The Kalesnikoff family migrated from Russia in 1898 and settled in Verigin, Saskatchewan; the family moved to the Kootenays in 1911.
Their first mill was in China Creek, south of Castlegar, BC. In 1939, three brothers, Koozma, Pete and Sam, built a bunkhouse and started to assemble sawmill equipment.
At start-up, the mill consisted of a carriage, a saw mandrel with a saw on one side, and a big fly-wheel driven by a gas engine.
Pete Kalesnikoff Jr., the current company president, showed at the age of 14 a respect for the land and an enthusiasm for the business.
When he was 18, he was both bookkeeper and sawyer. He became apprentice manager when he was 25. When he took over the helm, the company had 12 employees.
Pete's son Ken Kalesnikoff ( the current vice-president) is now poised to take over the presidency and became responsible for the 130 people now employed by the 58-year old family business. Ken's vision is to expand Kalesnikoff Lumber with a value-added plant.
Since its founding, the company's goals have been consistent.
1. Maintaining and enhancing stable employment in the community.
2. Being a leader in specialty value-added products.
3. Undertaking mill upgrades to foster maximum flexibility in the mill without the loss of jobs.
4. Maintaining a high standard of forest management as per its slogan,
"Take care of the land and the land will take care of you." (Recipient
of the Minister of Environment Award of Excellence in 1986.)