While Cheminis Lumber is small in comparison to some of the larger corporations that are shareholders in TFAI, it employs 30 people in a tight-knit, family-like atmosphere, and annually produces 10 million board feet of industrial and value added lumber. 

The original Cheminis Lumber sawmill was built behind Virginiatown. Its sole purpose was to supply timber to the Kerr Addison Mine, which, at the time, consumed enough lumber that the government had issued them their own timber-harvesting license.   When Kerr Addison shut down, the licence was transferred to Cheminis Lumber. In 1989, the sawmill was relocated to its current site just west of Larder Lake , where it continued to produce lumber for the mining industry.   With the downturn in the mining industry, it wasn’t long before Cheminis Lumber was suffering.

In 1995, Steve Bougie and Rick Nychuk, both residents of Kenogami, purchased Cheminis Lumber and diversified to include industrial markets in southern Ontario , landscaping products, and value added lumber.  While most sawmills produce and then sell their product, at Cheminis Lumber the client orders what they require and then it is produced.  If a customer needs a length or dimension of lumber that is not normally sold in retail outlets, they can purchase it directly through Cheminis Lumber.  This added service assists the customer to reduce waste and cost.

The mill’s future was seriously jeopardized on November 17, 2000 , when a fire levelled the entire operation.  Their strong commitment to their employees and community supported their desire to rebuild. With the assistance of Cheminis employees, community support and the determination and skill of local engineering firm, Fiset Industrial Services, they began pouring concrete in January; began sawing by mid April, and were in full production by June 2001.  No small feat by any means.

Cheminis Lumber is a local, prosperous sawmill with a bright future in North Timiskaming and the Timiskaming Forest Alliance.