From the Editor: Goodbye and thank you

In 2017, at 21 years old, I graduated from McGill University and began looking for my first full-time job. I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for. My one requirement was that it needed to involve writing, and when I stumbled across a posting for an assistant editor with Annex Business Media, it seemed perfect. Long story short, I got the job, and thus started my career in trade media. 

When I made the move to  Canadian Biomass and Canadian Forest Industries in 2018 I knew nothing about the industries, but was promised there would be a lot of travelling and I’d be working with an amazing team. These promises turned out to be true, and in the years since then, I have enjoyed immersing myself in the industries and meeting some amazing people along the way. I have learned more about the different types of biomass, wood pellets, district energy heating systems, etc., than I ever imagined possible. 

Over these four years I have seen how the industries have grown, especially as the public and decision-makers have started to recognize the environmental benefits of bioenergy. I have seen multiple new and innovative biomass projects come to fruition, from district energy systems to bioproducts that can replace single-use plastics and biofuels that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And I have seen how the industry has survived and even thrived during a pandemic that no one saw coming. Some of my favourite projects I’ve written about include the Meadow Lake Tribal Council’s Bioeneregy Centre, the district energy system in Prince George, B.C., and new wood pellet plants that have come online. And if the recent news about investments in new bioenergy projects are any indication, the industry is just getting started. 

But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and I am moving on from Annex Business Media to a new opportunity in the communications world. I want to thank everyone in the industry that I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with. There are a few people in particular that I want to acknowledge: Gordon Murray, Karen Brandt, Fahimeh Yazdan Panah with the Wood Pellet Association of Canada for their support on several initiatives, such as the Women in Forestry Virtual Summit; William Strauss with FutureMetrics for always being willing to write an article on the wood pellets market and sharing photos of his donkeys with me; and most importantly, my team – Maria Church, Todd Humber, Josée Crevier and Rebecca Lewis – for their guidance and encouragement over the years as I took on new projects and grew into my role as editor. I would not be where I am today without their help. 

And last, but certainly not least, I want to thank all of you, our readers, for your loyal support of the magazine, which I know will continue in the years to come. While I will no longer be directly involved in the biomass and forestry industries, I am still excited to see what’s next. And I will be watching how Canadian Biomass leads the way, providing the most up-to-date information for industry professionals and sharing new projects, technology and more. •

Editor’s note: Read Ellen’s last issue as editor: