Sue Pickering

Tembec Inc.

Sue Pickering, Superintendent of Planning for Tembec Inc. Northern Ontario East has been representing her company on the Lake Abitibi Model Forest Board of Directors since early

2001. Sue graduated from the University of Toronto in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry. Immediately following graduation, she worked in Kapuskasing for nine months with the then Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company, before returning to southern Ontario. Once back in Toronto, she tried her hand at private land forestry with the Ministry of Natural Resources, and then urban forestry and the lawn care industry. At this time, she started a family. Realizing a need to get out of the big city, Sue and her family moved back up north to Timmins, where she continued to work for MNR in planning, and science and technology with specialization in vegetation management. Sue later signed on as the silvicultural forester for Norbord in Cochrane, which was in part purchased by Malette, and then shortly thereafter purchased by Tembec. She was then reassigned to Timmins as a planning forester, and later promoted to the Assistant Chief Forester position two years ago. Most recently Sue was assigned the position of Superintendent of Planning for the Northern Ontario East Operation. Sue’s husband Randy is currently an Area Supervisor with Timmins District MNR.

"It’s great to have a voice on the Lake Abitibi Model Forest Board," says Sue. "Everyone in the forestry sector basically wants the same things. We want to ensure sustainable forest management through the application of good science and information. If we work together, we can pool resources and funding, and accomplish a lot more in the advancement of forestry practices. Tembec receives some of the wood from operations on the Lake Abitibi Model Forest, and we are committed to sustainability from these areas as well."

Sue’s current responsibilities include membership on the Forestry Research Partnership’s Secretariat, regional forest management planning for Tembec, assisting with Tembec’s certification by the Forest Stewardship Council, and development and support of Tembec information management systems, as well as membership on our Board of Directors, and helping out with the Natural Science Group. Sue’s responsibilities may change as the Tembec operation goes through a re-organization but she is committed to the efforts of the Lake Abitibi Model Forest.

"We’re starting to see some real progress in directing new science and research efforts for the Model Forest," says Sue. "The Natural Science Group has representatives from government, industry, and many different organizations from both Ontario and Quebec collaborating and cooperating. It is great to be a part of the process."

When not juggling her many responsibilities at Tembec, or helping out with Lake Abitibi Model Forest endeavors, or providing taxi service for two teenagers, whom she describes as ‘incredibly wonderful’, Sue volunteers as a Constable with the Ontario Provincial Police, putting in between 20 and 70 hours a month. She has also very recently become a motorcycle enthusiast, and is the

proud owner of a BMW with an inaugural trip to San Diego under her belt!

The Lake Abitibi Model Forest is grateful to Sue for taking the time out of a very busy professional and personal life to help with guiding our projects and activities through the Natural Science Group, and as a member of the Board of Directors