AlbertaForests #AlbertaForestry

We capped off our conference with a special guest as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Corey Hogan, sat down for a fireside chat with President and CEO, Jason Krips. Corey and Jason discussed how the Federal government sees the forestry sector as foundational to Canada's economy. Parliamentary Secretary Hogan covered many topics including: the importance of forest management for multiple values, including wildfire mitigation, the federal government's support for building new trade markets, and making the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force Report operational through a national forestry strategy. #CanadianForestry #Trafe #Wildfire #AlbertaForestry #AFPAAGM2026

Our panel series closed with the Markets, Trade & Diversification Panel. Ronda Goulden, Deputy Minister of Forestry and Parks, Brian McClay, Chairman of TTOBMA, and Bruce St.John, President of Canada Wood Group, joined us Friday morning to share insights on Canada's current market situation. As the global market ever changes and as government support remains strong, new opportunities arise for Alberta’s forest sector to build new trade relations, expand to new markets, and diversify to maintain global competitiveness. #Trade #AlbertaForestry #JobsAndGrowth #AFPAAGM2026

Tonight, the Honourable Minister Todd Loewen sat down for a fireside chat with AFPA President and CEO, Jason Krips, to share his perspective on forestry in Alberta throughout his time in the portfolio. Attendees also got an exclusive look at the newest Wildfire! From The Ground Up episode, as executive producer, Clyde Corser, presented the trailer for the next episode, Forest Industries: First in the Line of Fire. We are looking forward to closing out the week with another great lineup of speakers tomorrow! #AFPAAGM2026 #AlbertaForestry #ABLeg #Wildfire

Our last panel of the afternoon was the Smarter Regulations, Stronger Outcomes Panel. Eric Johnson, Senior Vice President for the Forest Products Association of Canada, Mike Putzke, General Manager at Alberta Newsprint Company, and Jamie Stephen, Managing Director at TorchLight, discussed how one clear process leads to one clear outcome. Taking action to reduce red tape and streamline processes is a critical step in navigating these challenging times and building momentum towards a stronger forest sector in Alberta. A huge thank you to Tom Grabowski, President, CEO and co-founder of Silvacom, for guiding the insightful conversation. #AlbertaForestry #RedTapeReduction #JobsAndGrowth #AFPAAGM2026

In our Developing the Next Generation of Foresters Panel, panellists explored how we are empowering the people who will lead Alberta's forest sector into the future. Sarah Ambroziak, Executive Director of the Outland Youth Employment Program, Agatha Ojimelukwe, Dean of the School of Energy & Natural Resources at NAIT, and Kathryn Wagner, Executive Director at Inside Education, shared how Alberta’s network of educators collaborates to mentor the future workforce that will shape our economy. The big takeaway? We need to continue to provide the tools, experiences, touchpoints, and the space for all youth to discover the forest for themselves. Then, they will discover forestry career pathways. #WorkWild #ForestryEducation #AlbertaForests #ForestryCareers #AFPAAGM2026

Next, we looked at the developing science and latest findings during our Research at Work Panel. Rick Blackwood, President of fRI Research, Kevin Solarik, Director of Forest Sustainability at NCASI, and Laura Trout, Manager of Biodiversity & Forest Ecology for West Fraser, all shared the latest on grizzly bears, songbirds, and how to best translate research to improve policy and operations. Forestry companies in Alberta continually adapt, build partnerships, and fill knowledge gaps to support sustainable forest management and healthy forests. #Research #Sustainability #HealthyForests #AlbertaForestry #AFPAAGM2026

Our formal program kicked off this morning with our Managing Forests for Multiple Values Panel. Our panellists, Dan Lux, Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta’s Forestry Division and Lyle Dechief, Provincial Senior Forester for Weyerhaeuser, dove into all that goes into forest management planning in Alberta, including wildlife, water, wildfire, collaboration with stakeholders, and much more. Planning 200 years into the future considers all parts of a land base, which is crucial to ensure working landscapes and forests for generations. #Sustainableforestry #Forestmanagement #Albertaforestry #AFPAAGM2026

That’s a wrap on Day #1 of our 84th AGM & Conference! Alberta’s forest sector has reconnected for another engaging week in stunning Jasper. Even while times are tough for the industry, Alberta is unique. This morning, the AFPA board focused on future opportunities during our strategic planning session. Major highlights of the day included a board engagement with the Honourable Minister Todd Loewen and a welcome address from AFPA’s President & CEO, Jason Krips. There was great energy in the room tonight, and the conversations are just getting started. #AFPAAGM2026 #AlbertaForestry

We are excited by @Weyerhaeuser's announcement today of a $1 million investment in the community of Drayton Valley. This marks the first Canadian community to receive funding through the Weyerhaeuser Thrive program, an initiative focused on supporting rural communities so they can flourish for years to come. Alberta’s forest companies continue to support and invest in the future of communities they call home. #ForestryCommunity #AlbertaForestry

Happy #NationalForestWeek! 🌲🍁 Canada’s forest sector stretches from coast to coast, supporting communities and jobs in every region of the country. Join us this week as we bring Alberta’s forest sector together during our 84th Annual AGM & Conference. Celebrate National Forest Week with us and follow along as we share the conversations, insights, and more from Jasper! ⛰️ #AlbertaForestry #ForestryCommunity #LoveABForests #AFPAAGM26

The countdown is on as we are less than a week away from AFPA’s 84th AGM & Conference! ✨ Here is a look back at last year’s Building with Wood panel, where industry leaders explored the various benefits that come with building more with wood.🪵 Stay tuned for highlights from this year's conference! #AlbertaForestry #Sustainability #BuildWithWood #AFPAAGM26