Heritage Reforestation Inc

Sarah · Post by **Sarah** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:12 pm

Hi! I'm trying to track someone down and have been told that they may be working for an Ontario company called HEI. Anyone know what that stands for or if the company has a website?

Thanks!

Trout · Post by **Trout** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:45 am

I'm planting with HRI (aka Heritage) Reforestation in Ontario this year. Can anyone tell me anything about them? Can't seem to find much on them, outside their own website.

Much appreciated,
T.

acoupleofrookies · Post by **acoupleofrookies** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:08 pm

Should I plant for A&Y in NFLD or Heritage in Ontario?

Post by **Scooter** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:10 pm

Interesting comparison. Don't be discouraged if you don't get any answers. I haven't even heard of A&Y before, and I suspect that there probably are very few, if any, Canadian planters who have planted for both of the companies that you mention.

I presume, however, that you're probably from Newfoundland if you're asking this question. Planting for A&Y would be a lot closer to home, if that was the case, so your investment in the job might be a lot less (no significant travel expenses?). A&Y might be a good way to get your feet wet in the industry, and then if you find that you like it after this summer, you could explore options in other parts of Canada.

This is just my thoughts in general. I have no experience planting in either province, so this is just gut feelings based on what I've heard over the years.

barnbill · Post by **barnbill** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:16 pm

just an observation.............never planted in Newfoundland but they don't call it the rock for nothing....high unemployment 14% in March 2009......ontario would probably be better///////don't know fer sure just a hunch....travelling to Ontario is only a day trip if you catch the first ferry ....day and a half at the most ..... you should know that scootr

Post by **Scooter** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:04 am

Well, yes, the travel time is insignificant, but I was thinking more about the fact that in Newfoundland, I'm wondering if maybe they plant from "home," not "close to home." I know that around the Maritimes here, most people can get jobs in their hometowns so they aren't travelling at all, or paying camp costs or anything. The van picks them up at 4am and they just drive out to the blocks, then come back to their own houses in the late afternoon. So in that sense, it would be a lot cheaper than even planting from a town a couple hours away.

Trout · Post by **Trout** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:10 pm

Gonna be a troll and ask again, no one's heard anything about Heritage?

Gualbert · Post by **Gualbert** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:10 pm

I've planted with two planters who went through Heritage as rookies and second year vets. Its a smallish company (15-20 planters I think) that works in the Ottawa Valley- even get to plant some oak. I don't know much else but I sure that they have standard On prices- between 8 or 9 cents. They have days off in Renfrew sometimes so that would be very different then Northern On planting or probably NFLD planting as your less isolated. I don't know what your situation is but you'll probably make about the same amount with either. Personally if I had to choose between the two- it would be A&Y but it's pretty much a toss-up.

greenfloyd · Post by **greenfloyd** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:14 pm

Hi guys, new here and hoping to go planting for the first time this year.
I applied to this small company called Heritage Reforestation Inc (Ont) back in mid January. I really want to go with this one because they have pick-up areas pretty close to where I live so I won't have to worry about having to take a bus or plane to get there since it's my first time.

Anyways I checked out their website again and it's gone! It's been gone for about a week since I checked it. After some reading through some of the threads on this forum I learned that a lot of companies lose work from all the mills closing down ,right? Did HRI go down under?

Though when I sent in the application it said 2010 season on it, just wondering.

greenfloyd · Post by **greenfloyd** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:37 pm

Yea that's what I get too. They actually had stuff for the 2010 planting when I applied in mid january, do you think it can be site maintance?

Post by **Scooter** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:54 pm

Additional comments about HRI in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=64622

The Rev · Post by **The Rev** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:28 pm

thought they had trees with Ottawa Valley Forest SFL in 2010 ... not sure what else they secured.

I think they did work in Sioux Lookout (and maybe Atikokin as well, west of tbay) in 2009

Jack usually resurfaces

steel8909 · Post by **steel8909** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:19 pm

The Rev wrote:thought they had trees with Ottawa Valley Forest SFL in 2010 ... not sure what else they secured.

I think they did work in Sioux Lookout (and maybe Atikokin as well, west of tbay) in 2009

Jack usually resurfaces

They called me today, they weren't too sure about the contract details yet but they told me Ottawa Valley. We did that for a few weeks last year, 8.5 cent a tree but the freaking pods were so big and heavy, you can only carry a box of 270 at a time. Not sure if I'm down for that again.

olerthemoler · Post by **olerthemoler** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:30 pm

Hey, has anyone planted for HRI in Ontario before? and how did you find your experience with them?

East · Post by **East** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:05 am

Planted with them in 2012. Legit company, good people.

Anything in particular that you want to know about them?

Faucher86 · Post by **Faucher86** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:21 am

I'm heading out for my first planting in Early May with HRI, my crew boss is very involved in making sure I'm well prepared for my first year as a tree planter. We will be planting in southern, and northern Ontario, then in Alberta. We will be traveling as a camp to Alberta, so travel cost to Alberta will be paid. I have searched the internet for reviews on the company, and I haven't seen any bad reviews which is a good sign I think. I will certainly post more information after the season is complete.

Cheers,

Chocolatej · Post by **Chocolatej** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:26 am

I've never planted for them but came across this while browsing their website: http://www.heritageinc.ca/scripts/get_i ... height=450

Does anything jump out?

steel8909 · Post by **steel8909** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:33 pm

Chocolatej wrote:I've never planted for them but came across this while browsing their website: http://www.heritageinc.ca/scripts/get_i ... height=450

Does anything jump out?

I worked with them a few years back. It was pretty normal for crewbosses to pile on a few planters onto an quad. I actually have a video of my crewbosse speeding down a logging road on a 1 seat quad with me and two other planters. The camera man falls off at the end (though he was coming to a stop by then). Might also have another vid of the same boss going 150kmh with a van full of planters.

Greg M. · Post by **Greg M.** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:19 am

Faucher86 wrote:I'm heading out for my first planting in Early May with HRI, my crew boss is very involved in making sure I'm well prepared for my first year as a tree planter. We will be planting in southern, and northern Ontario, then in Alberta. We will be traveling as a camp to Alberta, so travel cost to Alberta will be paid. I have searched the internet for reviews on the company, and I haven't seen any bad reviews which is a good sign I think. I will certainly post more information after the season is complete.

Cheers,

Alberta? Has HRI been working in AB for a while now? Where abouts do they set up shop?

Nate · Post by **Nate** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:25 am

steel8909 wrote:
Chocolatej wrote:I've never planted for them but came across this while browsing their website: http://www.heritageinc.ca/scripts/get_i ... height=450

Does anything jump out?
I worked with them a few years back. It was pretty normal for crewbosses to pile on a few planters onto an quad. I actually have a video of my crewbosse speeding down a logging road on a 1 seat quad with me and two other planters. The camera man falls off at the end (though he was coming to a stop by then). Might also have another vid of the same boss going 150kmh with a van full of planters.

150km/h in a van with planters? That retard probably goes to jail for a while if he crashes.

East · Post by **East** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 11:03 am

Greg M. wrote:
Faucher86 wrote:I'm heading out for my first planting in Early May with HRI, my crew boss is very involved in making sure I'm well prepared for my first year as a tree planter. We will be planting in southern, and northern Ontario, then in Alberta. We will be traveling as a camp to Alberta, so travel cost to Alberta will be paid. I have searched the internet for reviews on the company, and I haven't seen any bad reviews which is a good sign I think. I will certainly post more information after the season is complete.

Cheers,
Alberta? Has HRI been working in AB for a while now? Where abouts do they set up shop?

I may be wrong but I think this will be their first year working in Alberta.

Chocolatej · Post by **Chocolatej** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:37 am

steel8909 wrote:
Chocolatej wrote:I've never planted for them but came across this while browsing their website: http://www.heritageinc.ca/scripts/get_i ... height=450

Does anything jump out?
I worked with them a few years back. It was pretty normal for crewbosses to pile on a few planters onto an quad. I actually have a video of my crewbosse speeding down a logging road on a 1 seat quad with me and two other planters. The camera man falls off at the end (though he was coming to a stop by then). Might also have another vid of the same boss going 150kmh with a van full of planters.

Having planters sit on quads isn't great. But these are thinners on quad trailers with brush-saws with no blade guards or face protection anywhere. What's worse is that this is blatantly being showed on the company website.

Faucher86 · Post by **Faucher86** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:50 am

East wrote:
Greg M. wrote:
Faucher86 wrote:I'm heading out for my first planting in Early May with HRI, my crew boss is very involved in making sure I'm well prepared for my first year as a tree planter. We will be planting in southern, and northern Ontario, then in Alberta. We will be traveling as a camp to Alberta, so travel cost to Alberta will be paid. I have searched the internet for reviews on the company, and I haven't seen any bad reviews which is a good sign I think. I will certainly post more information after the season is complete.

Cheers,
Alberta? Has HRI been working in AB for a while now? Where abouts do they set up shop?
I may be wrong but I think this will be their first year working in Alberta.

That's right it is the first year in Alberta, as I understand from my crew boss. We are traveling there with the camp, it's going to be one hell of a ride. Especially, if we're going to be in a school bus. Will see when the time comes.

steel8909 · Post by **steel8909** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:48 pm

Where will you guys be driving from? When I worked with them we moved from Algonquin area to Sioux Lookout, not fun! Can't imagine going all the way to Alberta lol

Faucher86 · Post by **Faucher86** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:09 am

steel8909 wrote:Where will you guys be driving from? When I worked with them we moved from Algonquin area to Sioux Lookout, not fun! Can't imagine going all the way to Alberta lol

That's the plan! It's going to be something I'll have to write about lol.

rosie15 · Post by **rosie15** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:47 am

I worked for HRI for a couple years, they're a pretty good company.

By the sounds of it you're in Dave's camp if you're heading to Alberta, he's got his shit together and he's a good guy to work under. All the crew bosses for that camp are good too, not sure who yours is but they're all good people and the majority have experience. It's a great company for rookies, you'll have lots of fun on nights off and the cooks have always been amazing.

broke-ho · Post by **broke-ho** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:44 pm

What are they paying you when you get there?

mossie · Post by **mossie** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 1:27 pm

Does anyone have any other experience with these guys? Looks like they've cleaned up their website but it's still pretty sparse. I've got an upcoming interview with them, but most of the info in here is pretty outdated with a wide spread between "they didn't pay me!" from 2009 to "I worked for them for a few years and they were good" in 2013. I'm sure things have changed one way or the other in 4 years, and I'm a rookie so any and all info would be really appreciated! Thanks in advance

Steorra · Post by **Steorra** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:16 pm

Not the top of the tower compared to most Ontario companies, especially price wise. But if you don't have any offers from anywhere else take it and try your hardest push through, then you have experience and have a better chance to get in with a better company next year (first year of planting has always been seen as an investment) or maybe you'll like it and want to stay with your friends and go back again next year. But id suggest you and your friends find a better company that pays better, last year they had a crew of 30 with like 3 vets on it and two left two days in. (ive never worked for them mind you just know a couple people who have, some of them only for two days tho haha).

The Rev · Post by **The Rev** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 10:57 am

Curious to know planting locations and rates of pay ...

Also - do they pay in full every 2 weeks OR the old school "after the contract is over"

EarlGrey · Post by **EarlGrey** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 7:32 pm

Also curious to know people's experiences with Heritage, especially if they pay on time now. Thanks!

mossie · Post by **mossie** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 10:09 am

Thanks for the info Steorra. I ended up getting really lucky and had a well-timed offer from a different company working in BC and AB with a pretty good rep, and took that instead.

The Rev & EarlGrey - One of the major reasons that I didn't go with HRI was that they currently pay at the end of the contract, but are trying to transition to every 2 weeks for this season. I really wasn't willing to bank on "trying to", though if I hadn't had the second offer I probably would have gone for it, especially as a rookie.

The Rev · Post by **The Rev** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:45 pm

By stretching out the pay period you lower $$$ amount of minimum wage top up you are required to pay out...

Think a 2 WEEK pay period VS 2 month pay period

Tupperfan · Post by **Tupperfan** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:22 am

Heard pay was quite the issue this year and a lot of people are upset. Any insider info?

peroxide · Post by **peroxide** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:42 am

Tupperfan wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:22 am Heard pay was quite the issue this year and a lot of people are upset. Any insider info?

I worked for them a few years ago, and pay was an issue then too. I recall one German guy's pay was routed through another planter at the end of the season to bypass labour laws, and he never actually got his money in the end. The owner seems pretty shady, and every year it seems like people are told that they're working on trying to pay people every two weeks.

What we got were poorly handled cash advances, often direct from the supervisor's credit card, or from a foreman in the parking lot. Little drips of $40 here, $60 there. They do manage to pick up booze for everyone on the nights off though.

I wouldn't be surprised if one year HRI just suddenly tanks and people don't get their money at the end of the season.

tiedyechaitea · Post by **tiedyechaitea** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 12:00 pm

Tupperfan wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:22 am Heard pay was quite the issue this year and a lot of people are upset. Any insider info?

Took me two months to get my ON pay and three to get my AB pay.. However I was lucky and got $244 every other week starting about 5 weeks in. Not everyone got this though,and in Alberta the rookies almost had to go on strike to get paid. The ON contract was pretty nice once we got out of OVF, with a lot of us rookies averaging at 3k+ every day in White River. If you can deal with the BS you'll definitely have the potential to make a lot of money, its just a matter of getting the money.

Post by **Scooter** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 12:02 pm

This is risky. We've seen a few cases over the past ten years or so where employers would hold money until the end of the season, but suddenly went bankrupt, and planters weren't paid. Ontario needs to bring in some regulations to address this. Or maybe they already have regulations and the companies just aren't following them.

chez9 · Post by **chez9** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 12:43 pm

Does HRI offer cash advances? If so take the max every week and deposit it at the bank in town on the off day.

tiedyechaitea · Post by **tiedyechaitea** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 1:15 pm

chez9 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2018 12:43 pm Does HRI offer cash advances? If so take the max every week and deposit it at the bank in town on the off day.

They said they did, but it was extremely rare! Often times people would request them week after week and never get them. The only supervisor I'm aware of who consistently gave cash advances paid for them out of his own pocket, I assume he got the money back at the end of the season. Sadly, he's not returning.

They also change the cost of camp to $37.50 if you leave early, even if it's a good reason like a funeral (I believe this happened to me, after a friend passed away. I can't be certain bc a bear fucked up my numbers book and I never got a sheet at the end of AB)

chez9 · Post by **chez9** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:48 pm

Ya that's really screwed up. I cant believe they have AB work treating there employees like they do, usually the standards are a little higher out there. Ontario isnt all bad and there is money to be made but its stuff like this that really gives it a bad name.

philnyedaplanterguy · Thu Dec 06, 2018 11:56 am

I've heard of some good earnings in the Ontario camps, which sound like for the most part have the low quality high production mentality. Unfortunately I spent my first 2 years in the Alberta camp. Really nice area and I have some great memories but unless you're planting for the occasional nice view of mountains, the money just isn't there. Literally was told by the managers that low pay doesn't really matter cause "just plant more trees." Like ok that great if its just creamy trenches but not if its slash filled, overgrown, steep hills. Poor block access meant a decent amount of delays too. Had a really awesome cook though.

As for the pay, ya it was pretty damn late. I don't think it was that hard to get advances though, especially if you contacted the owner directly.

tiedyechaitea · Post by **tiedyechaitea** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 1:08 pm

since most potential rookies aren't part of KKR on facebook, here's a link to check out if you're thinking of planting for HRI:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5890968 ... 484352261/

worst.case.ontario · Post by **worst.case.ontario** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 2:53 pm

Here's more.

https://www.reddit.com/r/treeplanting/c ... jtafx/hri/

https://www.reddit.com/r/treeplanting/c ... restation/

https://www.reddit.com/r/treeplanting/c ... an_or_hri/

Post by **Scooter** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 3:01 pm

I've just locked this topic, before things get too messy, because I've received an excessive number of complaints about this company from former planters and from the parents of former planters.

I will revisit this lockdown in three years. In the meantime, I'm not allowing any job postings from this company.