Andre's and Bryan's brotherly relationship is only part of the family connections enjoyed by Pioneer Log Homes. Brother Keith Reid,  cabinet builder and owner of MasterCraft Windows and Doors, provides quality doors and windows for Pioneer Log Homes; Keith's company also buys its raw materials from our Williams Lake area mills, which further bolsters our local economy.

Brother David Chevigny owns and operates Pioneer Logging, which supplies high-end house logs to Pioneer Log Homes. Brother Bruce Reid also has a major construction company in our area, concentrating on heavy-duty equipment and heavy-duty road building. Brother Ken Reid is a commercial fisherman on Vancouver Island. Sister Debra Reid also lives on the island and is the proud proprietor of Whipple Tree Furniture, who markets high-end antiques and custom leather pieces.

"Deb is the most talented one of the bunch," says Andre as he discusses his splendid siblings.

Pioneer Log Homes is about the intrinsic value of families and the value found in workers and the value of having trusted several long-term employees. Joel Roorda came to work for the company while a grade 10 student. Ten years later, he's still a values employee who's raising a family and plans to build his own log home under the auspices or Pioneer Log Homes.

Swiss master carpenter Peter Arnold and Beat Schwaller arrived at Pioneer Log Homes 10 years ago via the Swiss-Canadian Exchange Program. The loved the work so much, both decided to stay in the Cariboo and start their families-living-in self built log homes, of course!

Pioneer Log Homes keeps its money generating more money in the region by focusing on the use of local suppliers and contractors. Riverside Forest Products and West Fraser Timber are two of their major suppliers of milled products. Linde Brothers Lumber and Chimney Creek Lumber also supply fine, locally produced wood products. Local companies Revelstoke Home Center, Windsor Plywood and Home Hardware also support much of the need materials. Chuck's Auto Parts, Mobile Arc Welding and Rainbow Machining are significant contributors of parts and expertise.

As these 60 to 70 loads of finished logs head south of the border to be assembled into an awe-inspiring log home, any spare room in the load is being topped up with locally produced or purchased materials. How's that for a real value-added attitude? Speaking of value-added, building a home with logs as apposed to cutting them into boards increases the value of those logs by 20 times.

Most of this added value is in the family-supporting wages paid to workers who peel and carefully fit the logs. In case of the huge house in question: This $5-million log package, including assistance with the roof will have provided 58 man/years of employment in our region. "Over the years, we've encountered our share of both personal and business problems," Andre said, "but at the end of the day, you know your brother will back you. There's nothing like it in the world!"

Perhaps it's inborn nature of Andre, Bryan, and the rest of the Reid-Chevigny family and their staff to be supportive. Perhaps some of the problems they faced and overcame showed them how to address the needs of others. Pioneer Log Homes has been fundraising and has amassed more than $150,000 dollars in charitable donation since 1996.

There could be many reasons this company displays such warm family and good community-supporting values. However, choose to believe that Anna, the caring mother who trooped her kids to mass every Sunday morning so many years ago had a lot to do with it.