Our History as it Stands
The following is a synopsis of how Rock Reforestation Ltd. came into being:
1975
Rod Reimer hires on as a tree-planter with the B.C. Forest Service crew in Valemount, B.C.
1976
Rod bids on and wins his first contract of 50,000 trees with the B.C. Forest Service in Valemount B.C.
1981
Rod Reimer begins planting for the newly formed Robson Valley Reforestation Co-operative. A local Co-op formed to provide local work for people in the Robson Valley. Contracts are secured with local mills and the B.C. Forest Service.
1985
Rod becomes the first planter in the Robson Valley to plant 2,000 trees in one day and becomes a bidding director for the R.V.R Co-op.
1986
Rod becomes the last serving president of the R.V.R Co-op. Rod marries Deborah and introduces her to tree-planting where she plants 1200 trees on her first day. Deborah becomes a director for the R.V.R. Co-op. Rod and Deborah oversee the dissolution of the Co-op.
1987
Rod and Deborah are hired on the newly formed B.C. Forest Service fill plant crew in Mcbride, B.C. This crew was hired to fill plant back log N.S.R. blocks in the district.
1988
Rod and Deborah work a season with Zanzibar Contracting in the Kimberly, B.C. area in the East Kootenays.
1989
Rod and Deborah secure their first fill plant contract with Zeidler Forest Industry in McBride, B.C. as well as numerous private F.R.D.A. contracts.
1990
Rod and Deborah secure another fill plant contract with Zeidler Forest Industry.
1991
Rod and Deborah secure all of Zeidler Forest Industry's planting for the summer (over 300,000 trees).
1992
Rod and Deborah secure a fill plant contract with Cowley Forest Products in Southern Alberta in addition to Zeidlerwork in McBride. The Cowley work continues through the year 2000 when their planting program is phased out. Zeidler work continues through the 1990's until the present. (Zeidler is now known as McBride Forest Industries).
1996
Shane Hainsworth begins his tree-planting career with Rod and Deborah.
1997
Rock Reforestation Ltd. is officially incorporated as a company.
1998
Rock Reforestation Ltd. secures another contract with Hauer Bros., another local mill in the Robson Valley. Shane introduces Julie Dubé to her career as a tree planter. Rock's crew grows to as many as 9 planters.
1999
Rock secures a contract with TRC Mill in McBride, a third local mill to work with, in addition to its other contracts.
2000
Rock Reforestation Ltd. plants for the three local mills in addition for work in Chetwynd, B.C. which includes two research projects. Rock has the best quality ratings for the Chetwynd job.
2001
Rock Reforestation Ltd. stays in the Robson Valley for he first time since 1991. In addition to the three local mills, Rock secures a research project with the B.C. Forest Service in McBride for 60,000 trees. Rock's crew grows to over ten planters and plants over 300,000 trees. Shane Hainsworth becomes Rock's first foreman and job supervisor other than Rod and Deb. Julie acts as his assistant. Rock partners with North Central Metis Society in Prince George to begin a trainee program with Dayna Pavich of Prince George as the first participant. The program is an unqualified success.
2002
Rock has secured contracts with the three local mills for the upcoming season.
***Rod estimates that he has personally planted over 1,000,000 trees and Deborah has planted over 500,000 trees. They have a combined 40 years of tree planting experience. Rod is still planting and supervising, but Deborah is now the camp cook and camp supervisor.
