Seasons Greetings from BC Wood!

From everyone at BC Wood, happy holidays! Thank you for a busy and successful 2023. Put your feet up and have a well-deserved rest this season. We’ll see you again in the new year!

Save the Date for the 2024 Global Buyers Mission!

Randi Walker | rwalker@bcwood.com

With many of you planning your market development strategies for the next calendar year, we thought it would be helpful for you to know the 2024 GBM is scheduled for September 5^th to 7^th, in beautiful Whistler, BC.

A few comments from our 2023 Exhibitors:

“The GBM is a phenomenal event, allowing for good prospect conversation, current customer meetings, as well as meeting up industry peers …. all in a pristine, natural, environment.”

“We are big supporters of the GBM and will continue to invest time and energy in this show. In terms of time and cost, it is the best use of our marketing budget.”

"The GBM was well organized, right down to the smallest of details. The location and the venues were fantastic and overall, it was such a wonderful opportunity to meet some new folks and even more-so to re-connect with the familiar faces in our industry.”

Mark your calendars and include us in your budgets for 2024! See you all in Whistler.

Selling Value vs. Price Workshop

Rumin Mann | rmann@bcwood.com

Date: January 16 & 23, 2023

Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Price: $125+GST (includes 2 people per company)

Where: Virtual (Zoom)

Today, growing sales can be a challenging task for many.

• Are your selling strategies working against you?
• Are you sure you are working with your clients & prospects in the way they wish to be treated & appreciated?
• Do you want to have a positive impact on your sales bottom line?
• Are you making presentations to people who can’t or won’t make decisions?

If you want to be part of a 4 hour (broken down into 2 – 2-hour sessions) interactive workshop designed to help you identify the reasons and the psychology behind why people make decisions and at the same time, learn an active and inquisitive conversation style of questioning to help you increase your sales, then this workshop is for you.

The program will be led by Randy Hnatko, President and CEO of Trainwest Online Academy. Please contact Rumin at rmann@bcwood.com for more information and to express interest.

To register, click the button below!

Join BC's expanding Wood Innovation Network: TWIG's Regional Groups Launch in Vancouver, Victoria, and Squamish

TWIG BC | info@twigbc.ca

TWIG is thrilled to announce a trio of upcoming regional events in Vancouver, Squamish, and Victoria! This past month, we celebrated the launch of the Sea-2-Sky network in Squamish, led by Lenny Rubenovich of Rubenovich Furnishings. This addition complements our growing network, which also includes the Vancouver Island Wood Network on the South Island, led by Marc deMontigy of Toolpath Design, and the Vancouver network established in 2012. 

These gatherings provide a unique space for individuals to expand their networks, forge valuable connections, and embark on future projects. More than just professional networking, TWIG events offer a community of like-minded individuals, all driven by a shared passion for wood and a commitment to community growth.

Our diverse events attract a broad spectrum of participants, including woodworkers, designers, consultants, engineers, suppliers, builders, and government professionals. The informal atmosphere and selected venues create the perfect setting for rich conversations, sharing knowledge, and staying informed about activities and events within BC's value-added wood industry.

If you haven't yet experienced the camaraderie at TWIG events, now's your chance! Join us on January 10th from 6-8 PM at the locations listed on our website: TWIG Events Page. Keep an eye on the website for event details, which will be posted shortly. Add these dates to your calendar, and let your participation contribute to the growth of our BC-wide innovation network. Each local network has its own WhatsApp group, allowing you to stay in touch with fellow guests and receive direct updates about future events.

Looking forward to seeing you there and celebrating the future of our industry together! If you're interested in starting a regional network where you live, please reach out to us at info@twigbc.ca. We'd love to support you in developing one and include you in our organizers' group to share best practices for successful events.

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) Workshop: February 8 - 10, 2024

Jason Chiu | jason.chiu@ubc.ca

Update!! 18.5 AIBC LU’s have been approved.

Due to popular demand, The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing is pleased to announce the 2024 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) workshop scheduled for February 2024. DfMA is a design approach that focuses on ease manufacture and efficiency of assembly. In North America, due to the fragmented nature of construction whereby the designers, engineers, manufacturer, and contractors all work independently, the bridging of the knowledge gap will help improve the success rate of projects. DfMA will improve projects by reducing time, waste, cost and labour, while increasing quality and efficiency.

This 3-day hands-on workshop will be a lecture/design/build format. It will be led by UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) and UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) faculty and staff. The expertise from industry leaders in design, engineering, fabrication, and installation will also be called upon to discuss lessons learned in mass timber construction. Participants will be guided through the process of designing mass-timber projects with the consideration of manufacturing technologies.

For more information, please visit our website or contact us by email at jason.chiu@ubc.ca

UBC CAWP Open House & Industry Night - November 23, 2023

Jason Chiu | jason.chiu@ubc.ca

The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing will be hosting the CAWP Open House and Industry night on November 23, 2023. This is an opportunity to learn more about education, training, research and industry assistance programs that are offered. The event will feature presentation from the bio-products, wood composites, timber engineering team, Wood Products students and industry alumni. In addition to the presentations, the CAWP will be conducting demonstrations of their state-of-the-art equipment including the Kuka Robot Cell, Hundegger Robot Drive, Homag 5-axis CNC, and VR Spray Simulator. Industry is encouraged to attend this event to network with our researchers and Wood Products students.

For more information, please visit: UBC CAWP Open House

Industrial Wood Finishing Certificate Program

Jason Chiu | jason.chiu@ubc.ca

Limited number of seats still available!

January 8^th to April 12^th, 2024

(5-day practical session April 8^th to April 12^th, 2024)

The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) is please to announce the schedule for the 2024 Industrial Wood Finishing Certificate Program. This part-time online training program with a one-week hands-on practical session is North America’s most comprehensive wood finishing certificate program. 

The certificate program provides participants with a broad understanding of the field of wood finishing. Its designed for individuals who have some general experience in wood finishing and would like to expand their knowledge.  

Once completed, learners will have knowledge and experience to do the following:

• Understand why finish is applied to wood and how wood properties affect finishing
• To be able to identify the best finishing system based on the end use
• Trouble-shoot wood finishing problems
• Design a safe and efficient finishing facility

This course will provide you with the knowledge and tools to start a finishing business or to improve an existing one.

For more information please visit: UBC Certificate Program in Industrial Wood Finishing | Centre for Advanced Wood Processing

WMC Management Skills Training Course - 2024 Schedule

Jason Chiu | jason.chiu@ubc.ca

The Centre for Advanced Wood Processing is pleased to announce the course schedule for 2024. The first two courses; Quality Management and Control, and Sales and Marketing start on January 15, 2024.

These wood products industry specific courses are designed for owners, manager, supervisors or management tracked employees. These are not academic courses and the skills learned can be applied immediately to the work place. Each part time course is led by a tutor with extensive industry experience. 

For more information on the courses, please click on the following link: Management Skill Training or call Jason Chiu at 604 822-0082.

BC Wood Applauds BC Government’s Provincial Restriction of Raw Lumber Export

Brian Hawrysh | bhawrysh@bcwood.com

Langley – The BC Wood Specialties Group was pleased with the announcement regarding BC Government’s amendments to the Manufactured Forest Products Regulations, implementing further restrictions on raw lumber exports throughout British Columbia. John Gillis, Chair of the BC Wood Board of Directors says, “This expanded regulation will create more opportunities for manufacturing a diverse range of higher value-wood products, creating more good paying jobs for British Columbians across the province”.

Brian Hawrysh, BC Wood’s CEO, is an active member on BC’s Value-Added Wood Coalition. “I applaud the BC Government for working with a number of industry groups, including BC Wood, as well as forest industry representatives from across the province to increase the supply of raw materials to BC’s value-added wood products sector. The Government has worked with us to find the solutions needed to add more value at home by restricting the export of logs and minimally processed lumber”. Hawrysh says that “Our plan is to continue to work closely with the government on rolling out and implementing the new regulations, to the betterment of the entire value-chain in the province”.

Previously, the Manufactured Forest Products Regulations only restricted the export of raw Western Red Cedar and Cypress lumber from the coastal region. Like log exports, raw lumber exports are restricted through the payment of a fee-in-lieu. When raw lumber is further processed in BC, the tax, (replicating the softwood lumber duty) is reduced to zero depending upon the level of value improvement during manufacturing. As of February 1, 2024, the Manufactured Forest Products Regulations will apply throughout the province, providing incentives for the forest industry to further manufacture raw lumber into higher value-added wood products such as doors, moldings, engineered panels, siding and furniture. More about the provincial regulatory changes can be found at https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023FOR0067-001843.

Minister Ralston and First Nations Delegation Visits Mihashi with BC Wood

Jim Ivanoff | ivanoff@bcwood.jp

From December 11^th to 14^th, British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, the honourable Bruce Ralston, led a large delegation of industry and First Nations leaders for the annual Canadian forestry mission to Japan. This year’s mission focused on the Greater Tokyo area and included site visits to see large-wood buildings as well as many meetings and events to engage with Japanese customers. One of this year’s highlights was a visit to the Mihashi showroom in central Tokyo that now displays high-value finishing products from Vancouver Island.

For over two years Japan restricted entry during to the pandemic. In order to continue serving the needs of members, BC Wood quickly developed a variety of virtual programs. One company that took part in that was Timber Tile, a manufacturer of sustainable, high quality hemlock interior wall finishing products. Through the program, BC Wood was able to secure a stocking dealership agreement for Timber Tile with Mihashi, which is Japan’s largest moulding supplier. Mihashi is well known for providing finishing materials for commercial projects, including the recently completed Azabudai Hills complex which features Japan’s tallest building. — continue reading.

Announcing Launch of the Value-Added Wood "Direct to Work" Pilot Program 

workforce@bcvalueaddedwood.com

Are you in the value-added wood industry and looking to hire? 

BC Wood is excited to announce the launch of the Direct to Work Program in 2024 as part of the Value-Added Wood Workforce Development Initiative. This four-week no-cost training course equips participants with the required knowledge and essential skills to start work in the value-added wood industry. Training, open to anyone looking to pursue a career in the value-added wood industry, includes hands-on technical training, site visits, and industry insights.

Get Involved:



BC Wood is looking for volunteers to host site-visits or present as a guest speaker as part of the Direct to Work program. This opportunity is great exposure for your company as it connects you first-hand to potential new hires who will already be equipped with the skillset required to work in the value-added wood industry. Get involved the following ways:

Be a Guest Speaker: Share your expertise on the industry and inspire future value-added wood professionals while contributing to the growth of the sector.

Host Site Visits: Showcase your sites operations and connect with potential new hires already trained for the industry.

Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your company's presence and contribute to industry growth! Please email workforce@bcvalueaddedwood.com to learn more and get involved shaping new industry candidates.

Visit with HyunSung Timber

JC Lee | JClee@bcwood.com

HyunSung was established in 1995 and has gained a good reputation as a reliable importer of many kinds of lumber, cedar, plywood, OSB, stairs, interior wall paneling, exterior materials, windows, door, jarrah furniture, garden furniture, garden products, etc., They import from Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia.

Hyunsung Timber’s CEO Mr. Sung stated that "I believe that BC Wood's many market promotional activities have greatly influenced the development of Korea's sustainable wood industry. In particular, BC Wood's Global Buyers Mission has provided many Korean wood users with an opportunity to learn more about timber and wood products. The Extended Mission, which allows them to tour sawmills and wood products, was an invaluable experience, and GBM in Whistler was a great opportunity to meet and deepen our relationships with our Canadian suppliers, learn about new products, and also to meet wood people from over 25 countries around the world — continue reading.

Japan Home and Building Show 2023

Jim Ivanoff | ivanoff@bcwood.jp

From November 15^th to 17^th, BC Wood was back at Tokyo’s Big Sight to exhibit at this year’s Japan Home & Building Show. This has traditionally been our largest event in the market with many members making the trip over to take part. We had a total of 8 members take part directly on the show floor.

This edition marked the first truly “normal” Japan Home & Building Show since before COVID. Japan only fully reopened its borders in May and you could feel it on the show floor as the international flavour was back, especially with large numbers of Chinese and Korean visitors. The same phenomenon could be seen with the exhibitors. Up until this year, the BC Wood organized Canadian was basically the only foreign presence at the show. This time, however, there were exhibitors from all over Asia as well as Europe. Last year, even Japanese companies were shy about exhibiting with COVID fears lingering. With those fears gone, all of the space was sold out and you could feel the show’s traditional energy was back — continue reading.

Participate with BC Wood at the

Western Retail Lumber Association (WRLA) Showcase

Ken Hori | khori@bcwood.com

Join WRLA Showcase at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, January 17-19, for three action-packed, impactful days filled with hundreds of networking and business opportunities presented by Canada’s top building manufacturers, distributors and service providers -> That’s YOU!

This show is your best opportunity to:

• connect with lumber retailers and dealers; 
• hear from your current clients;
• connect with prospects; and
• learn from the experts in our industry!

Participate with BC Wood and save yourself the trouble of organizing and coordinating - PLUS save over $500! 

As a BC Wood member, your rate to participate within the BC Wood Pavilion at the WRLA Showcase 2024 is $1900. This rate includes:

• 10x10 Floor Space
• Black carpet
• 8’H black wall drape, 3’H side wall drape
• 6’ skirted table, 1 chair
• Company & products listing in show guidebook
• Online exhibitor portal
• Exhibitor passes for booth personnel to walk the show floor
• BC Wood coordination

To reserve your space, click on the button below or 

https://bcwood.com/wrla-2024-registration/

For more information, contact Ken Hori at khori@bcwood.com

Participate with BC Wood at Buildex Vancouver

Ken Hori | khori@bcwood.com

BUILDEX Vancouver is Western Canada’s largest business-to-business event connecting the holistic building industry. Architecture, engineering, construction, design, property management and homebuilding & renovation professionals attend to find new suppliers, access continuing education, and generate new business.

Known for its high-quality attendees, there is no better opportunity to meet thousands of Construction, Property Management, Architecture, Engineering, Design, and Homebuilder professionals in Vancouver. Exhibiting at BUILDEX is a highly effective way to reach design, building and construction industry decision-makers in just two short days.

Participate with BC Wood and save not just time and angst, but over $1000!

As a valued BC Wood member, your rate to participate within the BC Wood Pavilion at Buildex Vancouver 2024 is $3200. This rate includes:

• 10×10 floor space
• Carpet
• Electrical
• Full coordination
• Your company name and website listed on buildexvancouver.com with the options to add company logo, social links and product info.
• Lead Retrieval License (scanner or app) to maximize your ROI.
• Five complimentary seminars (some exceptions) – 70+ seminars to choose from.
• Unlimited PDF complimentary passes with promo code providing free trade show access for your clients and prospects.
• Your website listed in the online show planner.
• 24-hour security during the exposition.
• Use of BUILDEX Vancouver Logo on your website and sales collateral to enhance brand-building.

To reserve your space, click on the button below or 

https://bcwood.com/buildex-registration/

For more information, contact Ken Hori at khori@bcwood.com

Building Connections at the 2023 Global Buyers Mission Video

Coinciding with the Global Buyers Mission™ (GBM), Building Connections is a collaborative event that offers one-on-one meetings where participants are connected with top value-added wood product manufacturers from BC. Through short, productive meetings, both buyers and suppliers are given an ideal opportunity to build key relationships, tailored to meet the business interests and needs of each other.

Watch the recap of the 2023 event here!

Canada's Forest Sector Key to Tackling Housing Crisis While Bolstering Climate Resiliency

The Forest Products Association of Canada

Canadian wood products – from traditional lumber to lightweight, engineered products like mass timber – offer low-carbon, durable building materials that store carbon for the life of a structure, reducing its carbon footprint. 



Brock Commons, an 18-storey, 400 student mass timber residence building at the University of British Columbia stores approximately 1,753 tonnes of carbon dioxide in its wooden structure, while the total construction process avoided 2,432 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equal to removing the emissions from 511 cars annually. Compared to steel (>1.1 tonnes CO2 per tonne timber) and cement (0.9 tonnes CO2) on a per tonnage basis, the carbon footprint of Canadian mass timber is 72% and 66% smaller, respectively. 

Wood can be a game-changing material for Canada’s decarbonization efforts. 

Building with wood also offers significant cost savings and efficiency gains to developers, thanks to prefabricated components that minimize on-site waste, noise, and labour requirements. Think of Lego blocks: prefabricated wood components are quickly assembled on-site, speeding up construction and lowering housing costs.

Permits, Design, Zoning: How Local Governments Can Help Expand Mass Timber Construction

naturally:wood

Across North America and around the world, developers, builders and regulators are examining the benefits associated with mass timber construction, especially for buildings seven to 12 storeys. 

While every area has unique conditions, British Columbia, Canada offers examples of how the manufacturers, architects and government officials are working to adopt or evolve policies and practices that are more welcoming to such buildings. 



Research by Simon Fraser University’s Renewable Cities program has found local government approaches to mass timber construction play an essential role. Renewable Cities worked with a team comprising architects, developers, building officials and other industry professionals to produce Building Capacity: Local Prefab Mass Timber Solutions, which emphasized three areas critical to the success of mass timber: a municipality’s building permit process, design guidelines and zoning. 

330 Goldstream Avenue

naturally:wood

Developed by the Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS) and funded by BC Housing, 330 Goldstream Avenue is an affordable housing demonstration project that uses lean project delivery methods, offsite prefabrication and advanced digital tools to design and build a six-storey building using light-frame wood construction.    

Pressure Treated Pacific HemFir Products

Pacific HemFir



British Columbia practices sustainable forestry,

with some of the most comprehensive practices in the world. Pacific HemFir has the added advantage of being a fast-growing tree in the region, making it plentiful and readily available. This means Pacific HemFir is an even more economical and sustainable choice compared to other lumber products.

Meet 5 of the Women Leaders Shaping Mass Timber Design

Think Wood

From forward-thinking solutions to community-shaping accomplishments, these five women are leading the charge in using wood construction to make a material difference in advancing sustainability, equitability, and affordability in the communities they develop, design, and build.