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Legacy of Lime Creek Logging

Nestled in the heart of British Columbia’s Boundary Country, Lime Creek Logging stands as a lasting symbol of family, resilience, and innovation in an industry that’s long defined the region.

— Samantha Paul

Shawn and Jinny McIver, owners of Lime Creek Logging.
Shawn and Jinny McIver, owners of Lime Creek Logging.
Based in the scenic city of Grand Forks, situated between the southern Okanagan Valley and the West Kootenay region near the US border, Lime Creek Logging has deep roots. It began in 1978 as a small-scale operation founded by Shawn McIver’s father, Dale McIver, and uncle, Hank McIver. By the early 1980s, the company had expanded into stump-to-dump logging for Sander Brothers. When Sander Brothers ceased operations in the mid-1980s, Lime Creek adapted, shifting its focus to cable yarding.

The company continued to evolve through the 1990s, securing an evergreen contract and long-term relationship with Pope & Talbot. After Pope & Talbot's bankruptcy in 2007, Lime Creek transitioned its operations to Interfor, growing steadily between 2008 and 2022 with an emphasis on conventional logging.

Today, Lime Creek Logging employs 50 people and runs multiple crews handling everything from conventional and cable logging to road building and right-of-way projects. The company also operates its own quarry and offers a range of construction services. “Employees make all this work and ours are all second to none anywhere. I expect excellence, and that is what I get every day from my guys,” says Shawn.
Tigercat 880E logger
A Tigercat 880E logger equipped with a PC10 power clam grapple sorting logs and building the deck of unprocessed wood at the base of a mountain in British Columbia.
Now led by Shawn and his wife Jinny, the company remains a family affair. “The only way a small business works is if you’re family,” Shawn reflects. “You can’t pay people to do this job. It never stops.” Their son, Quinton, works as a processor operator and helps supervise crews when required. With Level 3 first aid certification, a solid understanding of the operations, and experience running the equipment, he is eagerly taking on more responsibility. Meanwhile, daughter Kolby, who holds a master’s degree in environmental management, has expressed interest in joining the family business one day.

Rob McIver, Shawn’s uncle, has also played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and success over the years. Serving as both a foreman and a general overseer, Rob takes charge of managing the crews, coordinating daily operations, and ensuring that everything runs efficiently in the woods. His experience and leadership have been instrumental in maintaining productivity and addressing on-the-ground challenges.
family photo lime creek logging
The three generations of Lime Creek Logging. (L-R) Dale McIver, Hank McIver, Rob McIver, Jinny McIver, Shawn McIver, Quinton McIver.

Commitment to community and education

While Shawn oversees all field operations, Jinny McIver is the organizational heart of Lime Creek Logging. As office manager, she handles payroll, HR, safety, and finances for the company. A former municipal employee from a forestry family, Jinny joined the business and has since helped foster a supportive, family-first culture.

Jinny is also a passionate advocate for trades education. She played a leading role in launching Project Heavy Duty, a hands-on initiative that introduces high school students to careers in heavy equipment operation. Students receive safety training before trying their hand at real machinery.

The program has delivered impressive results. Several participating students later returned to Lime Creek Logging to begin careers, receiving direct training from Shawn. Building on this success, Jinny collaborated with Sales Specialist Glenn Holbrook, and Regional Equipment Sales Manager Tavis Mann, from Inland to bring a Tigercat Industries forestry machine simulator to the local high school, further sparking student interest in the industry. “We interacted with lots of great students during our time on site,” said Tavis.

“Afterward, several kids said they wanted to be loggers,” Jinny recalls. “They didn’t even know it was a career path before.” 

Shawn feels that the simulator is a great tool to gauge interest and evaluate natural ability. “You can tell within a few hours whether someone has the knack to be an operator,” he adds. “And when they do, we’ve got the right place for them to learn.”
Pat McIver, 880E operator
Pat McIver, an 880E operator and 20-year logging veteran with Lime Creek Logging, says, “Best grapple around.”

An operator’s perspective

With over four decades in the industry, Mike Miller has seen firsthand how logging technology has transformed. He’s spent 36 years running feller bunchers and now operates the new Tigercat LX877, having logged 170 hours with the machine.

Having previously run the LX870D and older C-series models, Mike is impressed by the LX877’s refinements. “The slope-tail design is a game changer,” he says. “I’m not catching the counterweight on the line anymore when tethered. It’s tighter, more compact. The boom geometry lets you pull in closer, which reminds me of the old C, but with much better performance.” Mike often works on extreme terrain — grades of 80% or more — and praises the tilt capability and stability of the LX877. “You’re practically lying back in your seat when it’s tilted forward. But it feels solid, even on brutal, boulder-covered ground.”
Mike Miller greasing LX877 boom
LX877 operator, Mike Miller, greasing his machine after a day’s work.
Pat McIver, nephew of Shawn, is a seasoned operator with deep roots in the industry. For Pat, logging isn’t just a career, it’s a family tradition. “My dad and my uncles and cousins… it’s kind of in the blood,” he says. With over 20 years of experience, Pat has been a dedicated member of the Lime Creek crew, managing the company’s steep slope operations and preparing to one day partner with Quinton. Pat currently operates a Tigercat 880E logger and has high praise for the machine. “The reach is good. It’s got good track power. It’s very stable. The grapple is awesome, best grapple around.” Pat values the solitude of working in the bush. He appreciates Tigercat’s operator-focused approach and the company’s openness to feedback. “It makes a real difference,” he says. “And they’re specific to logging, so they build it right.” While his son may be focused on hockey now, Pat jokes, “He’ll be logging one day.”
Tigercat LX877 feller buncher
The LX877, fitted with a 5702-26 felling head, completes operations at the base of the mountainside before moving to the next job site.

Strength in support

Lime Creek Logging relies on a fleet of Tigercat machines, chosen for performance and long-term value. Shawn especially values the Canadian roots of Tigercat Industries and willingness of company team members to engage directly with operators. “You talk to Ken [MacDonald] at Tigercat, and he’s bringing in engineers to hear your idea. That kind of responsiveness is rare.”

Another reason for Shawn’s choice of Tigercat equipment is the dealer representation in British Columbia. Inland has played a pivotal role in supporting the growth and operational success of Lime Creek Logging. The opening of Inland’s Castlegar branch marked a turning point for Lime Creek, offering closer proximity and significantly improved service response time. Shawn emphasized that Inland’s commitment to customer service and quick support has been essential. “The dealer is probably 50% of the equation,” Shawn explains, “Inland has done a great job as far as support goes.”

The slope-tail design is a game changer. I’m not catching the counterweight on the line anymore when tethered. It’s tighter, more compact. The boom geometry lets you pull in closer, which reminds me of the old C, but with much better performance.


— LX877 operator, Mike Miller

Yet, like many contractors, Shawn faces mounting challenges. From shifting regulations to public misconceptions, Shawn says the industry’s biggest hurdle is often perception. “People don’t realize, we’re just farmers. We grow and harvest trees. They grow back,” he explains. “Vancouver drives the policy, but they don’t understand the reality of what we do in places like Grand Forks.”

As a board member of the Interior Logging Association, Shawn also raises concerns about the viability of the industry under current conditions. While wildfire mitigation is important, it won’t sustain the sector on its own. “We need 250 000 to 300 000 cubic metres a year to survive,” he says. “Thinning one hectare at a time isn’t going to cut it.”

Despite the current challenges, Shawn is optimistic but cautious. Growth is possible, but not at the expense of the company’s integrity. “If I know I’ve got the right people, we’ll grow. But I’m not risking our reputation for anything less than excellence.”

People don’t realize, we’re just farmers. We grow and harvest trees. They grow back.


— Owner, Shawn McIver


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