Burnaby is at the centre of fresh uncertainty in B.C.’s forestry sector after a report said Interfor is planning to shift its headquarters south to Atlanta, Georgia. The company has been based in Burnaby for about 60 years and is one of Canada’s prominent lumber firms.
What is known so far
According to reporting in the Financial Post and summaries carried by local outlets, Interfor is "eyeing a move" of its head office functions to Atlanta. CityNews reported the company has operated in Burnaby for roughly 60 years. Interfor has not responded to requests for specifics on timing, which corporate roles would move, or whether there will be layoffs tied to the relocation.
Union officials and municipal leaders reacted swiftly. The United Steelworkers, which represents the approximately 250 workers at two of Interfor’s three B.C. mills, described the development as a blow to a sector already strained by tariffs and mill closures. Jeff Bromley, Wood Council chair for the union, said the shift reflects broader pressures on the industry and lamented the loss of a head office he called "one of the pillars."
"It’s an unfortunate day when we lose the head office of one of the pillars," said Jeff Bromley, Wood Council chair for the United Steelworkers. "I’m hoping that those other operations, West Fraser and Canfor, certainly stick around."
Responses from government and local leaders
Premier David Eby framed the announcement within the province’s push to diversify trade. He reiterated government efforts to expand markets overseas, particularly India, where officials are pursuing a potential free-trade agreement that could affect duties on Canadian lumber.
Meanwhile, some municipal leaders have sought direct reassurances from Interfor. Grand Forks Mayor Everett Baker said he received a message from Interfor leadership telling him, in effect, that the company was not leaving B.C. but moving certain corporate roles to Georgia "to provide better supports for Canadian and U.S. operations in the Central Eastern Atlantic time zones," and that there would be "no layoffs." Baker told reporters he contacted the company to bring clarity to residents.
Local implications for Burnaby
For Burnaby residents the stakes are both symbolic and practical. A decades-long corporate presence contributes to the city’s business profile, tax base and downtown activity. Even if Interfor maintains operational mills in B.C., relocating head-office functions can mean a reduction in corporate services, professional jobs and downtown commercial activity.
- Employment: The union represents about 250 workers at two B.C. mills; the scope of corporate-job movement remains unclear.
- Economic footprint: Headquarters bring professional services, office leasing demand and local spending that can sustain restaurants and retailers.
- Sector morale: The move underscores ongoing pressures in forestry — from tariffs to mill closures — that have already reduced employment in the region.
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Interfor presence in Burnaby | About 60 years |
| B.C. mill workers represented by union | Approximately 250 at two of three B.C. mills |
| Proposed destination | Atlanta, Georgia (reported) |
Questions that remain
Key details remain unconfirmed. Interfor has not clarified which corporate positions — if any — would be eliminated in Burnaby, how the company would maintain ties with B.C. operations, or an exact timetable for any move. That lack of specificity has left city and provincial officials, as well as the union, seeking answers.
For Burnaby, the story will be watched closely. A head-office relocation is not simply a corporate footnote; it reshapes employment patterns and can alter the city’s commercial landscape. Until Interfor issues a definitive statement outlining its intentions, residents, workers and local officials will rely on sparse reporting and official reassurances from company contacts to gauge the likely impact.
As the situation develops, NEXO RADAR will continue to seek comment from Interfor, municipal officials in Burnaby and provincial ministers on the implications for the city and the broader B.C. forestry sector.
