Forestry Uncut

Join us as we dive deep into the realities of forestry management in Nova Scotia, focusing on the use of herbicides as a tool for sustainable growth. Hear from silviculture contractor Alex Feix and woodlands manager Rick Archibald as they share personal stories, discuss regulatory challenges, and address public concerns. From death threats and protests to the on the ground reality of herbicide application, this episode sheds light on the complexities, misconceptions, and future of forest stewardship.

Whether you’re a forestry professional or curious listener, you’ll gain a deeper understanding on what it takes to grow healthy forests for generations to come.

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Meister, President and CEO of Global Bluenosers, to explore his remarkable journey from growing up in a multi-generational forestry family in rural Nova Scotia to building a global network of Nova Scotians passionate about giving back to their home province. Sean shares insights on the values and lessons learned in the woods, the challenges and changes facing the forestry sector, and how his experiences inspired him to connect Nova Scotians around the world. Together, we discuss the importance of sustainable forestry, community resilience, and the power of global connections to shape a brighter future for Nova Scotia.

In this episode, we’re joined by Georg Ernst, CFO and controller at Freeman Lumber, one of Nova Scotia’s oldest and most respected lumber producers. Georg, a fourth-generation forester, shares both professional expertise and personal stories from his family’s longstanding involvement in the industry.

Together, we dive into the dramatic impact of the new 10% tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, examining how these measures ripple beyond headlines to affect local sawmills, communities, and family-run businesses throughout Nova Scotia.

In this episode, we’re joined by Spencer Coulstring of Freeman Lumber, whose journey from science communications to passionate forestry advocate highlights the evolving face of Nova Scotia’s forest sector.

Together, we tackle public perception and the role of education in shaping the next generation’s view of forestry. Spencer provides insights on inspiring youth, the changing demands of the sector, and the importance of supporting one another, especially women, as the industry seeks greater diversity and resilience. We also uncover the challenges and hopes for a more sustainable, welcoming forestry sector, making this episode a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of the industry.

In this episode, we’re joined by Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, who offers an inside look at the tough challenges and bold opportunities shaping Canada’s forestry sector today.

Derek takes us through the complexities of trade tensions with the United States, revealing how tariffs, shifting policies, and a changing global landscape have impacted thousands of jobs and entire communities across Canada. He shares the importance of unified advocacy, government partnerships, and building strong, solution-focused relationships with environmental groups to drive both industry and environmental progress.

In this episode we sit down with Kevin Merriam, Executive Director of the Maritime Lumber Bureau, and Patrick Crabbe, CEO of The Mass Timber Company. They explore how Atlantic Canada’s forestry sector can move “from tree to city” through mass timber, panelized and modular construction, and other value‑added wood products. The conversation covers current challenges in the sawmilling sector, including U.S. tariffs and duties, how mass timber and prefabricated wood systems can help address the housing crisis, why Atlantic Canada’s spruce‑pine‑fir lumber is stronger than previously published values and the role of government policy (like Nova Scotia’s wood‑first policy) in growing domestic wood construction and much more!