Faces of Forestry is an initiative of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) to highlight people doing great work to enhance our forests throughout British Columbia. This month, we feature Ben Klassen, Chief Operating Officer of the Klassen Business Group.

Founded in 1963 by Ben’s grandfather, the Klassen Business Group has evolved from its humble beginnings in sawdust hauling to offering a wide variety of products and services with applications in the agricultural, landscaping, and industrial sectors.

“It was only natural for me to pursue a career in the family business. Over time, I’ve developed a keen interest in forestry residuals and the responsible stewardship of our resources,” said Ben. “I’m always excited to find the optimal value and applications for our residual products, especially given the dwindling fibre resources.”

Over the years, Ben has worked in various roles within the business, gathering invaluable experience and in-depth understanding of the company’s operations and the industries they serve. This practical experience has shaped his hands-on leadership style and provided him with the expertise needed to effectively strategize and tackle challenges head on.

In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Ben leads the teams and companies through their daily operations, managing business development and maintaining strong relationships with customers and timber harvesting companies.

“I really enjoy serving our customers and taking on complex challenges. With the ongoing pressures of diminishing forest fibre supply and escalating demand, there’s no shortage of complexities to navigate. But with each challenge comes an opportunity for innovation and growth, and that’s what keeps pushing me forward,” he expressed.

For the past 6 years, the Klassen Business Group has been FESBC’s recipient for multiple proposals, enabling them to acquire more fibre to bring to the market that would previously been left in the forest as waste.

“FESBC’s ongoing support has also been integral to the growth and sustainability of our operations in Merritt, B.C., where the market has been hit hard by timber supply reductions, magnifying the importance of managing forestry waste wood in the forest and turning it into biomass to make green energy and sustainable forest products,” he added.

As Ben expressed, the level of collaboration within the forestry industry is deeply inspiring, as he has witnessed first-hand how multiple groups have come together to design creative projects that solve problems and accomplish a common goal.

“The collaboration between our division of Valley Carriers, along with Stuwix Resource Joint Venture, the Innovation, Bioeconomy and Indigenous Opportunities branch, FESBC and BC Jobs Manufacturing, allowed us to launch the BioHub project in Merritt over the last year. This coordinated effort enabled us to utilize 35% more wood than would be traditionally harvested and projects like these are significant strides in sustainable forestry practices and responsible use of resources.”

Throughout his career, Ben has found a genuine sense of satisfaction in developing innovative solutions that meet their customers’ needs and exceeds their expectations. However, what truly fulfills him is the impact their work has on the lives and livelihoods of so many people across the province.

“Employing 200 individuals and supporting numerous careers and families is incredibly gratifying. It’s a privilege to contribute to something that not only drives economic growth but also nurtures and sustains communities and the people within them,” he expressed.

For Ben, forestry holds immense potential for the future as a multifaceted driver of employment and economic growth, reaching far beyond the confines of traditional activities.

“Beyond harvest and initial processing, there lies a wealth of untapped opportunities, particularly in forestry waste utilization. By fully optimizing and utilizing the resources, we can elevate sustainability, stimulate economic growth, and unlock the full potential of our forests.”

As the availability of timber supply dwindles, the Klassen Business Group’s role becomes increasingly crucial to effectively use more of the wood we do have and meet the growing need for wood fibre, especially in sectors like agriculture and energy.

“While there may be a traditional perception gap regarding these resources, by adopting a more open-minded approach, we can reimagine the potential of these resources and leverage them to address pressing market demands,” he remarked.

Thank you, Ben, for your leadership and dedication to responsible forestry stewardship and innovative resource utilization.

Faces of Forestry is an initiative of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) to highlight people doing great work to enhance our forests throughout British Columbia. In this month’s Faces of Forestry, we are featuring a Face of FESBC to highlight one of the exceptional individuals on our Board of Directors who helps guide our organization toward impactful change.

This month, we feature John Massier, one of FESBC’s Board Directors and a leader in the industry with five decades of operational forestry experience.

John’s journey began fifty years ago when he was employed as a tree planter by the Ministry of Forests, setting the stage for a lifelong commitment to sustainable forestry practices.

“Since then, I have worked at a variety of jobs in the forest industry, including tree planter, mill worker, cone picker, faller/bucker and machine operator,” he explained.

In 1978, he founded Cottonwood Reforestation, a small business that contracted a range of bush work, from tree planting to juvenile spacing and other land-based work. Under his leadership, he employed hundreds of people and completed reforestation projects totalling over 40 million trees on more than 300 square kilometres of land in the Cariboo/Chilcotin region of British Columbia. Later, in 1993, John and his wife Hazel were awarded Woodlot 1406 that surrounds their rural home along the Cottonwood River.

Currently, he is the Director for Electoral Area C in the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), as well as the CRD Treaty representative to the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council Treaty Main Table.

Additionally, John’s deep engagement in local governance has solidified his commitment to community and environmental stewardship, leading him to serve on numerous boards over the years, including the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations, the Wells-Barkerville Community Forest, the Woodlot Product Development Council, and the Fraser Basin Council Board.

In 2022, John joined FESBC as a board director and brought his wealth of operational forestry experience and governance expertise.

“I was familiar with FESBC through my forestry work and given my varied experience in the industry and connections to local government, I thought I might offer some value to the organization,” he recalled.

Recognizing the importance of sustainable funding models for forestry initiatives, John advocates for the long-term viability of FESBC’s projects, striving to support the rural and remote communities that serve as the backbone of the industry.

“In my decades in the industry, I have witnessed and been involved in various Provincial and Federal funding programs aimed at enhancing the forest land base, yet the common theme across them was the lack of sustained funding and loss of momentum once each program ran its course,” he said. “I have always believed that any industry as important as forestry is to British Columbia needs a sustainable funding model to enhance the land base that both industry and communities rely on.”

With the recent announcement in the 2024 budget of sixty million dollars for FESBC over the next three years, John is looking forward to continuing supporting communities through wildfire risk reduction work, low-value fiber recovery, habitat enhancement, and Indigenous peoples’ participation in the forest economy.

“Being a rural resident and having lived through the devastating wildfires of the past several years I see and especially value the work FESBC has done and continues to do on community wildfire protection,” he added. “The work is costly to do, and the amount left to be done is enormous, but we are already seeing the positive results.”

Beyond his professional endeavours, John’s love for wildlife drives his volunteerism with the Northern Lights Wildlife Society as one of their capture/transport teams spread around the province.

“Those who have met me know of my love for the wildlife that we get to share our remote rural property and woodlot with. I never miss an opportunity to show the most recent fruits of my motion-sensing wildlife cameras to anyone that’s interested,” he shared.

Thank you, John, for your dedication to environmental conservation and community well-being that deeply exemplifies FESBC’s mission.