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John A Brink Better With Age
John Brink was born in Nazi-occupied Holland at the onset of World War II. From a young age, he and his siblings foraged for food while their mother raised them alone after their father was drafted into the Dutch Army. They learned of his fate only when their village was liberated by Canadian soldiers on April 12, 1945. This moment sparked John’s determination to build his life in Canada.
Despite the challenges of living with post-traumatic stress disorder, John apprenticed at a major Dutch lumber company, rapidly advancing in the industry. His expertise and connections in European forestry would later prove invaluable.
In July 1965, John emigrated to Canada with $150 and one suitcase. Arriving in Prince George, B.C., with just $25.47, he initially found work as a cleanup man at a sawmill. His hard work and growing expertise soon led him to a supervisory role.
By 1967, John managed a sawmill in Watson Lake, Yukon, where he also developed a business plan for a lumber manufacturing facility. Returning to Prince George in 1972, he founded Brink Forest Products Ltd. in 1975 with a $25,000 loan and three employees. Pioneering the finger-jointing of dimension lumber in Canada, Brink Forest Products Ltd. has grown to become the largest secondary lumber manufacturer in Canada and a major producer of finger-jointed studs, exporting 90% of its product to the U.S.
John’s contributions extend beyond his company. He served as the longest-serving director (35 years) of the Council of Forest Industries, founded the B.C. Council of Value Added Manufacturers, and was a key figure in the Wood Works Initiative. He also played a crucial role in five softwood lumber disputes with the U.S. and challenged unfair international grading rules, which nearly jeopardized his company but ultimately led to significant industry changes.
In 2005, Brink’s $500,000 donation established the John A. Brink Trades and Technology Centre at the College of New Caledonia, addressing the need for a skilled workforce in the Canadian forestry industry. His philanthropic efforts extend to over $500,000 annually for more than 50 charities and sponsorships of athletes, including those in the Special Olympics.
John has been recognized with the BC Community Achievement Award, an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Northern British Columbia, and the Order of B.C. in June 2019. In September 2019, he committed a $1 million donation to the College of New Caledonia to support the Trades and Technology Centre, aiming to create a Centre of Excellence to enhance Northern British Columbia’s workforce and economy.
https://johnabrink.com//
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnabrink/
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By Aswand Cruickshank
4.9
3131 ratings
John Brink was born in Nazi-occupied Holland at the onset of World War II. From a young age, he and his siblings foraged for food while their mother raised them alone after their father was drafted into the Dutch Army. They learned of his fate only when their village was liberated by Canadian soldiers on April 12, 1945. This moment sparked John’s determination to build his life in Canada.
Despite the challenges of living with post-traumatic stress disorder, John apprenticed at a major Dutch lumber company, rapidly advancing in the industry. His expertise and connections in European forestry would later prove invaluable.
In July 1965, John emigrated to Canada with $150 and one suitcase. Arriving in Prince George, B.C., with just $25.47, he initially found work as a cleanup man at a sawmill. His hard work and growing expertise soon led him to a supervisory role.
By 1967, John managed a sawmill in Watson Lake, Yukon, where he also developed a business plan for a lumber manufacturing facility. Returning to Prince George in 1972, he founded Brink Forest Products Ltd. in 1975 with a $25,000 loan and three employees. Pioneering the finger-jointing of dimension lumber in Canada, Brink Forest Products Ltd. has grown to become the largest secondary lumber manufacturer in Canada and a major producer of finger-jointed studs, exporting 90% of its product to the U.S.
John’s contributions extend beyond his company. He served as the longest-serving director (35 years) of the Council of Forest Industries, founded the B.C. Council of Value Added Manufacturers, and was a key figure in the Wood Works Initiative. He also played a crucial role in five softwood lumber disputes with the U.S. and challenged unfair international grading rules, which nearly jeopardized his company but ultimately led to significant industry changes.
In 2005, Brink’s $500,000 donation established the John A. Brink Trades and Technology Centre at the College of New Caledonia, addressing the need for a skilled workforce in the Canadian forestry industry. His philanthropic efforts extend to over $500,000 annually for more than 50 charities and sponsorships of athletes, including those in the Special Olympics.
John has been recognized with the BC Community Achievement Award, an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Northern British Columbia, and the Order of B.C. in June 2019. In September 2019, he committed a $1 million donation to the College of New Caledonia to support the Trades and Technology Centre, aiming to create a Centre of Excellence to enhance Northern British Columbia’s workforce and economy.
https://johnabrink.com//
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnabrink/