Burrows Lumber Company
SINCE 1879
Established in 1879, we believe Burrows is the oldest operating lumber company in Western Canada.
From the beginning, Burrows was a primary producer and supplier of lumber products in Western Canada and one of the founding members of the Western Retail Lumber Association. Today we are primarily a distributor of specialized lumber products.
Our industry niche is specialty products and hard to find items for the lumber yards and industrial markets.
Our strength is founded upon the relationships we forge with our customers and suppliers, to ensure success of both.
Burrows Lumber Company
The Theo. A Burrows Lumber Co. Ltd. was founded in 1879 at a time when forests seemed inexhaustible and opportunities for new settlors abounded. The company’s accomplishments over its145 year history are due primarily to the groundwork laid down by the company founder – Theodore Arthur Burrows.
At Burrows Lumber, we understand that timber is much more than a commodity, it is a vital part of our environment and our culture, a legacy that we must honor and protect.
A Sense of Adventure
Born in 1857, Theo. A. Burrows inherited his sense of adventure from his paternal grandfather. John Burrows left his home in Plymouth, England in 1813 and sailed to Canada where he settled in Bytown. There, he was granted the first land patent issued in the new country.
An engineer by training, Burrows became the Overseer of Works for the construction of the Rideau Canal, a waterway which linked Lake Ontario to the future capital city of Ottawa. Today, the Houses of Parliament, seat of the Canadian federal government, sits upon the original Burrows homestead.
Settlors in a Rich and Fertile Land
In 1877, the spirit of adventure lured Theo. A. Burrows on a journey west. Immigration to the new province of Manitoba was slow but settlors made the arduous trip in search of land that was rich and fertile.
Burrows’ first job was on a survey crew charting the Lake District. This experience exposed him to the raw riches of the region and ultimately influenced his decision to engage in a career in the forest industry.
Timber Berths
Acquiring vast timber berths in the Duck and Porcupine mountains, the company logged great stands of majestic pine, tamarack, and spruce.
This fully loaded sleigh is set to start its journey along the iced roads to the landing area by the river. In the spring, when the ice cleared, the logs were released into the river and floated downstream to the sawmill. The timbers were cut and planed then shipped to markets across Canada and the USA.
A Sleigh Train
With the advent of mechanization, horses retired and replaced with the Phoenix Haulers. This machine resembled a small train engine on skis where the driver sat in a cabin mounted above the skis and the fireman tended the stoker A Phoenix Hauler was slow, however, they pulled up to 23 fully loaded sleighs that often weighed up to 15 tons.
Burrows Largest Mills
In 1903, Burrows built his largest sawmill at Grandview MB. In its first season, the mill processed over 7million fbm of lumber. Between the logging operations and the sawmill, the Burrows Lumber Company employed more than 1000 men. In turn, the operations generated much impetus to the growth and prosperity of the Grandview region.
But optimism was short lived when fire destroyed the Grandview Mill. Burrows promised the community, that the mill would be rebuilt, bigger and better than before.
Burrows Largest Mills
Disaster struck in the Porcupine mountains when fire ravaged valuable timber tracts. Timber cruisers raced to the scene to assess the damage. Once the forest had cooled sufficiently, Burrows sent cutters into the area to salvage the standing trees and shipped them to Bowsman, the company’s newest mill.
Burrows, the Entrepreneur
In addition to the operation of the logging and saw milling operations, Burrows managed 38 retail stores across the prairie provinces, furnishing building supplies and construction materials as well as construction advice to its customers.
Burrows, the Politician
Burrows also realized that the key to unlocking western Canada’s success was a reliable transportation system. On that platform, he ran for public office where he lobbied extensively for increased rail service not only to encourage immigration but also to provide transportation of prairie products to market.
In 1890, Theo A. Burrows was instrumental in founding the Western Retail Lumbermen’s Association whose mission of self -regulation heled to develop accepted standards and recognized business practices for the lumber industry. He was a major proponent of selective cutting and forest management, speaking at forest industry meetings on the value of sustainable development.
In 1925, in recognition of his services as Land Commissioner to the Canadian Northern Railway (now the CNR), he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, a post he held until his sudden death in 1929.
Our Products
From our head office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Burrows Lumber has established efficient distribution links, shipping Western SPF, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Eastern SPF, Cedar, Plywood, OSB, Engineered Wood and various hardwood species from our North American lumber producers to our customers.
