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A one-year, course-based master of engineering in integrated wood design will train students in technical specializations such as wood structure engineering, engineering for sustainable energy, and forest product engineering. It will be complemented by a thesis-based master of science in wood-related engineering research. The new programs will advance B.C.'s Wood First agenda.

"Our government is developing real-world skills that are aligned with labour demand," said Virk. "The two wood-engineering master degrees at UNBC will let students gain the education and skills needed in a changing labour market, while maintaining B.C.'s position as a world leader in wood technology."

The Ministry of Advanced Education is providing up to $466,000 this year to fund start-up costs. The first $237,000 will be provided immediately to assist with faculty and student recruitment, curriculum development and other components needed to start a new program. Once the programs are established, they will add up to 36 full-time equivalent student spaces.

The new programs will be housed at the new WIDC in downtown Prince George. Construction of the centre started recently and is expected to be completed by fall 2014. Academic and industry partnerships and programs are a key part of the design centre and will bring together builders, architects, designers and engineers to advance the commercialization of value-added wood-building and design products.

How often do you wish you had an extra hour in your day? Join us September 19th as we learn the secrets of getting more done in less time, presented by Studiothink's guest speaker, Rich Scott. Rich is the owner of Clarity Business Strategies and an award-winning business coach and speaker. He works with owners and entrepreneurs to develop strategies and processes that will increase your revenue and grow your business. Seats are limited so reserve your free spot today. 

Date: Thursday, Sept. 19 4-5pm

Location: Surrey, BC

Cost: Free

RSVP: www.studiothink.com/events

This event is the annual meeting of the International Research Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction's Working Commission W18 on Timber Structures. This important annual meeting brings together internationally-known expert researchers from the field of timber building, and is a forum where new developments in technologies, products and construction techniques are often first introduced, later finding their way into building codes around the world. The conference has been held in various international locations and was last in Vancouver in 1997.  

This year's event is organised by UBC's Timber Engineering and Applied Mechanics group and the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, and will provide an opportunity for practitioners to participate in a 4-day event in which the latest scientific research on timber construction will be presented and discussed. Presentations will take place in the convenient location of UBC's downtown campus at Robson Square. The conference includes an opening reception, a conference dinner, an evening dinner cruise, and a day of technical tours visiting prominent buildings in the Lower Mainland.  The expected attendance is approximately 80 people. A list of accepted presentations is available on the CIB W18 website.  

REGISTRATION INFORMATION can be found at http://www.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/%7Egc20/IHB/cib_information.pdf

This event is sponsored in part by Forestry Innovation Investment.

This one day workshop will provide you with the tools you need to establish gains in Productivity, Quality, Cost, Safety, and Morale.

A positive approach to continuous improvement in your business will result in significant gains! Click here to hear how it worked for Mitsui Homes Canada Ltd. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d268LAFGlM

This workshop will provide you with methods to conduct Continuous Improvement activities. Through a "Learn by Doing" approach, participants will conduct a practice exercise in tracking internal quality, setting measurements, establishing standards and leadership.

Date/Time: September 17, 7:30am-4:00pm

Location: Morgan Creek Golf Course, 3500 Morgan Creek Way, Surrey 

To register, Click here 

For more information, click here  

1.  Re-Examine Your Trade Show Schedule

Do you go to the same 5 restaurants for lunch that you went to 10 years ago?  Probably not.  They change in quality, new restaurants open, and your tastes change.  So why go to the same trade shows you went to for the last 10 years?  Your markets have changed, some shows have stagnated, and others have grown.  Find out which shows attract your best customers, and adjust your show schedule accordingly.

Roy Manion

As with all businesses, the Specifiers Program has many facets with which it needs to deal. Its primary purpose continues to be to work with BC companies and educate BC Specifiers (architects, designers, contractors and engineers) on those companies' products. However, as I learned a long time ago, you either go forward or you go backward - you never stay the same so, of course, we are indeed going forward; we have expanded our activities to include other jurisdictions.

In the meantime, our major activity, the Specifiers Program, continues to be very active, as over the past two weeks we have held 3 lunch & learn sessions, booked three more, and continued to work with companies in our industry to have their products specified.

We are also actively involved in the upcoming Wood First Forum at the GBM by reaching out to specifiers.

Architect Institute of America (AIA):

As mentioned previously, we received notice from the Architect Institute of America (AIA) that BC Wood has been approved as a Registered Provider. As we also stated, there was a minimum of 8 hours of "Prerequisite Training education" that we needed to complete which we have now done. Therefore, we are now at a point where we can submit for approval as a full AIA registered Provider. Our first action was to submit the Wood First Seminars at the GBM for which we are hoping to receive AIA approval next week. As BC Wood is a not-for-profit trade association, we are able to provide learning credits to all AIA architects throughout the country, although our initial focus will be relatively close to home.

Once the GBM is behind us, BC Wood is planning on holding 2 or 3 group seminars in the Pacific Northwest that would include 4 or 5 companies from industry. Please note that this is separate from the Specifiers Program so we are still working on costing details, although, as with all BC Wood programs, it will be less expensive and more effective than going at it alone. Therefore, if you are interested in reaching out to architects in the Pacific Northwest, please let me know.

Alberta Association of Architects (AAA):

BC Wood has now received approval from the AAA as a Registered Provider. This means that, as with AIA architects, BC Wood also plans to provide BC companies the opportunity to participate in BC Wood sponsored seminars in Alberta. Again, we will begin the process of setting up these seminars once the GBM is over.

Interior Design Continuing Education Council Inc. (IDCEC):

BC Wood has been a registered provider with the Interior Designers Institution of BC (IDIBC) for the past few years; however, this year, IDIBC turned the administering of learning credits over to IDCEC which is an educational umbrella association for several interior designer associations. Therefore, to insure maximum participation from the Interior Designers, BC Wood has now become a registered provider with the IDCEC. This allows BC Wood to offer most interior designers in BC and in other areas of North America the opportunity of earning credits for attending BC Wood sessions. We are currently planning two major events in October that target interior designers. Our first activity with this association was to submit the GBM Wood First Conference seminars and have received approval. If you also want to reach out to this group, let us know and we would be please to work with you

As always, should you want more information on any aspects of the Specifiers Program including the associations we are now registered with, please contact me at rmanion@bcwood.com.

Join us onboard the MV Harbour Princess for the International Buyers Networking Dinner and Harbour Cruise September 4th!

Later this year, BC Wood will be participating with Industry members in the Denver Log and Timber Home show, September 27th to 29th. The feedback from the members attending last years' Denver show was generally very positive. The number of attendees, while not back to pre-2008 levels, was definitely higher than they had been in recent years. Most exhibitors reported a more positive attitude from the attendees at the show. Individuals who had been hesitant over the past few years to take the final step towards building their projects came to the show ready to build.

The Denver show featured log home and timber frame displays, smaller out-buildings and finished building products such as roofing, flooring, decking and rustic furniture. Over the past few years, a number of BC Wood members from the log and timber frame home sector have used the Denver show to maintain a toe hold in the US market while they cut back on some of their other promotional activities during the slower economic times.

The BC log and timber frame builders have remained active in a number of regional markets in the US like the Rocky Mountain States, because it has been one of the few areas that has shown some activity. The Rocky Mountain States, due to their close geographic proximity to BC, product acceptance, and the clustering of resort developments catering to a wealthy demographic, have continued to be a relatively strong market for BC producers.

We are talking to members now about their space requirements at the Denver show. If you are interested on more information about the show including costs, please contact me at bhawrysh@bcwood.com or in BC Wood's offices at 604-882-7100.

Over the past couple of years, BC Wood has worked with a small group of member companies on developing market opportunities for value-added wood products in Russia. These initial efforts have to date been quite successful. As a result, BC Wood is planning to return to Moscow to participate in the Beautiful House trade show, October 31st to November 3rd.

The Beautiful House exhibition is substantially larger than the Holzhaus fair we have attended in the past. An added bonus is that the Beautiful House show is co- sponsored by the Union of Architects of Russia and the Union of Moscow Architects and held in conjunction with the Russian Architecture Salon. I expect the larger product scope and format of the Beautiful House show will greatly increase the exposure for the companies that plan on participating in the show. The connection that this event has with Russian architects will also enhance our ability to connect with design and construction professionals in Russia.

In the past, BC Woods' members have showcased log home and timber frame structures, factory built homes, high quality millwork, and specialty Western Red Cedar building materials. The larger Beautiful House show should lend itself well to promoting these same products, plus a broader range of finished building materials. Space is available for BC Wood members wanting to participate in the Beautiful House show. I would encourage any companies interested in more information on this show to contact me at bhawrysh@bcwood.com  or in BC Wood's offices at 604-882-7100.