From Storm to Support: How a Nova Scotia Woodlot is Rebuilding After Fiona's Devastation
In the heart of Nova Scotia, a multi-generation woodlot owned by Angela and Tom Reid stands as a symbol of both devastation and resilience. After Hurricane Fiona tore through the province in 2022, many communities were left reeling—none more so than those whose livelihoods depend on sustainable forestry. For the Reids, the storm was more than a natural disaster; it was a heartbreaking setback in a decades-long legacy of stewardship. The family has undergone some recent health issues that have changed their ability to personally work on the woodlot themselves. Both of Tom and Angela’s children (Chris and Rachel) have passed away in recent years, leaving few options for their legacy to be left within the family.
Their family woodlot was first owned by the descendants of the Reid family since 1760, but it suffered extensive blowdown during Fiona. Mature trees were snapped or uprooted, roads were blocked, and the landscape was left in disarray. Despite his dedication to forest health and sustainable management, Tom was unable to care for the woodlot on his own. Some riparian areas along streams have never been harvested, but Tom believes in active forest management knowing that trees do not live forever.
The damage didn’t fully qualify for the initial Fiona Assistance Program through the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) and the Association of Sustainable Forestry (ASF), leaving them without the financial resources needed to hire contractors. The result? Cleanup became economically unfeasible, and the nomination the Reid’s received for Woodlot Owners of the Year was respectfully declined by Tom, as the property no longer reflected the condition they had worked so hard to maintain.
Sadly, their story is not unique. Across Nova Scotia, Hurricane Fiona caused widespread destruction to private woodlots, particularly in eastern and central regions. It’s estimated that tens of thousands of hectares were impacted, leaving many landowners with an overwhelming mess and few options with significantly reduced markets for the low quality wood that hurricanes leave behind. But out of hardship has come community.
Friends, neighbors, and fellow forestry advocates have begun rallying around the Reids, offering their time, equipment, and support to help with cleanup and restoration. The response has meant a great deal to the couple.
Forest Nova Scotia’s Executive Director, Todd Burgess, has visited the property to assess the situation firsthand.
Burgess has encouraged them to apply for the 2025 Gas Tax Access Road Program, emphasizing that access is a crucial first step in the recovery process. Without it, it's difficult to clean up, harvest safely, or begin replanting. The program is designed to support landowners, like the Reids, as they work to rebuild on a more resilient path forward. For woodlot owners still reeling from storm damage, this type of assistance can be a turning point.
Paul Gilbert from the ASF has secured funding to help with the recovered blowdown and local contractors, David and Julia MacMillan, are making efforts to see the blowdown is cleaned up and brought roadside. Other companies, organizations and people like Chris MacIntyre from DNRR are ensuring that our latest storm does not stop the Reid’s stewardship hopes.
The road to recovery will be long, but there is hope. And with the community behind them, Tom and Angela are showing that even after the worst storms, a strong root system—of both trees and people—can help a forest to continue growing.
