About Us
North America’s premier distributor and importer of high-quality hardwood lumber, specialty softwoods and decorative panels. Our group of companies have served the architectural millwork industry for over 30 years through our U.S. and Canadian distribution facilities. We seek to help our customers build their businesses by providing innovative solutions and unparalleled service. UCS does business as Sierra Forest Products in the U.S., Upper Canada Forest Products and A&M Wood Specialty in Canada, and UCS Global internationally.
What you need. When you need it. By people that know and care. We call it – Delivering the Difference.
THE FOUNDATION
On May 26th, 1986, Warren Spitz founded the first division of Upper Canada Forest Products. Starting his own company at 28 years old, Warren had two initial objectives:
- Bring an unprecedented level of professionalism and care to our industry
- Create an organization where people feel they belong
At the time, UCFP was one truck, a 10,000 square foot warehouse, and a three-person team committed to going the extra-mile to meet our customers' needs.
OUR ROOTS
In 1988, Warren Spitz founded Sierra Forest Products. Starting his own company at 30 years old, Warren had two initial objectives:
- Bring an unprecedented level of professionalism and care to our industry
- Create an organization where people feel they belong
A small team, we were committed to going the extra-mile to meet our customers' needs.
SALT LAKE CITY DIVISION OPENS
In 1990, we opened in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A hive of activity and customer-centred care, the reach of the Salt Lake City division grew to support locations in St. George, Utah and Idaho Falls, Idaho.
We've outgrown three buildings in 22 years!
BC DIVISION OPENS
In 1995, we opened locations in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia. Starting with our expert offerings in lumber, BC quickly expanded to offer panel products to our customers.
In 2005, we moved to our current location at 5768 Trapp Avenue in Burnaby, renovating the building to showcase new product offerings. Read more about the Vancouver Office case study.
10 YEARS!
With a growing team and business, we broke ground on a new head office in Toronto. Within a year, we moved in to 7088 Financial Drive, Mississauga — a 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art warehouse.
INTO THE WINDY CITY!
The 21st century brought winds of change and blew us all the way into Illinois as we opened up in Chicago in 2001.
Opening with 15,000 square foot in Sugar Grove, today we fill a 150,00 square foot warehouse in West Chicago.
CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFIED
We earned our FSC® Chain of Custody Certification in 2003. Since then, our supplier base has grown to include over 140 FSC Certified suppliers.
In order for a product to carry the FSC label, every step in the supply chain between the forest and the final product must be FSC Chain of Custody certified.
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
With a rock solid New York-based sales team, we have been serving our customers in New York State since 2005 out of our Canadian operation in Toronto, Ontario, Upper Canada Forest Products.
OPEN IN PACIFIC NORTH WEST
Spring 2007, we were open for business in Seattle under the leadership of Bryan Hoyt.
We quickly grew into Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington in 2008.
Like a salmon heading home, we leapt from 37,000 square feet to three building totalling 150,000 square feet.
A CAMBRIDGE INSTITUTION
In 1973, faced with the continual problem of sourcing fine hardwood and veneer, custom furniture maker Andrew Poynter began A&M Wood Specialty Inc.
In 2007, after 34 years in business, A&M Wood Specialty Inc., was now part of the UCS Forest Group.
NO MILE HIGH ENOUGH
Denver business opened in 2009 as a satelite to our Salt Lake City Division. Denver is now a stand alone business with double the business, keeping the mile high city stocked with what they need, when they need it, by people that know and care.
ATLAS LUMBER JOINS SIERRA
Founded in 1944 by the Porter Family, Atlas Lumber served the Chino community in California, offering product variety, customer service and positively contributing to the community.
In 2014, Atlas joined Sierra Forest Products, welcoming Randy Porter and the Altas team to the Sierra family — and bringing sunshine and warmth to our locations.
30 YEARS OLD AND AN ISLAND OPENING
A milestone anniversary: 30 years in business! It is was a joyful year honouring the professionalism, integrity, commitment and innovation of the entire UCFP team.
2016 also marked the opening of our Victoria location on Vancouver Island in BC!
BEST MANAGED COMPANY
Upper Canada Forest Products was named a winner of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program. We have been designated a Best Managed Company by the program for six consecutive years, earning Gold Status in 2020.
Canada's Best Managed Companies is one of the country's leading business awards programs recognizing Canadian owned and managed companies for innovative, world-class business practices.
We are proud to be amongst the other winners, who collectively make up an important engine of economic growth.
HIGH MOUNTAIN JOINS SIERRA
Moving into the Gem State, we purchased the ongoing business of High Mountain Forest Products of Idaho LLC.
Located in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, we welcomed Dan Simon, co-founder of High Mountain Forest Products of Idaho, and the company he started in 2008 into Sierra Forest Products.
PIONEER JOINS UCFP
We acquired Pioneer Distributors Ltd., based in Richmond, BC, welcoming George Klukas and the Pioneer Distributors Team to Upper Canada Forest Products.
Pioneer has been providing quality materials and practical solutions to the cabinet, furniture, and millwork manufacturers of Western Canada for over 30 years.
WEBER PLYWOOD JOINS SIERRA
Founded in 1958 by Don Weber, Weber Plywood has a 60-year legacy of serving the Southern California market, providing customers with the best in products and service.
In the Fall of 2022, Weber joined Sierra Forest Products, welcoming a new group of valued team members into our family of companies.
35 YEARS STRONG
May 2021 - 2022 marked our 35th year of Delivering the Difference to our customers, vendors and communities.
During the turbulent times of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we grounded ourselves in our roots: what you need, when you need, by people that know and care. We centred ourselves in care for our customers, our teams, our families and our communities.
As our 35th year drew to a close, we rooted in our values to look forward toward the pressing needs of the time ahead, including climate change, supply chain challenges and the importance of leading our industry to be the best we can be, today and tomorrow.