| Bill Sauder Honoured by Hall of Fame
New Westminster - July 30, 2007
- The Fraser River Discovery Centre Society is very pleased to announce its 2007 inductee into the Fraser River Hall of Fame.
William (Bill) Sauder, Chairman of International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor), will be inducted at the Discovery Centre Society's 18th Annual Gala Dinner to be held at the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam, on Tuesday, October 16, 2007.
This annual event is held to celebrate individuals, families, companies, or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the Fraser River.
A look at the connections of the forest industry to the Fraser River, especially the Lower Fraser and Fraser Valley, will clearly show that a number of companies have prominent places in that story.
Bill Sauder and Interfor have a long association with the lower river dating back to a sawmill at Whonnock in the 1930s. Today, many decades later, Sauder and Interfor maintain a strong working relationship with the Fraser through mills at Hammond, Delta, and New Westminster.
Another is located on Adams Lake in the BC Interior with this site connecting through the Thompson River system to the Fraser.
With an industry on a major river comes concern for the environment and care of the waterway.
Bill Sauder and Interfor are highly regarded for their commitment to the environment in which they work. One of the statements in their Environmental Policy is "we will minimize environmental impact, prevent pollution and strive for continuous improvement of our environmental performance."
From their woodlands operations to their mill sites, they maintain high level, stringent standards.
Their approach was recognized in May 2007 when they received, as one of five BC forest companies in the Coast Forest Conservation Initiative, the World Wildlife Fund's Gift to the Earth Award, which honours "conservation outcomes that have made globally significant contributions to the conservation of the natural world."
Mr Sauder personally has been honoured for his leadership, wisdom, and dedication to the well being of his community, province and country through the Order of Canada, the Order of BC, the Woodrow Wilson Award, and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of British Columbia.
Bill Sauder takes great pride in his close ties with UBC as former Chair of the Board of Governors, former Chancellor and sponsor of the Sauder School of Business, in which he remains very active.
"The Fraser River Discovery Centre Society is very pleased to welcome Bill Sauder of Interfor to the distinguished group that comprises our Fraser River Hall of Fame," said Jack Edwards, Chair of the Society's Board of Directors. Karen Baker-MacGrotty, Vice-Chair, added, "Each year this gala evening, a major fundraiser for the Discovery Centre, is attended by over 300 guests.
With the expansion of the Centre commencing this fall, the interest and excitement continues to build as we take one step closer to bringing our dream of a world-class interpretive centre to reality. We anticipate this will be a very special evening for everyone."
The Fraser River Discovery Centre Society, located next to the Westminster Quay beside the Fraser River in New Westminster, is a non-profit society with the vision of "connecting communities in discovery and celebration of the living, working Fraser River".
Its mission is "to be recognized as the Centre of Excellence for stimulating passion, education and enlightenment about the Fraser River."
Call 640-521-8401 or visit www.fraserriverdiscovery.org |