We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Valemount and surrounding areas, are calling for immediate accountability and reform within the Valemount Community Forest (VCF).

The VCF was established to serve the long-term interests of our community by managing local forest resources sustainably, reinvesting profits into local development, and operating transparently. However, we are concerned that the organization is no longer fulfilling this mandate. Decisions are being made without meaningful public input, and there is a lack of transparency around operations, finances, and environmental impacts. These issues threaten the trust and support that are essential for a community-led forestry initiative.

We believe meaningful and lasting change is urgently needed. We respectfully request the following actions:

1. 1. Commission an independent third-party audit of the Valemount Community Forest’s financial operations, governance practices, and environmental impacts, with results made publicly available.
2. 2. Establish a regular schedule of community consultation forums, to be held at least twice per year, where residents can ask questions and provide input directly to the VCF board and management.
3. 3. Publish clear, accessible annual reports outlining logging activities, reforestation efforts, profits, and community investments.
4. 4. Review and revise the current governance model, including board composition, to ensure it reflects a wider range of community voices and expertise, with a focus on transparency, equity, and sustainability.
5. 5. Create a formal guarantee that locally harvested timber is prioritized and made available to local manufacturing and value-added businesses, in order to support economic development, job creation, and long-term community benefit.
6. 6. Ensure that all harvested timber is utilized to its highest possible value, by upholding the ethical responsibility to maximize value-added use of every tree — prioritizing milling, manufacturing, and secondary processing over low-value exports or waste.

We sign this petition to express our commitment to protecting our community’s forests, economy, and future. We urge the Village of Valemount and the VCF to take bold, transparent steps that rebuild trust and prioritize long-term community benefit.

We intend to formally present this petition — along with all gathered signatures — to the Mayor and Council at the May 13 council meeting. By signing, you are standing with us to demand a more responsible and community-focused approach to forest management in Valemount.