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A successful life built in the Lakes District

Tahtsa Group owners share why they chose to build their life in Burns Lake
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The Tahtsa Group owners were recently honoured with the lifetime achievement award

Meet Klaus and Angelika Posselt, owners of the Tahtsa Group.

Although the Lakes District area has been their home for the past few decades, they both immigrated from Germany.

Klaus moved to Canada when he was 11 years old - in 1970 -, and Angelika came later, at the age of 22 - in 1981.

But their story begins even before they were born, since their mothers became close friends at the age of 17.

“We’ve always known each other,” described Angelika. “Our families have always been friends.”

When their very first company - Klaus Posselt Logging - was created in 1981, Klaus and Angelika had no idea how far their business ventures would take them.

“We started with a logging truck,” said Angelica. “And that was it.”

“It was never really my intent [to have a business for a long time],” said Klaus. “I thought I would do that for five years and go back to school… but then school never happened.”

The logging business began as a way to support Klaus’ family ranch, which was located in the Southside area at the time. Klaus said those days didn’t come without difficulties.

“We were trying to support the farm,” said Klaus. “It was extremely tight for money and we lived on nothing.”

The Tahtsa Group today includes five different companies - located in Burns Lake, Houston, Clearwater and Vancouver Island - and employs approximately 130 people.

In 1990, the couple moved to the Burns Lake area and have remained here ever since. When asked why they chose to live here, Klaus and Angelika had a simple but genuine answer.

"This is home."

Klaus added that they saw plenty of opportunity in this area.

“Somehow we thought we could make a difference in this community more than anywhere else in the world,” said Klaus.

“There are lots of beautiful places in the world, but we decided that this area would suit us the best,” he added. “The longer you are in a certain area, the more likely you are to see opportunities there.”

The couple said volunteering has made their time in Burns Lake much more meaningful. The overachieving couple somehow found time to volunteer in a number of organizations, including the Burns Lake Civil Air Search and Rescue, Burns Lake Rotary Club, Lakes District Airport Society, Lakes District Healthcare Advisory Committee, Burns Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, the Burns Lake Public Library, Land Resource Management Group and the Rural Post-Secondary Education Committee.

“If you don’t do that [volunteer], you’ll have nothing here,” said Klaus.

The couple was recently honoured with the lifetime achievement award, which is part of the Burns Lake business excellence awards.

“We felt very touched and honoured that they recognized and appreciated us.”