A major chapter in the Elk Valley’s land history has closed, with 120,000 acres of private timberlands now secured for conservation by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Doman Building Materials Group Ltd. has sold its remaining Elk Valley holdings from Elkford to Morrissey to the NCC, marking the largest purchase in the organization’s history.
The $90 million transaction, finalized on September 29, 2025, shifts ownership of vast alpine forest lands from industrial timber use into permanent conservation. For Doman, the sale concludes nearly a decade of stewardship that included planting more than 10 million seedlings and adherence to sustainable forest management practices.
“The Nature Conservancy of Canada will be a unique long-term steward for these very special alpine forest lands,” said Amar S. Doman, Chairman of the Board. “We are very pleased to have come to an agreement with them, which ensures these lands will be in great hands for many years to come and for many generations to enjoy.”
A New Stewardship Era
The NCC, a national land trust established in 1962, is dedicated to protecting Canada’s most ecologically significant landscapes. Its mission prioritizes biodiversity, habitat connectivity, and climate resilience. While recreation is often a benefit of conservation, it is not the NCC’s primary driver.
This acquisition represents a milestone in the Elk Valley, ensuring that lands once central to the forestry economy will now contribute to conservation and climate action. Rumors suggest NCC has a $300 million acquisition fund, making the Elk Valley purchase a cornerstone of their national strategy.
A Landscape of Recreation
For people living in the Elk Valley, these lands are more than forests on a balance sheet—they are a playground. From sledders carving alpine bowls, to mountain bikers exploring backcountry ridgelines, to hikers, hunters, anglers, and campers, generations have built their lifestyles around access to these landscapes.
The sale raises big questions: What does the future hold for recreation—both motorized and non-motorized—on lands now under the NCC umbrella? How will trail systems, cabin access, and long-standing recreation corridors fit into the NCC’s conservation mandate?
Community conversations are likely to intensify as residents and user groups look for clarity. The challenge will be finding a balance that preserves ecological integrity while maintaining the deep recreational culture that defines the Elk Valley.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
• The 120,000 acres have shifted ownership several times over the past two decades:
• 2014: Jemi Fibre Corp. purchased approximately 122,300 acres from Tembec in multiple transactions.
• 2016: CanWel Building Materials acquired Jemi Fibre in two phases, finalizing the deal in May 2016.
• 2004 onward: CanWel was later renamed Doman Building Materials, following Amar Doman’s acquisition of the company from Canfor and Weldwood.
Now, with the NCC as steward, the Elk Valley enters a new era—one that prioritizes ecological values but must also acknowledge the Valley’s deep ties to recreation. Protected areas of this scale provide critical habitat for wildlife and climate resilience, but they also sit at the heart of a community that lives, works, and plays in the backcountry.
The story is far from over. Conservation is certain; what remains to be seen is how access, recreation, and community values will shape the next chapter.
