Overview

The word "Lignum" is Latin for "wood" or "lumber".

The company was started by Leslie Kerr in 1946 with a planermill near Williams Lake BC. Today, the company is the oldest lumber producer in BC's central interior and is still in the hands of the original owners. The company is now owned by Leslie's sons, John and Tim Kerr. John is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

In 1952, Lignum Sales was established in Vancouver to sell Lignum's lumber, and lumber from other mills.

At one point in time, Lignum owned two other sawmills. One was west of Williams Lake in Tatlayoko, and the other in Tappen Valley near Salmon Arm. The Tatlayoko mill was destroyed by fire. A decision was made to close the Tappen mill and focus all resources on the Williams Lake operation.

Lignum operates joint-venture companies with the Alkali Lake, Nemiah, and Alexis Creek Indian bands, and has a business arrangement with the Williams Lake Indian Band. These companies do basic silviculture and intensive forest management contracting, road construction, timber harvesting and value-added manufacturing.