Canfor plans closure of Northwood mill, 300 laid off

Canfor plans closure of Northwood mill, 300 laid off July 15, 2026 | 12:30 pm CDT

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Woodworking Industry News

Canfor plans closure of Northwood mill, 300 laid off

By

Larry Adams

July 15, 2026 | 12:30 pm CDT

Print

VANCOUVER, BC, Canfor Corporation is permanently closing its Northwood pulp mill in Prince George, British Columbia. Approximately 300 employees in Prince George are directly impacted.

This closure results in an annual reduction of about 300,000 tons of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK), which is produced using premium softwood species, including lodgepole pine, white spruce and subalpine fir, and is known for its excellent reinforcement strength, controlled brightness and ease of refining for applications including packaging, decor, and other products. 

Canfor says the pulp and paper sector continues to face significant challenges, including a structural shift in global pulp markets. Substantial additional pulp production capacity has come online globally, creating an oversupply in the market and downward pressure on global pulp prices. Combined with the persistent challenges in accessing fibre, these factors have resulted in a prolonged period of unsustainable financial losses for Canfor Pulp. With no foreseeable improvement in the outlook, Canfor has made the difficult decision to close its Northwood facility.

“We recognize this is incredibly difficult news that will have a significant impact on our employees, their families, the businesses that support our operation, and the communities where we operate,” said Susan Yurkovich, president and CEO, Canfor. “This decision is in no way a reflection of the dedication or hard work of our employees. The team at Northwood has worked tirelessly to improve performance, navigating challenging conditions to support their operation and we are grateful for their efforts. In the weeks ahead, we are committed to supporting our employees through this transition, including providing severance, and exploring opportunities to redeploy impacted employees to our other operating locations where possible.”

Northwood will be following an orderly wind-down process and is expected to close in late Q4 2026.

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About the author

Larry Adams

| Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).

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