Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) was founded in response to the devastating wildfires that swept through British Columbia in the summer of 2017, leaving behind 100,000 hectares of heavily burned forest stands in the Chilcotin region, with minimal economic value. The joint venture between Tŝideldel First Nation and Tl’etinqox Government identified a pressing need to rehabilitate these stands into productive forests, and thus, CCR was born. The motivation behind the creation of CCR was not only to address the immediate need for forest rehabilitation but also to create a sustainable future for the community. By rehabilitating the forests, CCR aims to create job opportunities for local people, provide training and mentorship programs, and develop capacity for both nations. The goal is to ensure that the forests are not only productive but also sustainable and healthy for future generations. The passion that drives CCR's work is the desire to make a positive impact on the environment and the community. The company is passionate about creating a sustainable future for the community by rehabilitating the forests and providing job opportunities. Additionally, CCR is committed to preserving and enhancing the natural environment for future generations. CCR's founders were motivated by the need to address a critical issue that had a profound impact on the local community, and their passion to create positive change in the environment and the community drives the company forward. By rehabilitating the forests and providing job opportunities, CCR aims to create a better future for the community, while also preserving the natural environment for future generations.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd (CCR) is committed to supporting and uplifting the local community in various ways. One of the most significant ways CCR has demonstrated its community support is by providing continuity in employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the company's continued work to improve forests in British Columbia, CCR has helped provide income and support to many Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers who may have otherwise struggled to find work during these challenging times. In addition to providing employment, CCR has also helped support the local economy. By deploying all funding in various projects, including a $3.4 million grant through the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, to reduce wildfire risk, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, CCR has ensured that money is flowing into the local economy, providing support to local businesses and other organizations. CCR's efforts to plant trees through the 2 Billion Tree federal program have also been a significant contribution to the community. Not only has the program employed hundreds of tree planters, but it has also helped restore forests, which is critical for the region's long-term environmental health. In 2020, Shell Canada provided funding to CCR to plant 840,000 trees in Tsilhqot’in territory where the 2017 wildfires burned over 500,000 hectares. Planting of these trees, results in approximately 4 CO2e/hectare/year sequestered on average by year 30. CCR employed 60-80 tree planters and multiple other personnel during planning and preparation stages to make this project a success. These efforts have not only helped support the community but have also demonstrated a commitment to preserving the local environment for future generations. Since February 2018, CCR's fibre recovery efforts have resulted in 450,000 cubic metres of residual fibre such as pulp, biomass, and hog fuel to Drax (formerly Pinnacle Renewable Energy) in Williams Lake, Cariboo Pulp in Quesnel, and Atlantic Power in Williams Lake being utilized creating between $20 million and $22.5 million in sales. CCR is also putting efforts into wildfire risk reduction and replanting the forest and has rehabilitated over 5000 hectares of dead, diseased, Mountain pine beetle-impacted carbon source forests, while protecting local communities from wildfire, and creating a more resilient landscape.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) deserves to win the award for its exceptional contributions toward the restoration and rehabilitation of forests in British Columbia, as well as our contributions to the local economy, for several reasons. Our commitment to forest rehabilitation and reforestation is not limited to areas where it has an obligation to do so. Our efforts in remote areas demonstrate our personal obligation toward the protection of the environment and future generations. We have enabled local businesses to survive through tough times after the 2017 megafires, providing much-needed pulp wood, biomass, and hog fuel to the local pellet and biomass plants. Ours work during the pandemic has also been exemplary, as it continued its operations by adhering to safe practices, social distancing, and following all provincial health protocols. Our continued efforts toward forest rehabilitation and reforestation have not only contributed to the environment but also to the local economy and employment. We provided continuity in employment during difficult times when people were getting laid off or finding it challenging to find work. Our role in the completion of a planting project through the 2 Billion Tree federal program, which employed hundreds of tree planters and provided income to many, has helped restore forests and supported the local economy. We have also chosen to take risks, becoming a leader in innovation-driven work in forestry by deploying drone technology in partnership with DroneSeed to drop tree seeds in hard-to-read areas devastated by wildfires. The work we have undertaken helps locals and the Provincial Government in achieving its Climate Change goals. Our success is not without challenges. We are resilient and operate in some of the harshest conditions, dealing with natural disasters such as wildfires and beetle kills in remote communities. Our resilience during these challenging times is commendable, and our leadership to ensure future wildfire disasters don't devastate the regions has been an inspiration to others. In conclusion, we are a remarkable company of impact. We believe CCR deserves to win the award for its exceptional contributions toward forest rehabilitation and reforestation in British Columbia and toward the local community which have positively impacted so many people.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

At Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR), our culture is rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and community support. We strive to create a healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected. As a company owned by the communities of Tl’etinqox and Tŝideldel, we focus on developing capacity for both Nations and encourage our contractors to hire local employees, including younger people, so that they can earn experience and training on the job. One of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability is by investing in our employees' growth and development. We have a good mentorship program where elder workers shadow younger employees to provide them with hands-on training and valuable experience. CCR is committed to ensuring that all our employees have the tools they need to succeed and grow. We provide training and development programs to our employees, so they can continuously improve their skills and excel in their roles. We also ensure that our workplace is safe and healthy for all employees. Even during the pandemic, we ensured safe practices, social distancing, and followed all the provincial health protocols while still improving the forests of B.C. As a company that values community support, we prioritize uplifting and supporting the local community. We have enabled local businesses to survive through very tough times after the 2017 megafires by spending most of the funds locally. We provided needed pulp wood, biomass, and hog fuel to the local pellet and biomass plants. CCR also puts efforts into wildfire risk reduction and replanting the forest, which has rehabilitated over 5000 hectares of dead, diseased, Mountain pine beetle-impacted carbon source forests. Our reforestation efforts create a more resilient landscape, which helps protect local communities from wildfire. Leadership is an essential part of our culture, and we strive to demonstrate it in all our interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff, and others. Our leadership team is dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected. We prioritize open communication, transparency, and collaboration, which help us build strong relationships with all stakeholders.