It seems hard to believe that 30 years ago, Louisiana Pacific (LP) Building Solutions made the strategic move to build and open a mill in the Swan Valley. It was a huge economic driving force for the area that brought employment and new opportunities. Over the years. LP Swan Valley has transitioned, but remains a vital entity to the area.
“The mill pressed its first board on January 21, 1996, at 1:02 a.m.,” said LP Building Solutions Senior Corporate Communications Specialist Jen Bowman. “Since then, it has grown into a key part of LP’s operations—transitioning from OSB production to LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding in 2015 and, in 2022, becoming the company’s only facility to manufacture LP® SmartSide® Cedar Shakes.”
LP Swan Valley has several highlights to look back upon and celebrate along with its 30th anniversary. It remains one of the area’s largest employers. LP Swan Valley supports more than 225 team members and around 400 local contract loggers and haulers. Nearly half the workforce has been with LP for over 10 years—including Plant Manager Chris Eisner, who started as a contractor in 1995 during the mill’s construction.
LP has invested approximately $80M CAD into the operations over the last five years alone. In 2024, LP reported $29 billion in net sales. The mill has reached major safety milestones, including 1 million incident-free hours in 2020 and 500,000 hours as of December 10, 2025.
Today, the mill produces LP® SmartSide® Trim, Siding, and Panel, Cedar Shakes, Soffit, LP® ProStruct® Flooring with SmartFinish®, and LP® ProStruct® Roof Sheathing with SilverTech®.
LP Swan Valley continues to provide community support. More than $70,000 has been donated to local schools and nonprofits in the past five years, with continued involvement in community events and initiatives.
LP Swan Valley has success in attracting and retaining employees long-term. The current plant manager, Chris Eisner, has the unique experience of being a part of LP Swan Valley as it was being built.
“I actually started at LP Swan Valley before it was LP Swan Valley,” said Eisner. “I worked as a contractor during the mill’s construction, and watching a mill of that size take shape in a small town was incredible. At that point in my career, I hadn’t experienced anything on that scale, and the magnitude of the project really stood out as it all came together.
“When the mill officially opened in 1995, I joined as a labourer—even before the first board was pressed. At the time, it was just another job, but over the years, it became much more. Looking back now, it’s interesting to see how everything came full circle, from construction to start-up and eventually into a leadership role.”
Eisner has seen growth and transition at LP Swan Valley over the years. Those developments have created long-term success for the mill.
“The growth has been significant,” said Eisner. “When we first started, we had about 120 team members. Today, we have around 225, which is something I’m extremely proud of—especially given the broader changes the community has experienced over the years.
“One of the biggest transitions came in 2015, when we converted the mill from the production of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) to siding. It was a busy but exciting time. Seeing LP reinvest in the mill and in our people meant a lot. Many of us had been part of the original start-up, so there was tremendous energy around learning new processes and adapting to new ways of operating. That transition really reinvigorated the team and positioned the mill for long-term success.”
LP Swan Valley is looking to the future, focusing on the mill, its operations and employees. As it moves forward, it plans to continue playing a vital role in building the Swan Valley area and community.
“Looking ahead, the focus remains on continuing to protect and invest in our people, our operations and our community,” said Eisner. “LP Swan Valley is a close-knit team with a strong work ethic, and keeping everyone aligned around shared goals is key to sustaining the high level of performance we’ve achieved.
“We’re also proud to see second-generation team members joining the mill—and, in some cases, even third generations through our logging contractors. Building on that legacy while continuing to improve, innovate and grow responsibly is what will carry us into the future.”