Steve Hounsell is stepping down as President and Chair of Forests Ontario, though will remain on the Board of the not-for-profit organization. Concurrently, Malcolm Cockwell of Haliburton, Ontario has been selected by the Board of Directors as the new President, effective immediately.

New President Mr. Cockwell is the Managing Director of Haliburton Forest, a multi-use private land stewardship company responsible for more than 100,000 acres in central Ontario. Mr. Cockwell oversees a diverse suite of land-based operations, including an integrated Forest Products division, and the Tourism & Recreation division. He is also a Registered Professional Forester and is the Haliburton Forest's representative at the Ontario Forest Industries Association. Mr. Cockwell also serves as the Chairman of Acadian Timber Corp.

Current Board member Christine Leduc from Timmins, Ontario will become Vice President of the Board of Forests Ontario. Ms. Leduc, Forests Ontario's newly appointed Vice President, is a Woodlands Operations Supervisor at EACOM's Timmins sawmill. She has held policy positions in the office of the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and at the Ontario Forest Industries Association.

Forests Ontario is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to re-greening the province through the support of tree planting, forest restoration, stewardship, education and awareness.