A joint venture of NK'Mip Forestry and Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group
Posted by Times Chronicle | Apr 1, 2026
West Kelowna family-owned forestry company – Gorman Group – has completed a $120 million deal to transfer harvesting tenures from Seattle-based Weyerhaeuser, with the move continuing the strategic partnership with the Osoyoos Indian Band’s Nk’Mip Forestry division.
The transferred tenures, following Ministry of Forests’ approval process, total approximately 682,000 cubic metres (more than 15,000 truckloads a year), nearly doubling the group’s existing tenures of approximately 734,000 cubic metres per year.
“This is a good step forward for a sustainable forestry sector, not only for Princeton and the Similkameen but also for the Merritt timber supply area and the Southern Interior,” said Spencer Coyne, Mayor of Princeton.
The new tenures consist of:
In a statement, the Ministry said the transferred tenures provide a dependable supply of logs at a reasonable cost, securing Gorman Group’s supply chain and value-added wood manufacturing business and in turn, providing continued stability for workers and other forestry professionals in the sector.
In May 2025, Weyerhaeuser announced the sale of their Princeton lumber mill’s manufacturing facility and all of its timber tenure agreements in BC to a company formed under the Gorman Group. The new mill in Princeton is made up of several BC companies:
Last spring Weyerhaeuser and Nk’Mip Forestry developed a ground breaking Strategic Partnership Management Agreement that gives the OIB decision making responsibilities on TFL 59.
Dan Macmaster, Head of Forestry at Nk’Mip Forestry, told the Times Chronicle that this agreement continues with the transfer of TFL 59 to Gorman and “We meet regularly to review and update all land use activity on the tenure.”
“This agreement was put in motion with Weyerhaeuser last year and has improved and evolved since the transfer of the licence to Gorman,” Macmaster said.
“There is still lots of work to do, but these are important and significant steps towards meaningful participation of the OIB in forest management decisions, long-term economic benefit for the OIB community, protection of cultural values on the land, sustainable forest stewardship, and a strong collaborative relationship between OIB and Gorman.”
Nick Arkle, CEO, Gorman Group added, “We recognize that any Crown tenure transfer comes with important responsibilities and obligations to First Nations, communities and employees who depend on the long-term stewardship of the land and the careful use of the fibre.”
“We look forward to working with the First Nation bands, and the people of the Similkameen and Nicola Valleys, toward a new vision of co-operation and working together to find the balance we all seek.”
Commenting on the completion of the transfers, Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests said: “Gorman Group is investing in the future of forestry, investing in a new chapter for Princeton, and investing in the transformation of the community into a real forestry hub,” said
“This decision comes down to a simple principle: BC’s forests should deliver the greatest possible benefit to the people of BC. By approving this tenure transfer, we are supporting a company that believes in value-added manufacturing, using every fibre to its fullest potential and keeping jobs here at home.”
During the period of public comment, the Ministry of Forests received nearly 300 letters in support of the tenure transfer from individuals, businesses, First Nations, contractors, community forests and unions.
