For half a century, Pioneer Log Homes of B.C., based in Williams Lake, has been crafting stunning log homes, a testament to founder Bryan Reid Sr.’s enduring passion and vision. From humble beginnings, fueled by a childhood fascination with log cabins and a determination to provide for his family, Reid has built a legacy that spans generations and reaches across the globe. Looking back on 50 years, Reid reflects on a journey filled with hard work, dedicated people, and a profound sense of satisfaction.
Bryan Reid Sr., founder of Pioneer Log Homes of B.C., smiling beside the Cedar Rocket log car. This image captures his pride in innovation and craftsmanship.
“I did not regret one day, not one minute, not one second,” Reid stated, sitting in the living room of his Lac La Hache home, a house originally intended as a showcase for Pioneer’s craftsmanship. His words resonate with a deep appreciation for the people who contributed to his success: “I worked with the most wonderful people on earth – our employees and our clients.”
Reid’s affinity for log homes began in childhood. When his family relocated to Williams Lake in his Grade 5 year, his stepfather, Albert “Bert” Chevigny, a trapper working with the game department, deeply influenced him. Chevigny trapped throughout the valley from Williams Lake to Lac La Hache, managing nuisance beavers. These trapping expeditions often involved long treks through snowy landscapes, overnight stays in basic log cabins heated by wood stoves in temperatures plummeting to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. These experiences instilled in Reid a profound respect for the rudimentary yet life-saving shelter of log cabins and a deep admiration for his stepfather’s way of life. “It was truly a lifestyle,” he recalled, emphasizing the respect he held for Chevigny, whom he described as “a good father.”
Early marriage and the responsibility of raising four children – Penny, Bryan Jr., Heather, and Sarah – motivated Reid to establish a stable future for his family. His ambition led him to the idea of building a log home in Commodore Heights, on the outskirts of Williams Lake. Seeking expertise, Reid approached Sampson Jack of Riske Creek (Tl’esqox First Nation), known for building log homes for his community using local resources. Jack agreed to mentor Reid, and together they embarked on building Reid’s family home.
Using local pine harvested with his friend Hans Ploessl, Reid and Jack constructed a 32-foot by 32-foot (1,024 square feet) home. This size was crucial as it met the 1,000 square feet minimum requirement for obtaining a bank loan in 1973. The construction of this home sparked local interest. “People would come and look because no one had built a log home in years,” Reid remembered. Simultaneously, Jack was also building another log home on South Lakeside at Renner Road, further contributing to the revival of log home construction in the area.
A turning point arrived when a client from the coast, seeking a retirement home in Chimney Valley, commissioned Reid to build a log home. At the time, Reid was employed as a parts manager for Datsun. He dedicated his nights and weekends to the project. “It was hard, but I had a family and I wanted to get ahead in the world,” he explained. For five to six years, Reid juggled his job with log home projects, gradually expanding his team. His brothers André and David Chevigny joined him, and even his son Bryan Jr. started helping from the young age of 7 or 8, marking the beginning of a family legacy in log building.
Today, David operates Pioneer Logging, and André owns an aggregate company, both stemming from their early involvement with Pioneer Log Homes. Keith Reid, his older brother, owned a cabinet business in Kamloops and supplied cabinets to Pioneer homes for approximately 40 years, further highlighting the family-oriented nature of the business.
In 1981, Reid Sr. partnered with Chuck Moore to establish Chuck’s Auto Supply Ltd. However, Reid’s passion for log building remained his primary focus. By 1986, he faced a crucial decision. “I had to make a decision and follow my dream of log building,” Reid said. He sold his share of Chuck’s Auto Supply and invested $250,000 into his log home venture. Teaming up with Jim Redekopp, they acquired the Pioneer Ranch on Horsefly Road as a base of operations and adopted the ranch’s name, officially establishing Pioneer Log Homes.
Pioneer Log Homes’ reach extended beyond Canada early on. In 1983, they built their first home for a client in Eugene, Oregon, USA. However, the early days of international trade presented significant challenges. “At that time there was no free trade between Canada and the U.S. and duty was 25 per cent. Whatever the house cost, when you got to the border you had to pay a quarter of it in tax,” Reid explained. He credits the North American Free Trade Agreement, developed by former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, as pivotal to Pioneer’s growth. “I think that was one of the great steps in the development of North America, still to this day.”
Today, Pioneer Log Homes operates from four locations. One site at 153 Mile is managed by his grandson, also named Bryan Reid. “Now he’s got a son and guess what his name is? Bryan Reid. That is an honour, that is an honour,” the founder proudly stated, emphasizing the continuation of the family legacy into a fourth generation. The other sites are located in 100 Mile House, Xatsull First Nation, and Williams Lake First Nation, showcasing their commitment to local partnerships.
In 2017, Reid Sr. passed the torch, selling the business to his son, Bryan Reid Jr. “I thought it was better not to wait until I was 90 and he was 70. He is in his prime. It was time,” he explained, ensuring a smooth transition and continued family leadership.
Pioneer Log Homes gained international fame in 2014 with the debut of “Timber Kings,” a TV series on HGTV. The show documented the intricate process of hand-crafting log homes in the Cariboo region, disassembling them, and shipping them worldwide for reconstruction. Reid himself travelled to oversee these international projects. “I’d have cranes, trucks, people, food and materials to do our job professionally. I might be in Germany on Friday putting up a house and in Alaska the following Thursday,” he recounted, illustrating the global scale of their operations. The cedar logs used in these homes are sourced from Haida Gwaii and near Bella Bella, barged down, dewatered, and then transported by truck to Williams Lake.
In his retirement, Reid is developing a showroom in his home’s lower level, a personal museum celebrating Pioneer Log Homes’ history and his life story. The showroom features brochures, vintage tools, photographs, and books that inspired his building techniques. One wall is dedicated to U.S. presidents, displaying photographs and signatures, reflecting his appreciation for North America’s business environment. “I feel so strongly that North America is such a wonderful place for business, for people to grow up and try and get ahead in the world. We don’t have the restrictions like other places in the world. We are truly blessed.”
Another prominent exhibit is the Cedar Rocket, the record-breaking log car created with his long-time friend Gerald Overton. Powered by two Buffalo turbines from Pioneer customers in Buffalo, New York, the Cedar Rocket achieved a Guinness World Record as the fastest motorized log car on January 20, 2015, at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Arizona. The Cedar Rocket was auctioned for $350,000 US, with proceeds benefiting veterans groups in the U.S. and Canada, including the Williams Lake legion.
Reid’s contributions have earned him significant recognition. The American flag was flown over a special operations task force headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, in his honor on July 10, 2016, acknowledging his support for American and Canadian service members. He also served on the board of directors for the Congressional Medal of Honour Museum Society. His showroom includes a cedar table signed by figures like George Bush Sr., General Norman Schwartzkopf, and Chuck Yeager, symbols of his extensive network and community engagement.
Looking to the future, Reid mentioned a book, co-authored with Kimberly Tent, a retired RCMP officer from Williams Lake, set to be published this year. “It’s about how you can get ahead,” he shared. “There’s always the opportunity. All you have to do is take your brain to work. When you use your brain and exercise it, you get ahead.” Bryan Reid Sr.’s 50-year journey with Pioneer Log Homes Williams Lake BC is a powerful example of this philosophy, a testament to vision, hard work, and the enduring appeal of handcrafted log homes.
