2024 GLOBAL BUYERS MISSION™ (GBM) AUGUST UPDATE 

Randi Walker | rwalker@bcwood.com

Join us in celebrating our 21st Annual GBM September 5th to 7th, where we will host international buyers and specifiers from all over the world, to meet our Canadian suppliers in Whistler.

BOOTH SPACE IS SOLD-OUT but you can still join the event as a Participant!

We have many “new to GBM” Exhibitors and Buyers this year, so you will have a chance to meet and learn about new opportunities, whether you are looking to source new products or find new places to sell your wood products.

BC Wood’s AGM will happen Thursday the 5th and all current manufacturing members are invited to participate. We are also delivering an exceptional WoodTALKS at the GBM – this year featuring the Resort & High-End Residential Symposium on Saturday. All these activities are designed to expand our Canadian wood products industry’s international business opportunities.

As in the past, pre-registration is required to participate in all aspects of the GBM, and the online registration system is open! If you haven't already signed up to participate in the GBM, please email gbm@bcwood.com and ask for your invitation.

To get more background and information on the GBM, visit our webpage at www.globalbuyersmission.com  

Questions? Call me anytime at 604-309-6683 or email gbm@bcwood.com. We look forward to you joining us on the Mountain!

Announcing WoodTALKS™ Keynote Presentation featuring Reinhard Kropf

Ken Hori | khori@bcwood.com

BC Wood is excited to announce the WoodTALKS™ Keynote Presentation "Advanced Timber Architecture & Fabrication" for Resort & High-End Residential Symposium! This segment will be presented by Reinhard Kropf from Helen & Hard, joining us all the way from Norway and Josh Hall & Geoff Watts from Spearhead.

To learn more about this session and register for WoodTALKS™, please click here.

Do not miss out on the opportunity to attend this educational seminar!

WMC Management Skill Training Program - Online Managements Skill Training Courses

Jason Chiu | Jason.chiu@ubc.ca

UBC – Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) will be offering the following “online” courses starting September 16th, 2024:

• Production Planning (8 weeks)
• New Product Development (6 weeks)
• Safety and HR Management (6 weeks)

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.

Save the Date: Holzbau Prefabricated Timber Building Tour to Austria & Germany (December 1st – December 7th, 2024)

Jason Chiu | Jason.chiu@ubc.ca

The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing in Collaboration with BCIT School of Construction is pleased to announce an exclusive opportunity for professionals in the low to mid-rise construction sector. This immersive tour will explore the cutting-edge world of prefabricated panelized and volumetric construction in Austria and Germany. Participants will gain firsthand insights into the latest technologies, processes and sustainable practices driving the future of timber construction in Europe.

In addition to these site visits, the tour will culminate at the International Holzbau Forum in Innsbruck, Austria. This is one of the most renowned conferences in the timber construction world. This event will provide opportunities to network with global leaders, share knowledge, and discuss the latest trends and challenges in timber construction.

Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, explore new opportunities, or connect with industry leaders, this tour is designed to inspire and inform. Stay tuned for more details on registration and itinerary in the coming weeks!

Email Jason.chiu@ubc.ca to be placed on the priority list

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly Workshop (January 23 – 25, 2025)

Jason Chiu | Jason.chiu@ubc.ca

The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing is pleased to announce the 2025 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) workshop scheduled for January 2025. 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 - Industrial Wood Finishing Certificate Course (January 2025) - A Unique Industry Training Program

Jason Chiu | Jason.chiu@ubc.ca

Part-time online training program with a one-week hands-on practical session

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.

Starts – January 2025

One week intensive practical – April 2025

Space is Limited, Register Now!

Website: www.cawp.ubc.ca/training

Email: cawp@cawp.ubc.ca

Tel: (604) 822-0082

Employee Code of Conduct

Rae Henderson | rae@exportspark.com

Do you need an Employee Code of Conduct?

As an employer in the Value-Added Wood products industry, you understand that building a safety culture in your workplace consists of finding multiple avenues to reinforce the rules and regulations and behaviours needed to keep everyone safe. You likely have a variety of ways of doing this; a Safety Committee or Representative, scheduled yearly training, daily Safety talks, posters throughout the workplace, online training through WorkSafeBC, just to name a few. Keeping your workplace safe and free from injury is good for your employees and good for your business.

What about behaviours like gossiping, telling inappropriate jokes, watching NSFW videos on their phone in the lunchroom, or even smalls acts of retaliation. These situations can be more difficult to address. Developing an Employee Code of Conduct is an important avenue you can use to establish behavioural standards and expectations. Where most HR policies in the workplace outline behaviours you don’t want, an effective Employee Code of Conduct should be a positive message that reinforces what a successful employee at your business looks like.

Start with your Values and Mission statements to make your Employee Code of Conduct unique to your workplace, keep it focused on your customers and help reinforce your employer brand. Include specifics from other HR policies such as your Anti-Bullying and Harassment policy, or your Internet Usage policy and even your dress code, if applicable. Focus on language that describes what they should do - be respectful, be reliable, be committed to teamwork. Most importantly, ensure that you identify that the Employee Code of Conduct applies to all employees, regardless of their role or seniority.  

Use your Employee Code of Conduct as part of your recruitment initiatives and tailor your interview questions to help identify applicants that will meet your standards. Use it during your Onboarding process to clearly set out your expectations of your new employees. And use it as the foundation of your performance review program to ensure everyone is measured against it.

If you need assistance developing an Employee Code of Conduct, contact us at workforce@bcvalueaddedwood.com. You can also visit www.bcvalueaddedwood.com for further HR content and tools to help your business. 

HR Toolkit Coaching Opportunity

Rae Henderson | rae@exportspark.com

As an important component of the Workforce Development Project, BC Wood is providing members with coaching opportunities to help them elevate their HR functions for their business. If you are interested in receiving one-on-one coaching in the following key areas – HR Policy Compliance or New Employee Onboarding, contact us. We are looking for volunteer organizations who would benefit from help in either auditing their current HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance, or, elevating their onboarding program to create an experience for new employees that leads to deeper engagement and productivity. 

To participate in this free HR initiative contact us at workforce@bcvalueaddedwood.com to register as space is limited.

Japan Normalizing Monetary Policy and Exchange Rates

Jim Ivanoff | ivanoff@bcwood.jp

Japan’s decades long battle against deflation has come to an end as both price and wage inflation have led to a new aggressive stance by the Bank of Japan. Market watchers had been waiting for the BOJ from early this year to follow other monetary authorities by tightening the money supply, but the Japanese government remained cautious as they wanted to be sure that the country truly had entered a virtual cycle of price and wage increases.

Consumer price indexes have consistently remained above target levels and the annual spring wage negotiations over the past two years have delivered the highest increases since the bubble economy. The Bank Governor, Kazuo Udea, had seemingly seen enough and shocked the market on July 31st with a larger than expected interest rate hike as well as leaving more increases for the remainder of the year on the table on top of also announcing to cut bond purchases in half.

However, it was not only the domestic economic that led to this dramatic shift. The zero-interest rate policy had for a long time been weakening the Yen and this began further accelerating over recent months. As Japan depends on imports for energy, food, and other necessities, this was further inflaming inflation fears of consumers. SMEs had also began lobbying the government to change course as their businesses were suffering from weak Yen induced cost increases of imported inputs. Uncharacteristically, the Prime Minister and other national government leaders called out the weak’s Yen negative impact on the country. Undoubtedly, there was even greater pressure on Ueda behind closed doors to act, leading to the end of July surprise.

Companies importing lumber and building products from Canada have been citing the weak Yen as a major negative impact on their businesses for some time. Until the recent dramatic rise from a low of ¥162 to the US dollar to ¥144, there were great fears of how far the Yen may fall and in turn if imported products could remain competitive. The currency has stabilized at the 147 level and many economic analysts see the Yen trending higher still over the next few months, especially as US rates are expected to drop more rapidly.

This bodes well for BC manufacturers selling into Japan or looking to diversify into this market as US housing starts continue to cool. The more favourable exchange rate environment is also being bolstered by better than forecast domestic demand, which led to an unexpected 3.1% increase in GDP during the April to June quarter. Higher-end homes have been selling well, especially since April, but these positive economic developments should strengthen the overall housing market as well.

BC Wood members interested in learning more about opportunities in the Japanese market can reach out to Jim Ivanoff by e-mail ivanoff@bcwood.jp to set-up a time to chat by phone or during next month’s GBM in Whistler. We look forward to meeting many of you there and discussing how BC Wood can help you develop new business in the Asian markets.

BC Wood Korean Program for 2024/25

JC Lee | JCLee@bcwood.com

BC Wood has been bringing companies into the Korean market for over 20 years as one of our main initiatives. When COVID hit and Asian nations barred entry to foreigners for almost 2 1/2 years, we had to get creative and find new ways to support business development that could be done without travel. Several of these initiatives proved so effective that we continue to offer them as an alternative for members who do not have the budget and/or time to travel to the market. Whether you need some market research done or a market entry strategy along with client introductions, please contact our Korean representative JC Lee for a consultation.

In addition to further enhancing these remote market development options, BC Wood is proud to announce that for the first time since 2019 we will be able to deliver a Canadian pavilion at a major Korean industry trade show and have members co-exhibit with us. As with all the shows organized by BC Wood in Asia, we will make it as easy and affordable as possible for members to come over. Our Korean office will design the pavilion and member spaces so that you do not have to ship over any displays, etc. Just bring your samples with you! 

Participation in this show also includes pre-show marketing support. We introduce their products to importers to gather leads and then also set-up meetings at the show. That way our members not only benefit from the traffic going by the booth, but they also will have pre-scheduled meetings with key contacts and thus greatly increasing the opportunities to find the right partners. Of course, we provide a dedicated translator to be in each booth for the duration of the show to help with all visitors and meetings.

To complement both the remote market development program as well as the trade show participation, BC Wood will also be publishing a new version of its Korean language brochure. For a very small investment, members can get their company’s information and products in front of Korean importers and distributors for the next several years. It is the simplest way to promote yourself in the Korean market as this brochure will be used at all BC Wood organized trade events and during outreach activities.

Companies interested in the Korean remote market development initiatives or the upcoming March 2025 trade show are asked to contact JC Lee at JCLee@bcwood.com for a consultation via Zoom or in-person around this year’s GBM. 

Japan Home and Building Show 2024

Jim Ivanoff | ivanoff@bcwood.jp

As many in the Canadian forest products sector already know, the Japan Home and Building Show is the most important industry focused trade show covering everything from lumber and log homes to finished building materials. If you want to enter this market or expand your presence here, this is the one show that you need to be at. This year’s edition runs from November 20^th through 22^nd and as always, the BC Wood Japan Office will be organizing the Canadian pavilion on behalf of our members and the industry.

Our mission is to assist members in making their trips as productive as possible while reducing the stress and uncertainty of exhibiting at an overseas show. We will assist with all the logistics required for setting up your display, including the design and the preparation of Japanese language marketing materials. There is no need to ship displays to Tokyo. With long established corporate rates in convenient areas such as Shibuya, BC Wood can also simplify and reduce the costs of your travel arrangements.

Also, doing a trade show with the BC Wood Japan Office’s support is very different than exhibiting somewhere on your own. First of all, we maintain a database of over 20,000 industry contacts in Japan. We leverage this database to specifically find potential clients who are interested in your products. We then engage these contacts on your behalf well before the show ever starts. That way, you will have three days of qualified meetings at the show pre-scheduled for you. We further promote your company by rolling out an online campaign prior to the JHS that reaches over 8,000 industry people subscribed to our Japanese eNewsletter as well as our SNS audience in Japan.

Please contact me at ivanoff@bcwood.jp and we can set-up a time to chat about this year’s program and how BC Wood can help you expand your business opportunities in the Japanese market. You can also watch our video report on the 2023 Nikkei Show to get a feel for what the JHS will look like.

Japanese Market Lead Generation Campaign 2024

Jim Ivanoff | ivanoff@bcwood.jp

During COVID-19, the BC Wood Japan Office developed many new programs to support members even if they could not attend trade shows directly. One initiative that proved to be very successful was our Lead Generation Campaign. It is a cost-effective, multi-pronged, promotional campaign that markets your products both directly to over 8,000 of our industry contacts across the country as well as at all BC Wood Japan organized trade events for a two-year period. 

Participating members only need to submit their contact information, brief company/product profile, logo, and image/ product shot. BC Wood will use this information in several mediums to help promote your products. First, we will produce a 1/4 page company introduction in our soon-to-be updated professionally produced Japanese language brochure, which will be used in all outcalls/client meetings, seminars, inquiry responses, and trade shows until 2026 (5000 copies will be printed). 

This information is also used to produce an article for two editions of our Japanese eNewsletter that will reach over 8,000 of our contacts each time. These buyers will be invited to contact the BC Wood Japan Office for more information and an introduction to your company. We will be able to track who interacts with your article and then proactively follow up with them on your behalf. This content will also be reused to create a company listing on our well-visited Japanese website and will be displayed there for the next two years. 

We will also distribute your company information and collect inquiries for you at this fall’s Japan Home and Building Show. Members can send their own brochures and small hand samples to be put on display in the BC Wood space at the show. Full contact lists will be provided in English after the show. 

Act fast to be a part of this unique, hybrid virtual trade show opportunity. For pricing and more information on this program, please contact Jim Ivanoff (ivanoff@bcwood.jp).

Made In B.C. – BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund

BC Wood

There are a number of priority provincial initiatives underway to expand high value manufacturing in the province. The Ministry of Forests has introduced the new BC Timber Sales Value-Added Manufacturing Program and has been actively engaged with the sector through the value-added accelerator tables. The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF) is also supporting sustainability in B.C.’s forest sector by investing in manufacturing projects that create and protect sustainable jobs for people in their communities. The fund is committing up to $180M to B.C.’s manufacturing sector to stimulate growth and innovation, with a focus on increasing the production of higher-value wood products and getting the most out of every tree harvested.

The following short video profiles three B.C. manufacturers that are leveraging BCMJF and investing in their companies to improve productivity and competitiveness.

To learn about BCMJF, including a list of recipients, visit the website.

John J. Mulrooney Award

NAWLA | info@nawla.org

Matt Bruno the Executive Director of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA), is excited to reach out to you regarding the prestigious John J. Mulrooney Award, a lifetime achievement award recognizing outstanding contributions to the lumber industry.

The nomination form can be found on John J. Mulrooney webpage. NAWLA will be accepting nominations from individuals across the lumber industry till Friday, September 13th.

Your support will significantly enhance the visibility and prestige of this award, ensuring that we honor the most deserving individuals in our industry.

New Guides: Temporary entry for Canadian business persons to the European Union

Government of Canada

Over the past year, BPE and TMS have been working to finalize guides that aim to provide general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for Canadian business persons under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). 

In 2019-20, BREU initiated this project with Fragomen, an immigration consultancy firm, to review the state of implementation by EU member states of the key obligations under CETA’s Temporary Entry Chapter; and to gather and package practical information that Canadian companies need when travelling temporarily to EU member state markets. 

CETA’s Temporary Entry Chapter facilitates trade in goods, services and investment by allowing temporary entry and stay for business purposes and by ensuring transparency in the process. 

We are pleased to share with you the CETA Temporary Entry Guides covering 17 of the EU’s most dynamic business destinations, and now available online here.  

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czechia (Republic Czech)
• Denmark
• Finland
• France

• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands

• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Spain
• Sweden

These guides will help Canadian companies to: 

• Navigate temporary entry processes to increase their efficiency 
• Get introduced to common steps for entering the European Union for temporary entry 
• Access resources helping them understand how to enter each respective market. 

Burnaby To Get $267M Mass Timber Community Centre

Construction Canada

A new mass timber community centre and library with a green roof will replace the Cameron Community Centre and Library in Burnaby, B.C.

The project is a significant step towards enriching the local infrastructure and supporting the community’s growing needs. The Burnaby City Council has awarded a construction contract to Graham Construction & Engineering LP for this massive redevelopment project.

The building will be a mass timber structure, featuring a green roof visible to neighbouring buildings and solar panels to offset some of the electricity used.

While the planned building is four times larger than the existing facility, the parking will be moved underground.

The new centre will include various new features, including two new swimming pools, a weight room, a double gymnasium with hardwood floors, a cafe, as well as teaching and catering spaces.

The existing facility cannot adequately serve the community’s growing needs. Issues include accessibility, inefficiencies without a centralized administrative area, a lack of recreation space, code deficiencies, and increased maintenance costs due to the aging building.

Michael Green Architecture Designs World's Tallest Mass-Timber Skyscraper For Milwaukee

Dezeen

Vancouver studio Michael Green Architects has released plans for a development in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which includes a mass-timber skyscraper that would be the tallest in the world if completed.

Set to be built alongside the Marcus Center in central Milwaukee, the multi-tower scheme led by developer Neutral is currently going through the city's approvals process.

Michael Green Architecture's (MGA) plans for the development include office space, retail, hotel, residential and public plazas. Read more..

Canfor Closes Arkansas Acquisition, Welcomes New Iron Mountain Employees

Cision

Canfor Corporation is pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition from Arkansas Resolute El Dorado Inc., of its lumber manufacturing facility in Union County, Arkansas. The transaction, previously announced on May 1, 2024, is a strategic complement to the Company's existing regional operations, including its adjacent El Dorado Laminating Plant and its nearby Urbana sawmill.

Renamed as the Iron Mountain sawmill, this acquisition will create operational synergies with Canfor's existing facilities, provide vertical integration opportunities with its two glulam plants and build further capacity near customers and markets in the US South. Read more..