A Family run business build on integrity and honesty

Our Mission & Values

Our mission is to responsibly and sustainably harvest forests and produce high-quality products, while prioritizing the health and longevity of Ontario's woodlots for future generations. We are committed to utilizing the best practices that promote ecological integrity while continually improving our operations and minimizing our environmental impact. We take great pride in our 100% use of the wood we harvest, and we strive to create value for our customers, employees, and stakeholders while being a responsible steward of the land.

Lakeshore Forest Products values honesty, integrity, respect, and trust as core principles that guide our actions and behavior. We believe that honesty and transparency are essential to building strong relationships with our customers, employees, and partners. We are committed to upholding high ethical and moral standards in all our dealings and believe that mutual respect is key to fostering a positive and collaborative workplace culture. We strive to be trustworthy in all our actions, demonstrating accountability and reliability in delivering on our commitments. These values are at the heart of who we are and what we stand for at our family business.

Our Story

In 1993, Richard and Pamela Ireland founded Ontario Selective Harvest LTD to provide cutting and skidding services to local sawmills. However, after a few years, they began purchasing standing timber and selling logs. With one cutting and skidding crew initially, they expanded to four in just a few years, resulting in a surplus of logs. To address this, they ventured into the lumber industry and established Lakeshore Forest Products Ltd. Despite limited knowledge in the lumber field, they started with a single Amish mill and gradually increased production to four, capable of producing 25,000 bdft per day.

In 2017, they acquired an existing sawmill in Thedford and consolidated all their production there. Looking to increase efficiency, they revamped the sawmill adding many new components, the most important being a thin kerf resaw. Seeking to diversify further, they began scaling up their log export division and implemented on-site log containment.

In 2019, Drew and Kyle Ireland, Richard and Pam's sons, joined the company full time after earning their BA in international business and now manage all operations at the Thedford location. Presently, Lakeshore Forest Products harvests 5-6 million bdft annually, with 3.5 million bdft of lumber being produced and the remainder of logs sold domestically and internationally.