Gian Singh Sandhu - Williams Lake

Gian Singh Sandhu founded Jackpine Forest Products Ltd. in 1987, now the 12th largest lumber producing company in B.C. with nearly 300 employees. Under Sandhu's guidance, Jackpine has been a leader in embracing new technologies and creating value-added products for domestic and foreign markets. The company makes a point of hiring men and women from diverse backgrounds and of employing companies owned by First Nations people. Jackpine has grown steadily through a time when many forestry companies are shrinking. Sandhu supports many charities, matches his employees' donations to several charities, created two bursaries to help high school students pursue post-secondary education and provided funding for Williams Lake to build a crematorium. Jackpine is also a major sponsor of this year's B.C. Winter Games.