The next stop in Community Futures Wild Rose’s 35th Anniversary road trip brings us to Timber Ridge Firewood Ltd. Located in Rocky View County, this family-owned business supplies firewood to Calgary and the surrounding areas. Timber Ridge Firewood began in 2016 when Steven, a high school senior at the time, saw potential in the surplus wood his family’s arborist business was removing from local properties. Rather than send this wood to landfills, Steven decided to repurpose it as firewood. Read on to learn Steven’s story:
Timber Ridge Firewood LTD. was born from a deep love for arboriculture and a commitment to repurposing wood waste regularly removed from residential areas across the city. My family has always been immersed in the tree industry through our small family business, Timber Ridge Tree Service LTD. However, as we removed trees for our clients, we often found ourselves hauling the wood to landfills or piling it up on a rented property. I grew up in this business—working with trees from age 12. When I turned 16, the property where we stored logs was annexed, which meant we suddenly had to pay for wood disposal or find a better way to utilize it.
That moment became the spark for Timber Ridge Firewood. With the support of my parents, I borrowed $1,000, matched it with my savings, and invested in a wood splitter. I started selling firewood, and to my surprise, demand was far beyond my expectations. What began as a small venture transformed into a thriving business, and over the past nine years, we’ve scaled Timber Ridge into a large firewood manufacturing and distribution company. About five years ago, my brother joined the business, and together, we continued on an entrepreneurial journey to grow and innovate.
One of the pivotal moments in our journey was when we received a call about a large firewood contract. A potential client reached out, asking to order 10,000 bags of firewood and wanted to know how soon we could deliver. We were completely shocked and knew this was likely a rare opportunity. We didn’t have the facilities to handle such a large order, but we committed with the mindset, “We’ll figure it out.” Overnight, we had to scale our operations to four times their usual size, trusting in ourselves to make it happen. That single call transformed the course of our business, pushing us into a more structured commercial operation.
Our proudest moments come from the strong reputation we’ve built in the firewood industry. We’ve stayed true to our values, which has earned us long-term clients and the trust of those we serve. We take pride in knowing that we’ve retained nearly all of our clients, whether they are individuals, local businesses, or large retailers. Seeing our business grow while staying grounded in our ethics is incredibly rewarding and has strengthened our resolve to keep pushing forward.
Our legacy is rooted in innovation and breaking through outdated industry norms. We’ve dedicated ourselves to evolving the firewood industry through creative, agile strategies, leading by example to set new standards. By staying true to these values and continually pushing forward, we hope to leave a mark on the industry as pioneers of sustainable, efficient practices.
Community Futures Wild Rose is proud to support businesses like Timber Ridge Firewood that embody innovation and resilience. The Boivin brothers’ "we'll figure it out" mindset showcases the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the Wild Rose region forward. While we celebrate our 35 years of supporting small businesses in Alberta, we’re inspired by success stories like theirs. Explore our website to see how we can help bring your business dreams to life, whether you’re just starting, growing, expanding, or transitioning.
Timber Ridge Firewood LTD.
Website: https://timberridgefirewood.ca
Phone: 403- 831-7135
Email:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimberRidgeFirewood/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timberridgefirewood/
