Gorman History
Gorman Bros. Lumber did not begin with a complicated business plan but an informal chat between John and Ross Gorman. One windy winter evening, John went to Ross’ house to have his hair cut. The brothers’ visit during this time brought the unexpected results that we appreciate today.
The bitter winter of 1949-1950 resulted in the Gorman’s orchards being frozen so the brothers needed to find an alternate way to provide for their growing families. Various farming options were bandied about, but ultimately, they decided to make and sell fruit boxes. Using their father’s shed (which still stands…
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In 1953, the brothers decided to set up a small sawmill. “The first one was at Dobbin Mountain behind Glenrosa. We operated there for approximately two years and then moved from there to another camp behind Last Mountain, near the present day Crystal Mountain ski hill. The logging was done…
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The sense of ‘family’ that has been a Gorman Bros. trademark over the years was already evident. The logging camp was a perfect example of how everyone pitched in to help. Clarence Fenton supplied venison, while Eunice and Edith (the wives of John and Ross Gorman) baked bread and pies…
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In 1964, John and Ross decided to set up Oroville Bin & Pallet on the American side of the border in the former Zippy building to address the demands of the American market. The company faced many changes and challenges but its strength was in its versatility. They produced fruit…
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On November 21, 1969, disaster struck when an electrical short caused a huge fire that destroyed the mill. Employees and townspeople helped the firefighters battle the fire throughout the night but all they could do was reduce the flame. They saved the planer mill, the dry kiln and offices but…
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After the fire, John and Ross decided to rebuild, but rather than building a dimension mill, they would build a one-inch board mill. The BC economy was struggling with a recession and the forest industry was hit the worst. The mill went through some difficult years but together the company pushed…
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By 1982 it was evident that Gorman Bros. needed more timber. When MacGillis and Gibbs Company Ltd. of Lumby was put up for sale including the assets of 19,000 cubic meters of AAC (annual allowable cut), Gorman Bros. was interested. They purchased these assets as well as the pole manufacturing…
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In 1990, the Gorman family purchased Downie Timber in Revelstoke, BC which is known for providing premium quality cedar, fir and hemlock products. Downie Timber’s family legacy and commitment to quality proved a good fit with the Gorman Group of companies which already included Lumby Pole and Oroville Reman and Reload.
By the 4th decade of operation, the payroll had grown to 230 direct employees with an additional 100 trucking and logging contractors. The modern plant had found a niche in the specialty markets. On May 11, 1991, Gorman Bros. had a ‘family reunion’ – well, it actually was a 40th anniversary celebration…
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John Gorman retired in 1996, passing on his responsibilities to Bill Reedy. At the same time, Ross Gorman turned his responsibilities over to Ron Gorman. John was 79 – long past official retirement age but even at this point said, “I’m not the kind of guy that can quit completely… I…
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In 1999, the company decided to focus on the finished quality of the lumber. They created a 60,000 square foot lumber storage facility to keep the lumber dry until it was wrapped and ready to be shipped. The new Waco Molder replaced the old planer making Gorman Bros. the first…
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Until April, 2008 the company was owned equally by the Ross Gorman family and the John Gorman family. At this time, Ross and his family purchased the ownership interest from the John Gorman family.
In 2009, a forest fire threatened the mill. Gorman Bros. employees joined firefighters in the battle against the fire – volunteering their time and effort. Though the fire raged across the hill where the mill is situated and even jumped the highway to continue its destructive path down to the…
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On November 1, 2012 Canoe Forest Products joined the Gorman Group of companies. Since 1965, the CANOE brand® has distinguished itself as a premium quality plywood provider that is well recognized and valued throughout the world.
Today, the Gorman Group is managed by Ross and Eunice Gorman’s son in law, Nick Arkle. He brings many years of expertise in leadership and in the forest industry. He continues to champion the principles the company was founded on.