NEWS RELEASE

Tolko plants 85 millionth tree

High Level, AB – June 24, 2003 will mark a significant milestone for Tolko’s High Level Lumber Division in High Level, Alberta with the planting of their 85 millionth seedling. Partners and stakeholders are invited to attend a celebration that will include planting of a commemorative tree, greetings from The Honourable Mike Cardinal, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development and Al Thorlakson, Tolko’s President & CEO.

In conjunction with the event, and as part of its commitment to the communities in which it operates, Tolko’s Board of Directors is holding its spring directors meeting in High Level. Board members will have an opportunity to tour the High Level mill and participate in the 85 millionth tree planting celebrations.

In cooperation with Footner Forest Products, High Level’s Woodlands department manages almost 4 million hectares of forestland. Tolko planted over seven and one-half million seedlings in the High Level area in 2002 alone. As part of their commitment to continual forest management improvements, the department implemented forest certification to the internationally recognized ISO 14001 standard in 2003. This will complement their Forestcare certification originally attained in 1997. Plans are now underway to achieve CSA certification by the end of 2004.

Corporately, Tolko planted over 19 million seedlings in 2002. The company will have planted over 296 million seedlings by the end of 2003, and is looking forward to planting the 300 millionth seedling in 2004. One of the Company’s mandates is that all forest activities be ecologically suitable, economically feasible and socially acceptable.

For more information:
Tom Hoffman
Woodlands Manager
Phone: 780-926-8918

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