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  Since our last newsletter I have given a lot of thought, and time and effort, to recent provincial government announcements on climate change and green energy. The climate change agenda certainly has the attention of the public and of the federal government and several provincial governments. In the forest industry, we have quickly gone one step further with BC Hydro's recent call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) related to the use of wood fibre, including standing trees damaged by the pine beetle, for power production. There is no question that government, industry and communities have significant economic challenges brought on by the beetle. Some time ago we began work on wood waste residue policy in collaboration with the MOFR and the Independent Power Producer sector. Our goal is to find an economic solution that works for all parties. The next step in the BC Hydro process is an information session on the EOI process to be held in Prince George on April 3. For more details go to the BC Hydro web site. John Allan |
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 The two day convention will provide panel sessions and events of interest to industry CEOs, Vice Presidents, Marketing and production managers, senior representatives from suppliers and equipment firms, law firms, financial institutions, senior federal, provincial and local government officials, chambers of commerce, Mayors, MLAs and MPs, as well as local, regional and national media. This event will bring together key industry, government, customer and community representatives to identify opportunities, challenges, strategies and successes as we partner in maintaining and enhancing sustainability practices, particularly in the wake of the province's mountain pine beetle epidemic. This convention will undoubtedly be of the caliber that our sponsors, exhibitors and delegates have come to expect. There will be something for everyone; executive panels on key issues, a Report Card on BC's competitiveness, an up to date Market Outlook, new this year -- a Media Panel on Public Perceptions of the Industry, four of the province's Beetle Action Coalitions reporting on the challenges facing communities post beetle, an all encompassing review six months into the Softwood Lumber Agreement 2006 and a sustainability panel. Speakers include Premier Gordon Campbell, Forests & Range Minister Rich Coleman, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn, senior forestry industry spokespersons, economists and analysts, local Government and First Nations leaders, academics practitioners and media. See our website at www.cofi.org for latest information as well as a complete listing of the 59 convention exhibitors and our valued sponsors. Don't miss the Thursday Evening Networking Reception. Join us for an evening of fine food and spirits as we indulge in "A Taste of Mardi Gras". For registration information, see www.cofi.org or contact our Convention Manager, Judy Neiser by phone at (250) 614-4353, fax (250) 564-3588 or e-mail: ac2007@cofi.org. |
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 A delegation of 20 member company representatives and 3 senior staff from the Western Wood Products Association traveled to the Prince George area in late February to view the affects of the mountain pine beetle in central BC.
COFI assisted the group in arranging mill and woods tours. Ray Schultz, Assistant Deputy Minister of Forests and Range, Mountain Pine Beetle Response briefed the group on the extent of the epidemic as well as the objectives and progress of the provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan. COFI Vice President Forestry and Northern Operations, Doug Routledge followed with a briefing on the industry's MPB related activities. The group toured 4 local operations; Dunkley Lumber Ltd., Lakeland Mills Ltd., Canadian Forest Products Ltd. - Rustad, and Winton Global Lumber Ltd. Dunkley Lumber arranged a special viewing of harvesting of beetle "killed" timber in their TFL. WWPA Chair Duane Vaagen of Vaagen Bros. Lumber, Colville, Washington, stated, "We had heard a lot about the beetle outbreak but seeing it in person really underscores the scope of the problem". John Allan, COFI President and CEO presented an overview the issues and challenges faced by the BC industry to the visitors from the western United States. For more information contact Gary Crooks by e-mail at: crooks@cofi.org or by phone at: (250) 860-9663. |
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 The Association of BC Forest Professionals awarded posthumously the Distinguished Forest Professional Award to Peter Affleck at their annual convention on Feb 22nd. This award represents the highest honour that the Association can bestow on a member. It recognizes the recipient for outstanding service to the profession of forestry and for furthering the principles of the Association. It recognizes significant contributions to the betterment of forestry over a substantial period of time or over the duration of the recipient's career.
Anne Affleck attended the ceremony and accepted the award from Bob Craven on Peter's behalf (photo-right). For more information about the Award go to the ABFP website: www.abcfp.ca/about_us/our_awards/award_recipients.asp. |
What many high school students across BC know is that it's now cool to become a tradesperson. They know that there is a high demand for the trades especially in the construction and oil and gas industries, that the money is good and unlike going to college or university, they know they will be able to earn money while they take their apprenticeship. However, what many high school students don't know is that there is and will continue to also be a high demand for trades within the forest industry. This lack of awareness is not surprising since many high school students don't even know what trades are employed in the forest industry. The new two-day Forest Industry Trades Career Awareness Program provides interested high school students the opportunity to correct this, to tour various mills and meet directly with a variety of tradespersons where they actually work. "It's a very powerful learning experience for the students when they can interview tradespeople at the job site", notes Chris. "The students gain an understanding of what the various trades are like, what an apprenticeship would entail and what courses the students should be taking in school. The advice the tradespeople give is invaluable to the students who will be choosing which trade they will pursue." Over 70 interested high school students participated in the first two Forest Industry Trades Career Awareness Programs in School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes) and School District No 60 (Peace River North). A special thank you to participating companies L&M Nechako Lumber, Pope & Talbot, Stuart Lake Lumber, Canfor Northwood Pulp, College of New Caledonia, Canfor Fort St John and Peace Valley OSB. For more information contact COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Manager Chris Lear at (250) 564-5136 or by e-mail at lear@cofi.org. |
This past February, Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Manager was on hand at the College of New Caledonia to present second year forestry student Kenneth Sharp with the $1000.00 Robert Stewart Memorial Scholarship, one of four scholarship/bursaries offered by COFI North Forest Education Program to the College of New Caledonia. Kenneth, who grew up in Prince George and enjoys water polo and mountain biking, will be graduating from the CNC Forest Resource Technology Program this coming April. After graduation, Kenneth hopes to gain experience working at Industrial Forestry Services Ltd. in Prince George. We congratulate Kenneth and wish him well in all his future endeavors. Readers may also be interested to know that for the second year in a row, the College of New Caledonia's Forest Resource Technology Program is bucking the national trend and is seeing an increase in qualified first year applicants. With increased enrollment in forestry programs the prime objective of the Career Awareness component of COFI's Forest Education program, it is extremely rewarding to see this new trend emerging. For more information contact COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Manager Chris Lear at (250) 564-5136 or by e-mail at lear@cofi.org. |
|  The third annual Wood WORKS! Excellence in Wood Design Awards Gala was all it was anticipated to be and more. Mary Tracey, Executive Director for BC Wood WORKS!, said the projects that were nominated for the eight categories continue to raise the bar in wood design and building excellence. "There were some outstanding projects entered this year, but although only a few won, every single project is a winner," Tracey noted. "Each and every one of the projects nominated help build awareness of the benefits of building with wood. The use of wood helps to build a wood culture. Each of the projects nominated is leading by example." Project categories included Interior Beauty of Wood, Residential Wood Design, Multi-Unit Residential, Green Building, Natural Cedar, Commercial Wood Design, Institutional Wood Design and Technical Innovation Award. Tracey said that the Natural Cedar and Technical Innovation awards were new categories this year. John Allan, President and CEO, COFI, presented the COFI sponsored Industry Leader Award to Jim Engelson, formerly with Canfor. Awards were also presented for Engineer of the Year, Architect of the Year and Wood Champion. "All of the awards are sponsored companies or associations," Tracey noted. "Without their support, the event would not be able to take place. Forest Innovation Investment was the Event Sponsor. Gold sponsors were Council of Forest Industries, Canfor, Tembec, Weyerhaeuser, Gorman Bros. Lumber, Interfor, Mill & Timber, Structurlam, Western Forest Products, Coast Forest Products Association, West Fraser and Dunkley Lumber. The Awards Gala was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, with a full house of 250 in attendance. The evening's keynote speaker was Rich Coleman, Minister of Forests, and representatives from wood product manufactures, forestry associations mingled with designers and builders at the pre-event reception. Paul Perkins, Chair of the Wood WORKS! provincial steering committee said that this year's jury was particularly impressed with projects that used wood in innovative, yet economical ways. "The jury took into account the ease of the wood use in various applications," Perkins said. "Each decision involved lengthy consideration on the part of the jury. Not only did they want to see wood used in a beautiful application, they took into account whether or not the way the wood was used could be easily replicated." For more information, visit their website at www.cwc.ca |
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