Forestry feeds three
generations of Herd family
By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, June 13 2025
Forestry is feeding three generations of the Herd family.
“My dad Harry has worked for Western Forest Products for 55 years. He retired a couple of years ago but came out of retirement a year after due to Western being short-handed drivers,” says his son Peter Herd.
“I just actually started a month ago after I moved to Woss and my son Trey just started and is on day two today (June 4),” he said.
“We are all residing in Woss now. I grew up here and moved away when I was 18 after graduation. Woss and the bush have been calling me back for years, so I just sold my house and moved back a month ago,” said Peter.
“My son loves it here and just made the move himself after completing the logging program here in Woss last year,” referring to the Fundamentals of Forestry Harvesting Practices program offered through the Regional District of Mount Waddington’s Vancouver Island North Training and Attraction Society (VINTAS).
Photo — Submitted
Trey, Peter, and Harry Herd who live in Woss, are three generations working for Western Forest Products. Trey completed the Fundamentals of Forestry Harvesting Practices program in Woss last year. The program is currently on hold.
Port McNeill Logger
Sports sees five new records
North Island Eagle, June 13 2025
The sawdust and wood chips flew once again on the North Island as the Port McNeill Logger Sports Society (PMLSS) hosted their annual event on Saturday, May 31. Competitors from across Vancouver Island, BC, Alberta and even further competed for rankings and cash prizes in a full slate of Open, Ladies, Novice and Mixed events. As always, this is a fun for all-ages, free community event at the Broughton Boulevard waterfront event site. The field saw 58 competitors from British Columbia and Alberta. Port McNeill hosted five Canadian Championship events.
Open double buck - Nick Hall & Nicholas Russell
Open Grand Prairie Accuracy Cut - Nicholas Russell
Open Jill & Jill - Dawn Briscoe & Allison Briscoe
Open Ladies 100cc Hot saw - Allison Briscoe
Novice spring board - Chase Gundersen
Overall Winners from the weekend:
Men’s Novice - Steve Valentyne
Men’s Open - Stirling Hart
Ladies Open - Allison Briscoe
Port McNeill has also tracked all events and times over the 14 years. This year we saw five new records! For all the records, please visit our website.
Open Underhand Chop - Stirling Hart, time 19..27 seconds (previous record Stirling Hart, 21.15 seconds, 2023)
Open Springboard Chop - Stirling Hart, time 37.37 seconds (previous record Stirling Hart, 47.47 seconds, 2024)
Open Jill & Jill - Dawn Briscoe & Allison Briscoe, time 11.50 seconds on 18 inches (this is a new record due to bigger size wood)
Intermediate Underhand - Luke Bischoff, time 33.09 seconds (this is the first year of this event)
Novice Ladies Underhand - Jaclyn Ellah, time 1:12.51 (previous record Marie-Eve Leclerc 1:57.07)
PMLS is already looking into the future, as 2026 will mark their 15th year of hosting Logger Sports in Port McNeill. The show will take place on May 23, 2026. The organizing committee is excited to celebrate with new elements and bring old favourites back to highlight this milestone. To help the efforts of this milestone, PMLS, has set up a donation page to collect some donations from the community. Any size of donation is greatly appreciated. For more information about the 15th celebration please visit our website, pmloggersports.com
Photo — Kathy O'Reilly
Dave MacLeod from Campbell River takes a swing during the Springboard Chop event at the Port McNeill Logger Sports event May 31.
Sointula’s Burrows gives reading at library
