Gian Singh Sandhu founded Jackpine Forest Products Ltd. in 1987, now the 12th largest lumber producing company in B.C. with nearly 300 employees. Under Sandhu’s guidance, Jackpine has been a leader in embracing new technologies and creating value-added products for domestic and foreign markets. The company makes a point of hiring men and women from diverse backgrounds and of employing companies owned by First Nations people. Jackpine has grown steadily through a time when many forestry companies are shrinking. Sandhu supports many charities, matches his employees’ donations to several charities, created two bursaries to help high school students pursue post-secondary education and provided funding for Williams Lake to build a crematorium. Jackpine is also a major sponsor of this year’s B.C. Winter Games.