B.C. is home-base to some of the world’s foremost research and development facilities. Within that spectrum are two forest product research and marketing organizations providing Western Canadian contractors with expertise in wood construction while three others also provide strong support.
This is the first of a two-part series that explores the various organizations and the role they play in helping contractors. Part one looks at BC Wood Specialties Group (BC Wood) and Wood WORKS! BC. Part two will highlight NEWBuildS, FPInnovations and Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd.
BC Wood
Brian Hawrysh, chief executive officer of BC Wood, says the key premise behind BC Wood is to connect "our industry with the end-users of our wood products."
The organization consists of 120 members ranging from primary breakdown mills to value-added manufacturers, doors and windows to cross laminated timber producers.
While BC Wood’s major focus is market driven on the U.S. and offshore markets, the major downturn in the U.S. has placed increased importance on the domestic market by producers. The focus has dovetailed with the growing demand domestically for construction beyond wood’s traditional market in single family residential construction.
"The domestic market has really been a haven for wood producers," said Hawrysh, as the U.S. housing bubble burst in 2008 sales, plummeting B.C.’s export of lumber, panel and value-added product from 50 per cent to 25 per cent.
Producers were able to shift some capacity offshore, but B.C., Alberta and major Canadian cities absorbed the rest resulting in the domestic consumption of lumber and associated products growing from 25 per cent to 45 per cent. Despite the U.S. economy rebound with housing starts reaching more than one million in 2014, Hawrysh said the producers are holding fast to the homegrown market that has been cultivated.
What BC Wood offers contractors: BC Wood has a comprehensive online membership directory with contact information and products provided. There is also a 123-page Wood Products Specifiers Book, which showcases the products and work of various specialty market manufacturers located throughout B.C.
The organization also has a resource person, Roy Manion, who is able to help builders answer product questions related to wood use. Manion sets up mill tours throughout the province and provides seminars for engineers, architects and contractors. The new calendar of wood-related events is being finalized and should be available at the end of April. Check the association’s website, www.bcwood.com, for more information.
Wood WORKS! BC
Wood WORKS! BC is an outreach organization that works with the Canadian Wood Council to promote wood use in the construction industry. Its membership is primarily breakdown mill, panel producers and engineered wood products. It provides a lobbying role in placing more wood in ICI buildings and an educational role in training those who work in wood.
"What we are doing in B.C. is creating a demand for wood," said Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director for the Wood WORKS! BC.
"We are also training architects, engineers, and contractors how to use wood."
What Wood WORKS! BC can do for contractors: It has four technical advisors on staff who can provide expertise on wood products and producers. It annually puts out a case study on a wood structure of interest or a focal point for the industry. It has released an online case study on the Prince George Wood Innovations Design Centre and is releasing a further case study on how wood can be used to seismically upgrade schools in B.C.
It also annually presents awards to architects who have designed outstanding projects in wood.
A major attraction drawing more than 1,200 delegates is its Wood Solutions Fair, with the Vancouver 2016 event to be held Nov. 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre – West.
Wood WORKS! BC also organizes seminars during the year and has wood information guides available for downloading on its site. For more information, visit www.wood-works.ca/bc/.
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