Stephen Read – Director

I was raised in Sydney Nova Scotia, spending my early years both in the city and in the rural forest.

Summer jobs were working in a wholesale building supply yard. I then spent five years in a forestry degree program at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. During the next five years I worked in sales for wholesale building supplies and became manager of branch operations. In 1983 I started my own forestry consulting company and quickly added silviculture and harvesting crews and a sawmill. The crews also tackled industrial clearing contracts, including clearing for new transmission lines. During this time I built my own house and raised five children.

   Later the sawmill expanded into manufacturing of prefinished hardwood flooring sold mostly in Europe and the UK.  After 25 years I retired and started buying old homes to rent and doing renovations myself. When my Dad died I added his car storage business. I sold the business all of the rentals except one in 2023. All along I did volunteer work for the Two Rivers Wildlife Park (treasurer), Marion Bridge Community Council (construction and treasurer), Mira Seniors and Pensioners Club (treasurer), Team Rubicon Canada (Chainsaw safety instructor), and the Sydney-Riverview Y Service Club (treasurer).