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A tire swing and a plastic slide no longer cut it for today's kids. The City of Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver, has invested $1 million in its newest play area, which features a tandem zipline, 10-metre tall treehouse, and a rolling hill.

The "adventure play environment" at Terra Nova Rural Park is designed to mimic, well, nature. The city says it purposely wanted a play area built among trees and former farm fields, near wildlife, and adjacent to the Fraser River to help reconnect people with nature - and have fun at the same time.

The city collected suggestions from children during the design process. The area is being marketed as "a place for off-leash kids."

Toddlers can get dirty in the water and sand play area or tire themselves out in a meadow maze, while older kids can soar above the ground on three-metre high swings or scamper up the treehouse complete with four platforms, a central rope ladder, and a spiral slide. Children can also fly through the air on the 35-metre long ziplines or climb on the "log jam," a structure that mimics walking on beach logs.

Tall wood buildings were a key focus for international buyers that industry association BC Wood hosted the first week of September.

B.C. building code changes allowed wood buildings of up to six storeys in B.C. starting in 2010, and more than 20 structures have been completed in the past three years. These include the new fitness centre at UBC Okanagan, Wesbrook Community Centre on the UBC campus in Vancouver, and the 30-metre tall, six-storey Wood Innovation Design Centre in Prince George.

The taller wood structures are supported using cross-laminated timbers (CLTs), which Structurlam Industries Ltd. of Penticton produces (the timbers were a centrepiece of the speed-skating oval built in Richmond for the 2010 Winter Olympics).

"Canada and B.C. are part of the cutting edge of this," said Brian Hawrysh, CEO of BC Wood. "New building systems are being developed that are wood-based, that allow for the design and construction of these larger buildings."

Japanese buyers are expressing particular interest in developments in B.C. Wood is a traditional building material in Japan, and B.C.'s proximity to and historical trading ties with the country make it a natural source for timber.

Please join us for our Co-op Presentation Evening on Thursday, September 25th, 2014.

Intermediate co-op students in the B.Sc. Wood Products Processing degree program at the University of British Columbia will be delivering presentations on their recently completed co-op work terms in the wood products industry. 

An extended intermission is scheduled to provide a valuable networking opportunity to meet our industry partners, UBC faculty members as well as the students.  You will be able to meet co-op students in all years of the program, including those available for upcoming work terms.

Date:   Thursday, September 25th, 2014

Time:   6:00 pm- 9:00 pm

Venue:  Forest Sciences Centre

            2424 Main Mall
            Vancouver, BC

Map: http://www.maps.ubc.ca/PROD/index_detail.php?locat1=353

Please RSVP to sudeh.jahan@ubc.ca by September 12th, 2014

Are you looking for ways to improve your on-site strategy at your next trade show? Even if you have an outstanding trade show exhibit, with innovative displays that make your product almost jump off the shelf, compelling literature, and giveaways that everyone wants, your company will not get the most out of the show unless booth staffers are prepared to do a good job of selling for your company.

Randi Walker

The 11th Annual Global Buyers Mission, held September 4th to 6th, 2014 welcomed over 750 delegates to Whistler this year. Once again, we had perfect weather and conditions to welcome delegates that joined us from all over the world.

Many thanks must go to our funding Partners who without their continued support, we would not be able to deliver this world class event: Natural Resources Canada Wood Export Program (CWEP), Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII), the Government of Alberta and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). Our main Corporate Sponsors this year included The Waldun Group, Jazz Forest Products and the Teal Jones Group.

CEO Brian Hawrysh and Board President John Gillis welcomed our Opening Ceremony guest speaker Mr. Clark Roberts, Assistant Deputy Minister of BC's Ministry of International Trade and Asia Pacific Strategy to the podium Friday morning. Minister Teresa Wat graciously joined us Friday evening and met with many of our industry members and international delegates.

Click here to read the entire report 

This year, BC Wood is planning a return to the Mexican market to look at opportunities for BC's wood products. Mexico is a market which was showing good initial promise prior to the economic and construction downturn in the United States in 2008. Even during the downturn, Mexico's dependence on imported wood products, now at US $1.4 billion per year, has been increasing at 5.5% annually. Softwoods comprise the vast majority of wood products imported into Mexico with some hardwoods used primarily in the furniture industry (hard maple and alder are popular imports).

Almost half of the total wood imports come from the US; much of this share is vulnerable to Canadian competition. Deforestation remains a severe problem and Mexico's substandard infrastructure compels the country to rely on foreign sources of wood products. As the US and Canadian economies continue to expand, it is expected that Mexico will be forced to depend on larger and larger volumes of wood imports. In 2012, Canada exported almost $17 million of manufactured wood products to Mexico. This was an increase of 30.1% from the previous year. BC's share of this total was $6 million, a year over year increase of 49%.

BC Wood will coordinate the exhibition of member companies at the Expo CIHAC in Mexico City. Expo CIHAC is the premier event in Mexico and Latin America for the construction industry. This trade event focuses on the importers and distributors of construction and building products, but also goods that are used in industrial application like the packaging and furniture manufacturing sectors. The Expo CIHAC will be a suitable fit for many suppliers for hardwood and softwood lumber and other wood based building materials.

BC Wood will also coordinate a trade mission component post CIHAC that will take participants to directly visit and meet with Mexican wood importers, distributors, and manufacturers. Member companies that participate in this event will have an opportunity to gain first-hand market intelligence, meet with qualified buyers, and increase the sales potential of their products. Space is limited in this program so for more information on CIHAC trade show and the proposed mission, contact Ken Hori at 604-882-7100 or by email at khori@bcwood.com.

A few comments, suggestions, and ideas that may be of interest to the industry...

A good time was had by all at the Global Buyers Mission in Whistler. It was great to see buyers from across the globe connecting with BC wood product manufacturers.The Annual Golf Tourney on Friday afternoon proved again to be a big hit with members and buyers from as far afield as the US, Japan, Korea, and India. The International flavor of the Tourney reminded me of the Ryder Cup - the golf being played, not so much.

The day ended with two teams tied at a lofty minus 9. The winner was determined using an advanced calculus formula that only a lumber trader could figure out. The winning team being made up of:

Dave Cochenour - Probyn Group

Jason Mann - Probyn Group

Deepak Rai - Terminal Forest Products

Dan Griffiths - Fraserview Cedar

The longest drive went to John Lopez of Bizmark Homes. He hit a truly amazing drive of over 315 yards to win the honor. It turns out that Mr. Lopez had a former career as the resident teaching professional at Westwood Plateau in Coquitlam. Normally, I would call foul on a ringer such as John playing in the tournament, but since he has on my team, I will let that one slip.

Closest to the pin went to Dave Cochenour, of Probyn Group. He dropped a shot mere inches from the cup and a hole in one. Rumor has it that he bogied the hole though.

Once again the weather was perfect, the course was in great shape, and having completed the round in under five hours was a bonus! Special thanks to Teal Jones and Stag Lumber for sponsoring the tournament and to the Whistler Golf Course crew for organizing such a well run event. Here is to seeing you next year.

Japan Home & Building Show 2014

The BC Wood Japan Program's fall activities are always centered around the Japan Home and Building Show held at Tokyo Big Sight. This year, the show will be held from November 12th to 14th and we will use this important trade event as the backdrop to celebrate BC Wood's 25th anniversary with key Japanese clients.

While housing starts have been taking a breather in aftermath of the April consumption tax increase, industry watchers expect the market to rebound in the second half of the year. There is still a great deal of optimism in the market in general related to Abenomics as well as the build-up ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games. The fact that the JH&BS is again sold-out is a good indication of the positive outlook of companies involved in the Japanese housing industry.

Once again the show will be held in conjunction with Japantex, one of Japan's largest interior design shows. This will mean that there will again be a wide spectrum of buyers visiting the show including everything from lumber importers to architectural firms. This is a great show for BC Wood members producing millwork, cabinetry, engineered wood, timber frame homes, log homes, 2x4 packaged homes, WRC products, as well as reman and structural lumber. BC Wood's Japan Office will once again be organizing a large pavilion on behalf of the Canadian wood industry for this event.

Those interested in learning more about the show should contact Jim Ivanoff at ivanoff@canadawood.jp   

Interzum Guangzhou 2015

 

After our well-received pavilion earlier this year, BC Wood is planning a return to Interzum Guangzhou from March 28th to April 1st in 2015 to give members another opportunity to build and expand their businesses in the still growing Chinese market. This annual event covers every facet of wood furniture and building products manufacturing including both machinery and raw materials. It is said to be the largest woodworking show in Asia. Over 1,100 manufacturers and suppliers are expected to occupy the 130,000-square meter venue with 60,000 visitors expected.

Interzum has been attracting pavilions from Germany, the US, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Sweden, etc over the past ten years covering a wide variety of both softwood and hardwood species. Due to the show's importance to the Chinese woodworking industry, buyers/ importers of all types of wood products visit. Therefore, this show will be of interest to members supplying a wide variety of softwood & hardwood lumber including for uses such as remanufacturing, concrete forming, as well as wood construction. This show sells out quickly, so BC Wood will be booking space for members within the next month. For more information, please e-mail me at ivanoff@canadawood.jp.