* - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 7, 1997 NATION | ee A SMALL tractor proves an invaluable tool for Len Hurd who has started a small business sup- plying small-diametre wooden poles to Alcan in Kitimat, Called packer poles, Hurd's product is (used to stir and cool moiten aluminum at Alcan's smelter. Len’s his own boss and that’s just fine LEN HURD works in the woods now as he has for decades. But these days things are different. Today Hurd works for him- self. “T just got tired of always looking for a job,’’ he says. ‘And it’s nice to be your own boss,”' Hurd recently started his own business cutting small-diametre trees which Alcan uses as peck- er poles to stir and cool molten aluminum at its Kitimat smelter. Hurd cuts the trees in 10 foot (three metre) lengths, then delivers them to a local mill to be peeled and cut into two inch (five centimetre) poles. “*The trees have to be at least half green,”’ Hurd says, ‘‘They need the moisture content to coof the aluminum.”’ Caterpillar - Roadbuilding Equipment, Feller Bunchers, Log Loaders, Skidders, Hurd has worked in the woods for most of his life — first as a faller, then fater in sil- viculture. But last year he found himself on employment insur- ance afer his job was axed. And since there were no jobs on the horizon, Hurd decided to try something different. **I got the idea from supervis- ing silviculture work,”' he says. “7 saw all these little trees being spaced and I thought to myself, there has to be a use for all this stuff.” So Hurd took his idea to the forest service and then to 16\37 Community Futures, a regional organization which provides business start up assistance, ad- vice and foans. **I thought, I have nothing to lose by trying this and an awful lot to gain,”’ he says. ‘‘They looked over my business plan The Total Timber Team. From roadbuilding through to harvesting and wood waste recycling, Finning has all the specialized forestry equipment you need. And that's not all. We provide backup parts and service Support that will keep you on the job, where it counts. Plus flexible purchase and financing options to best fit your needs, Don't beat the bushes for forestry equipment. The Finning Total Timber Team has it all. Thunderbird - Loaders and yarders Valmet - Single grip harvesters and forwarders Wagner - Log stackers Attachments - a wide variety of harvesting, processing, and loading attachments. FINNING Delimbers Motbark ~ Harvesting Equipment, waste recyclers, tub. gtinders and clippers WEEK: and seemed to think it would work, and [ know it will.’’ But since Hurd was out of a job at the time, he didn’t have the money to start a business by himself. So he was really happy to have Community Futures provide start-up monies. “Both Forestry and 16\37 were just excellent to me. If it wasn't for them I wouldn’t have been able to do this.’’ Now Hurd says things are looking up and he doesn’t have to worry about losing his job. “I know if I can get up and get going every day I can go to work,” he says, Hurd hopes to hire someone to help him once things are up and running smoothly, “Tt would be great to have someone working with me,’’ he says. ‘‘Then two people could pay their hydro bills.”? 4621 Keith Road Terrace, B.C. VBG 1K3 a. (250) 638-4600 ne MRF VENTURES SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP PARTS © SALES * SERVICE FOR ALL MAKES OF POWER SAWS © PUMPS © GENERATORS OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPAERT i MIKE FRENETTE of Tel, (250) 635-4900 * Fax (250) 635-4960 5025 Keith Ave., Terrace B.C, VBG 1K8 (14 FT ff pore SYSTEMS INC. HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT SALES SERVICE DESIGN FABRICATION Gear Pumps Built While-You-Wait Phone: (250) 635-1800 Fax: (250) 635-1811 3779 River Drive Terrace, B.C. VBG 2N8 Forestry Means Jobs In Terrace! We’re proud to salute The Forest Industry! Coast Inn of the West “The Choice of the Frequent Traveller” 4620 Lakelse Ave., Terrace 638-8141 4620 Lakelse Avenue Terrace, BC V8G IRI 638-7933 Fax: 638-8141 SPECIAL PRICES all’ components r to install COAST TRACTOR UNDERCARRIAGE SALE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPECIAL OFFER! CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE INSPECTION! — Tel: 635-7131 © Fax: 635-4831 you with unbeatable service and competitive pricing on ‘JOHN DEERE Let our undercarriage specialists provide monthé or. 2% cash discount Bill Venasse- Ron McColl © Dan Gourlie ing 503712 B.C. Ltd. Ron Bahr: D.R. Holtom & Sons Ltd. - a . Houlden Logging Ltd e's.