Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. Wins 2026 Canadian Biomass Award for Community Project of the Year
- CentralCR
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Williams Lake, B.C.: Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) has been recognized as the 2026 Canadian Biomass Award winner in the category of Community Project of the Year for its large-scale Palmer Project in the Cariboo Chilcotin region of British Columbia.
The award recognizes CCR’s work in forest rehabilitation, fibre recovery, and Indigenous-led land stewardship following the devastating 2017 fire near Palmer Lake. The project focuses on reducing wildfire risk, improving forest conditions, and recovering usable wood fibre from areas heavily impacted by fire.
In the years following the wildfire, large areas around Palmer Lake were left with dead pine trees and dense new growth, making it difficult for forests to recover and increasing future wildfire risk. Through rehabilitation work on the ground, CCR reduced dead trees and woody debris, improved forest conditions, and found ways to recover and use wood fibre from a remote area.
Recovered fibre from the project continues to support B.C.’s pulp and bioenergy sectors while supporting local industry and creating employment opportunities in rural and Indigenous communities.
“This award reflects the work our crews, partners, and communities have put into finding practical ways to rehabilitate forests after catastrophic wildfire,” said Percy Guichon, CEO of CCR and elected Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation. “The Palmer Project shows that with the right partnerships and long-term thinking, this work can better support healthier, more resilient forests and create opportunities for people in our communities to thrive.”
The Palmer Project has become an example of how wildfire rehabilitation and fibre utilization can work together to support both environmental and economic outcomes. The project also reflects CCR’s broader approach to forestry, focused on long-term stewardship, community involvement, and making use of available resources on the land.
CCR acknowledges Natural Resources Canada, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, industry partners, and the many people involved in helping move this work forward.
“This project is about creating a path forward to rehabilitate land that has been impacted by wildfire,” added Guichon. “We are working to ensure this work continues to benefit future generations.”
The Canadian Biomass Awards recognize leadership and innovation across Canada’s biomass and bioenergy sector, celebrating projects and organizations contributing to the future of sustainable fibre utilization and renewable energy.
About Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd.
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation is a joint venture of Tŝideldel First Nation, Tl’etinqox Government, and Yunesit’in Government. It was originally formed to address the 100,000 hectares of dead pine left in the Chilcotin region and to rehabilitate those stands into productive forests. The fires in the summer of 2017 amplified the need to address heavily burned forest stands with minimal economic value. CCR’s mission is to coordinate and implement large-scale forestry programs and initiatives within the traditional territories of the Tŝideldel First Nation, Tl’etinqox Government, and Yunesit’in Government, generating economic, social, and environmental benefits.
For an interview with Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd., contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, aleece@amplifyinc.ca, 250.574.0221
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