The first series of stories that will be released will investigate the health care system in Northeast B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Since being announced in February, the restart of the Peace Valley OSB mill has advanced quicker than expected.

The mill planned to press its first board during its third quarter, but it took place ahead of schedule on June 22nd.

The mill also grew its workforce from 17 to 117 people in a short amount of time.

“When you consider the reopening of LP Peace Valley was only announced in February, to have readied the mill and be pressing our first board in just over four months’ time is a remarkable feat,” said Louisiana-Pacific Peace Valley Plant Manager Kelly Head.

The mill was curtailed in 2019 due to low lumber prices. At the time, nearly 200 residents worked at the mill.

“The efforts of our care and maintenance team during the curtailment kept the mill in as good as condition as possible allowing for a quick turnaround from curtailed to pressing,” Kelly explained. “We had a lot of people waiting to come back, and their efforts in the four months after the reopening announcement have really been outstanding.”

The mill was originally built as a joint venture with Canfor and produced its first board for commercial sale on November 21, 2005. Later, LP acquired a full stake in the facility, buying out Canfor, in November 2012.

Our first goal once we hire an investigative reporter is to look into the state of our healthcare system. You may have read the stories we have published, detailing first-hand accounts from residents with major health issues that seemed to be failed by the system and included red tape answers from health officials on these issues.

We want to release a series of stories, featuring interviews we have compiled from residents, looking into these issues but we need your help.

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