Interfor to move its headquarters from Burnaby to the U.S.

For the past 60 years, Interfor has served as one of the country’s lumber leaders, but according to the Financial Post, the company is eyeing a move south of the border. Kurt Black has the story.

By Kurt Black

Posted July 31, 2026 7:49 am.

Last Updated July 31, 2026 7:50 am.

For the past 60 years, Interfor has served as one of the country’s lumber leaders, but according to the Financial Post, the company is eyeing a move south of the border, shifting its headquarters from Burnaby to Atlanta, Ga.

This is a move that some say could signify yet another blow to B.C.’s forestry sector, which continues to face U.S. tariffs, mill closures, and growing uncertainty.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Premier David Eby said the news is another example of why the province continues to focus on diversifying trade with overseas markets, “particularly in India, where we are on the verge of signing a free trade agreement, which could result in the removal of duties for Canadian lumber going to India.”

For the union that represents the roughly 250 workers at two of Interfor’s three B.C. mills, the news came as a surprise.

Jeff Bromley, Wood Council Chair for the United Steelworkers, says while the move is disappointing, it is reflective of the current state of the industry. In the past, he says they represented more than 1,000 Interfor workers across the B.C. coast. But those numbers have shrunk significantly since the early 2000s.

“It’s an unfortunate day when we lose the head office of one of the pillars,” Bromley said.

“I’m hoping that those other operations, West Fraser and Canfor, certainly stick around.”

Interfor did not respond to questions from CityNews regarding when the move will be made, or whether there will be layoffs as a result.

But Grand Forks Mayor Everett Baker says he has been assured the workers in his town have nothing to fear.

Baker says he received a message Tuesday from Interfor leadership that read, “We are not leaving B.C. We are just shifting some of our corporate roles to an existing office down in Georgia to provide better supports for Canadian and U.S. operations in the Central Eastern Atlantic time zones. No layoffs.”

Baker says he called the company immediately to bring clarity to his residents.

“And it was as I expected,” he said.

“There was far more to this story than… what was put out on air.”

For now, Baker says he remains concerned, especially after seeing the impacts of mill closures in Prince George.