• 2009-05-15
• Canada

Canada Wood’s Steve Ross on China’s CCTV

Steve Ross, Canada Wood Director of Training and Quality Services, gains national attention on China's Major Television Network news station CCTV for his work in rebuilding Sichuan region. The CCTV broadcast was viewed by more than 250 million Chinese.

• Weblink

• 2009-03-22
• Europe

Canada Wood shows Real Cedar to the UK’s prosperous self-build market

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show took place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham during period 19 - 22 March 2009. It attracts an audience of self-builders, home improvers, developers, architects and trades people, and aims to provide inspiration, information, and advice relevant to home building, improvement, renovation and maintenance.

The event has remained popular, and appeared not to have been seriously affected by the current economic downturn. Exhibitor figures were reduced slightly, down to 480 from 530 in 2008; and visitor figures fell to 32,000 from 36,000 recorded in 2008.

Exhibitors comprised national and regional suppliers promoting their products, innovations and latest services. Wood, and oak in particular was well represented, shown as hardwood floors, joinery, timber frame buildings and decks.

The Western Red Cedar Export Association participated with a stand manned by Canada Wood UK staff. Cedar samples and posters were displayed, and WRCEA information materials were distributed along with brochures belonging to WRCEA’s UK-based Associate Members. Visitor interest in cedar was overwhelming.

Centaur Media plc organise and promote The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, and have already arranged for the next edition to take place during period 18-21 March 2010.

• 2009-03-05
• Europe

Canada Wood partners exhibit at Ecobuild/Futurebuild in London

The Ecobuild/Futurebuild trade fair took place at Earl's Court in London during period 3-5 March 2009. The show attracted more than 800 exhibitors and approximately 34,500 visitors - 33% more than in 2008. High levels of interest in the show reflects both the strong focus on sustainability and green issues that now pervades the UK architectural and design professions together with a host of recent UK government initiatives aimed at boosting green performance in the construction sector.

Ecobuild 2009 featured an impressive information programme, which comprised 500 experts speaking on topical issues related to sustainability in design, construction and the built environment. The subject matter addressed included: meeting the demand for green construction, challenges facing the construction industry in a period of economic downturn, building refurbishment, sustainable schools, carbon reduction and responsible sourcing, with an update on buildings regulations, codes and standards.

A Canadian Pavilion was arranged and co-ordinated by the High Commission of Canada, accommodating Alouette Homes, BCWood Specialties Group, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, Canada Wood Europe, Canadian High Commission, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd, Fraserview Cedar Products Ltd, Ice Kube Systems Ltd, Icynene Europe, National Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service, Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB), Sperlich Log Construction Inc, Super E House Program and The Waldun Group. Exhibitors at the pavilion expressed their satisfaction at the high level of interest in Canadian wood products shown by visitors that included traders, architects, developers, engineers, artisans, self-builders lecturers and students.

• 2009-02-25
• Europe

Canada Wood UK promotes Real Cedar at the Architects Journal Primary School Design Conference 2009 in London

The AJ Primary School Design Conference took place on 25th February 2009 at The Royal Society of Medicine premises in central London. The event was arranged for specifiers and buildings suppliers, to help them understand how to become involved with primary school projects in the future, discover how procurement for the Primary Capital Programme will work, and access the government’s £3.5billion rebuild budget. There were 258 delegates in attendance at the event, comprising mainly architects, designers and engineers.

The Western Red Cedar Export Association helped support the event, and with Canada Wood received high-profile recognition on the event website and conference stage. Canada Wood UK arranged a Real Cedar booth on behalf of WRCEA, comprising a table top display from which samples were shown and literature distributed. As the only industry supporter to the conference, WRCEA/Canada Wood captured the full attention of attendees.

• 2009-2-10
• China

Light Wood Roof System Cost Quota Published to Support Old House Roofing Renovations for Shanghai Expo’s 600-Day initiative

Beijing, February 7, 2009 –The Light Wood Roof System Cost Quota published by the Shanghai government in January represents a significant step forward for the use of advanced wood truss roofing technology in China, said Ida Chong, British Columbia’s Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development...

• Download Press Release

• Media Contact:

• Name: Lance Tao
• Email: tao@canadawood.cn

• 2009-01-27
• Canada

Premier Announces Forestry Initiatives

At the 66th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention, the BC Premier Gordon Campbell, announced initiatives for the forest industry.

Stumpage pricing change: A comprehensive update of stumpage rates on the Coast to reflect current market realities. Effective Jan. 15, the average sawlog stumpage price on the Coast will be less than $5 per cubic metre – compared to a rate of $18.56 per cubic metre one year ago – a reduction of more than 70 per cent.

Extending Employment Insurance and Work-Sharing Program: The Province will continue encouraging the federal government to extend the Work-Sharing Program and extend Employment Insurance benefits for impacted forest workers for another year.

Tax exemptions for trust funds: The Province will ask the federal government for tax exemptions for support received through the Community Development Trust and BC Forestry Revitalization Trust.

A Wood-First Policy: The Province will expand domestic markets for wood by requiring all new public facilities to include B.C. wood in their construction whenever possible.

Expand six-storey wood-frame construction: To expand domestic markets for wood, B.C.’s new building code will raise the limit on wood-frame construction from four to six storeys, starting April 6, 2009.

Expand B.C. Wood-First Policy to a national strategy: Starting with Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Province will work to extend the six-storey wood-frame building code across the country, greatly expanding the domestic market for lumber. The Province will also urge other provincial governments and the federal government to implement B.C.’s Wood-First Policy.

A Commercial Forest Reserve: The Province will look at ways to establish selected areas of the land base where forestry has the priority both for harvesting and for growing new trees to secure forest jobs and investment. This will ensure harvested land remains protected as a forest asset and will not be set aside for other uses.

Woodworkers’ Lien Act: The Province will introduce legislation to strengthen the Woodworkers’ Lien Act to give contractors the right to freeze logs harvested in the event they are not paid for services by a licensee.

Increase access to fibre supply: Develop new tools to increase access of fibre supply by connecting tenure holders, including small tenure holders such as communities and First Nations, with customers. The TLA will play a lead role in developing and operating new marketing tools.

Bioenergy tenure and pricing: The Province will look at ways to create new tenure and pricing specifically for bioenergy, increasing investment certainty and ensuring 100 per cent of a harvested tree can be utilized.

• 2009-01-25
• Europe

National Floor Show, Harrogate, UK, 2008

The National Floor Show took place at Harrogate’s International Centre during period 2 – 4 September 2008. The annual exhibition is the UK’s biggest flooring trade show, with over 200 exhibitors showcasing all types of flooring products, from carpets and rugs to laminate and hardwood floors, together with accessories and tools. The event attracts manufacturers, importers, distributors, contractors, retailers, property managers, interior designers, contract specifiers and architects; and provides participants with an opportunity to showcase and view new products, identify latest trends, develop trade and network with industry colleagues. The 2007 edition of the show registered an audience of 4,080 visitors.

The Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB) arranged a trade pavilion within Hall Q, accommodating QWEB’s own stand and booths occupied by member companies Preverco Inc, Wickham Hardwood Flooring and Mercier Wood Flooring. Information on timber and wood flooring products manufactured by QWEB member companies was distributed by Canada Wood staff members who are based in the UK and serve as a gateway to Canadian wood products. QWEB member companies at the pavilion showed their superb ranges of solid temperate-wood flooring, in species such as red oak, cherry, maple, ash, birch and walnut, with engineered wood floors offered in addition by Preverco. The companies all offer high quality flooring in a range of contemporary finishes. Independently of QWEB’s pavilion, QWEB members Goodfellow and Primatech occupied stands within the same hall; the former showing a wide range of flooring types to suit all tastes and needs, and the latter promoting their latest range of pneumatic and manual hardwood flooring nailers, with nails, specifically designed for the installation of hardwood flooring. The show provided an ideal opportunity for Canadian manufacturers to exhibit their products, establish contacts, fact-find and demonstrate their interest in and commitment to the UK market. Click below for more information on the National Floor Show.

• Weblink

• 2009-01-22
• Europe

Canada features in the UK’s Timber Trade Journal

Canada Wood UK co-ordinated input to a major feature on Canada published in the 27 September edition of TTJ, the UK’s timber industry magazine. Contributions from the Quebec Wood Export Bureau, the Western Red Cedar Export Association and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association ensured that importers were exposed to a wealth of information on Canadian timber and wood products. The feature was supported by prominent advertising arranged by Canada Wood UK and WRCEA, not least in consideration of the fact that any future focus on Canada will be viewed in relation to its forecast ability to generate support and revenue.

• Weblink

• 2009-01-20
• Japan

Primed for Growth: Wooden Senior Facilities Gaining Interest

After sponsoring seven seminars across Japan beginning in February, COFI SPF Group received ten inquires related to construction of　senior citizen care projects, kindergartens and hospitals. One inquiry was from an architect planning to build a large 6,500 m² senior citizen care facility in Sagamiyara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. On September 7, COFI SPF Group, Takenaka Corporation, Misawa Home, and Nikkei Health Care co-sponsored the Senior Living Seminar that was attended by 207 senior citizen healthcare professionals from across Japan.

In addition to the seminars, COFI SPF Group placed four advertorials in the Nikkei Health Care Magazine from May to August. These advertorials featured the Meiji-Seiryuen Elderly Care Facility, the largest 2x4 structure (4,469 m²) in Japan.

This wooden facility demonstrates how to construct and run environmentally friendly healthcare care facilities for Japan’s senior citizens. The owner and president of Yoshitaka Architects Engineering & Consultants, Mr. Yoshitaka – who designed and managed the construction of the Meiji-Seiryuen Elderly Care Facility – has begun to construct his second large 2x4 senior citizen care facility in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. The Nursing Home Harukazae (2,094 m²) is scheduled to be completed by March, 2009.

• Weblink

• 2009-01-15
• Canada

Provincial Government Holding Economic Summits

The government is holding two economic summits this winter. Opportunities North: The Northern Economic Summit (Jan 22-23, 2009) and the British Columbia Economic Summit (Feb 3-4, 2009) are unique forums that will bring business, government and community leaders together to highlight the choices, challenges and potential of our economy.

Prominent speakers will join Premier Gordon Campbell and British Columbia’s cabinet ministers at each two-day summit, providing a thoughtful interactive forum aimed at shaping the economic future of our province.

Opportunities North: The Northern Economic Summit in Prince George is sold out. The British Columbia Economic Summit, February 3 - 4, 2009 at Sheraton Wall Centre Vancouver features prominent speakers and B.C. cabinet ministers, and will explore the options and opportunities related to a wide range of issues, including the state of the global economy, job-creating green technologies, transportation and the Pacific Gateway, productivity and labour mobility, international trade and competition, and the case for economic diversification around the province.

For more information and registration go to the link below.

• Weblink