Member Profile

Just off the Nelson Highway between Salmo and Ymir, stands Porcupine Wood Products LTD. Built in the 1980’s as a white wood stud mill, it was bought by Jim Weed and Elaine Cockrill in 1992. At the time, they operated two other cedar mills in the Kootenay area. The family, along with their son and the company’s General Manager Craig Upper, slowly began to convert their new operation to specialize in Western Red Cedar. 

The mill underwent extensive upgrades between 1998 and 2004, and when the mill was ready, the family closed their other operations to focus on Western Red Cedar production at Porcupine Wood Products. Because of their dedication to excellence and specialization, Porcupine Wood Products produces the possibly the best Western Red Cedar Products available. Harvesting their wood from slow-growing second growth logs with less than 20″ butt diameter results in lumber with a tight grain and small knots, making it ideal for decking, dimension, fencing, and siding. They have one small, renewable, volume- based timber licence, and source the rest of the wood they need from BC Timber Sales. The quality of their Western Red Cedar Products relies on growing a renewable cedar supply and Porcupine Wood Products is committed to sustainable forest practices. They have been certified under Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification since 2009 and are passionate about sustainable forest practices.