For Maria McFaddin, forestry is foundational.
McFaddin won the 2022 mayoral race in a tight contest, becoming Castlegar’s second woman mayor and its youngest in decades. Born and raised in the community, she brought a background in communications and conflict resolution into local government. Housing, infrastructure and growth have shaped her agenda.
But over four years in office, one issue has sharpened her perspective.
“In my four years as mayor, I have learned that we would not survive without forestry.”
A misunderstood industry
Castlegar sits in the Kootenays, surrounded by forest. That geography shapes both its economy and identity.
“Forestry [is] extremely important to Castlegar and the region … we’re highly dependent on forestry for economic development, for jobs, for sustainability.”
Yet McFaddin admits her understanding evolved quickly after taking office. Like many British Columbians, she had not spent much time thinking about the sector.
What surprised her most was how often forestry is framed in opposition to environmental stewardship.
That framing, she says, does not hold up in practice.
“Forestry and stewarding the environment are not in opposition … they actually need to pair well together.”
For communities like hers, the relationship is part of daily life as reflected in land use, recreation and risk management.
Forestry as a solution
McFaddin disagrees with the idea that forestry is simply an extractive industry. She sees it as part of the solution to some of British Columbia’s most pressing challenges.
“Forestry is a big part of the solution … forestry is how we mitigate our wildfires … forestry is how we mitigate our housing crisis … forestry is how we mitigate economic decline.”
The wildfire point is especially urgent. Castlegar is surrounded by forest, with little natural buffer between trees and homes. Well-managed forests create space to fight fires before they reach communities. Without that planning, the risks grow.
Housing is another link. Wood remains a core building material, and a functioning forest sector supports supply chains that communities rely on.
In her view, the conversation needs to shift from restriction to management.
The case for partnership
If forestry is part of the solution, McFaddin believes the next step is clearer collaboration. That starts with public perception.
“If you love being outdoors … that forestry is not your enemy … it’s actually what’s producing forests that will be there for you in the future.”
Her second message is aimed at governments.
“We need you to move quickly … we need you to see the challenges … and start removing some of them so that our forest industry can rebound.”
She points to fibre access as one example. After wildfires, usable timber can sit too long due to regulatory delays, losing its value. Faster approvals would allow the industry to respond while resources are still viable.
A shared future
For McFaddin, the future of forestry depends on cooperation at every level.
“A strong future for forestry would look like great partnerships … partnerships between all levels of government, with the private sector, with Indigenous partners.”
That includes recognizing a simple reality: many communities depend on the same resource base.
When they act alone, they weaken their influence. When they act together, they can shape better outcomes.
In the Kootenays, that interdependence is visible. People may live in one town and work in another, tied together by shared industries.
The same principle applies across the province.
Mc Faddin sees forestry not just as an economic driver but as a unifying force. If managed well, it can support communities, protect landscapes and sustain livelihoods for decades to come.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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