This could have been a disastrous year for Millson Forestry Service, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the shutdown of many industries and businesses.
It was a big boost for the Timmins-based company when on April 2, the provincial government declared the forest industry an essential service throughout the pandemic
“At the time of the pandemic, we already had a greenhouse full of trees. So we couldn't just let them die,” said Jenny Millson, owner of Millson Forestry Service.
“For a little while, we kind of just maintained what we had until we had a better idea of just how strict everything was going to become, as far as what was shutting down or not.”
Despite the turbulent times amid the pandemic, Millson Forestry is gearing up for a busy summer and growing plenty of saplings for planting locally and beyond.
Physical distancing is being practised on site as much as possible, with the use of dividers used in some instances for those working in close proximity at their facility on Dalton Road.
Not that the past few months haven't been challenging for Millson Forestry, which has been in operation since 1980.
“We've been affected, for sure,” said Millson. “There are people who are afraid to work, so that’s a factor. And even getting some supplies, there were gaps in availability of stuff, just as everybody was having to adjust.”
Operations are now moving ahead almost at a full steam level, and for forestry companies like Millson, which operate year round, the pandemic could have had an impact beyond 2020.
“We supply trees to forest companies, and the tree plants are going ahead so we've started shipping those out. We're still growing. Anything we're growing right now, a lot of it is for next year. So you don't want to lose a year's worth of planting.”
Millson said they are still receiving inquiries about summer tree planting jobs, which were very popular for students, but they haven't been involved in that sector for years.
“Everything is contract-based and when we lost the contract, it was gone for seven years.”
Millson supplies trees not just for the northeast, but to communities as far south as Barrie and Algonquin Park, and west to Thunder Bay.
“The trees get shipped far. But we're not a retail outlet, so it’s easy to kind of isolate everybody on site when we’re working. We're not having to worry too much about outside contamination coming in,” said Millson.
The season started long ago in the greenhouse, and this year Millson Forestry is growing everything from pine, fir and spruce to hemlock and cedar.
“It’s all contract growing though. We do everything under contract, so what we have at any given time depends on what the contracts are.”
She said that although the forest industry is mainly spruce and pines, they do grow quite a bit for private enterprises such as landscapers and Christmas tree farms in Southern Ontario.
Much of the work is seasonal, and in peak times Millson employs approximately 50 people.
Aside from the greenhouse, there are several firewood contracts to fill, including for several provincial parks.
“We haven't gotten into everything just yet. There are different stages of growing, so we haven't gotten into everything, but we're full again this year. We've done more in the past, but our main greenhouse and our other growing structures are full, so we're at capacity for now.”
With the nature of their operations, such as not having to be in regular contact the public, and their commitment to health and safety, the company has fared quite well during the pandemic.
“We're going over all the symptoms with everybody regularly, so if they do feel sick, we make sure they stay home. And if they have a fever or have any of the COVID symptoms, to make sure they're calling the health unit. We really haven't had anybody that has presented any symptoms,” said Millson.
