West Fraser Elects New Board Member

VANCOUVER, May 3 /CNW/ - West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is pleased to
announce that Robert L. Phillips has been elected to the Company's Board of
Directors.
Mr. Phillips, who resides in Vancouver, B.C., is currently a director of
several corporations, including Canadian Western Bank, EPCOR Utilities Inc.,
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. and Precision Drilling Corporation.
He is also a member of the Endowment Policy Committee of the Ministry of
Revenue (Alberta) and a member of the Business Advisory Council of the
University of Alberta School of Business.
Prior to July 2004, Mr. Phillips served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of the BCR Group of Companies, which was involved in rail
transportation and marine terminal operations. Previously, he held the
positions of Executive Vice President, Business Development and Strategy at
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd., and President and Chief Executive Officer at the PTI
Group and Dreco Energy Services Ltd. In addition to his extensive corporate
work, Mr. Phillips has enjoyed a prestigious legal career and was appointed
Queen's Counsel in Alberta in 1991. He holds degrees in chemical engineering,
business and law from the University of Alberta.
"We are pleased that Mr. Phillips has joined West Fraser's Board of
Directors," said Hank Ketcham, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer. "He brings to West Fraser an extensive level of business experience
and related industry expertise, which will be of significant benefit to our
business."
Mr. Phillips replaces Larry S. Hughes, who has served as a Director of
the Company since 2002. Mr. Hughes has practised law for more than 25 years
and is currently a Partner at Lang Michener LLP in Vancouver, B.C. He will
continue to serve as the Company's Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel.

West Fraser is an integrated forest products company producing lumber,
wood chips, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, linerboard, kraft paper and newsprint.
The Company has operations in British Columbia, Alberta and the southern
United States. West Fraser has approximately 7,300 employees and is
headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

  West Fraser shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
                             symbol: WFT

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