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  There is no doubt that the public, the corporate sector and governments at all levels are seized with the issue of climate change and the related issue of energy production from green sources. But did you know that the BC forest industry is already a large producer of green energy. Our pulp and paper sector has been generating energy from biomass since its inception. Steam and electricity are produced from bark, woodwaste, sawdust and shavings and chips. As BC Hydro progresses with its call for biomass sourced power we need to remember that the forest sector is a highly integrated industry with a symbiotic relationship among sawmills, pulp and paper mills and other forest product manufacturing facilities. A significant change in one part of the sector can have a ripple effect on the others and existing commercial relationships. The economic parameters of the call must therefore be designed to build on the forest sector base and existing commercial relationships. If unintended consequences are avoided I know that the forest industry will step up to the plate. John Allan |
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On June 13th, the COFI Board of Directors met in Kamloops followed by the inaugural Community Dinner for 2007. More than 60 people gathered from the Kamloops - Thompson region to hear from COFI President & CEO John Allan. Board Chair Blair Mayes acted as the Master of Ceremonies introducing the special guests and guest speakers beginning with Kamloops Deputy Mayor John O’Fee who provided a welcome from the City. John Allan provided an interesting perspective on the BC forest industry with a presentation entitled, “The Forest Industry in BC –Putting it in Context”. The presentation is available at www.cofi.org/whats_new/presentations.htm.
Community dinners are an important means for COFI to communicate with the people who are key to helping us define the role of the forest industry in the province. The communities are important to the forest industry and the forest industry is important to the communities. Meeting with community leaders in this way ensures that we are able to communicate important issues facing the industry and of equal importance, we are able to hear from community leaders about issues of concern to the local communities and the province. For more information contact Gary Crooks, Vice President, Southern Operations, by phone at: (250) 860-9663 or by e-mail at: crooks@cofi.org. |
 Elementary and middle school teams competed this year at the eighth annual Terasen Gas Environmental Mind Grind Challenge. Held on April 21 in honor of Earth Day, this event took place in several communities in the Thompson and Okanagan regions, including Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. After weeks of preparation, 86 teams of students gathered to compete and demonstrate their knowledge of local environmental issues, responding to skill- testing questions in areas such as forestry, waste reduction, water and energy conservation, air quality and endangered species. Up for grabs were prizes such as school or class pizza and ice cream parties, polar fleece vests and financial awards. First and second place teams at the elementary and middle school levels continued on to compete at the BC Championships on May 5 in Kelowna.
For the third year, the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) was an EMG sponsor, providing forestry study materials and questions, participating in a public education mall display and contributing financial support. Deb Bazett from COFI Southern Interior Forest Education represented COFI as committee member and forestry contributor, while Susan Bondar, Thompson Forest Educator, supported the Kamloops EMG planning committee. The title backer was Terasen Gas, with a number of regional and local sponsors also coming on board. Congratulations to all of the partners who supported this worthwhile event and to all of the committees in the various communities who worked so hard to make the EMG Challenge a reality once again this year!! For more information contact: Debbie Bazett, COFI Southern Operations by phone at: (250) 860-9663 or by e-mail at: bazett@cofi.org. |
 Close to 80 of the top lumber graders from across the province competed in the 43rd Annual BC Lumber Grading Championship staged in Kamloops on May 26. Mario Masini of Pope & Talbot Ltd, Castlegar took home the gold and was crowned BC’s top Lumber Grader for 2007. In the process he also recorded the highest ever final mark of 95.9%. Mario took home a total of $1800 for his efforts. Finishing third ($500) in the “Senior Division” was Marty Pounder of Tembec Industries, Canal Flats. “The Council of Forest Industries (COFI) member company graders once again dominated the competition” said Gary Desrosier, COFI’s Quality Control Manager, “not only did we take first place but 16 of the top 20 contestants were from COFI member companies”. In the “First Year Division”, Tyler Smith of West Fraser Mills - 100 Mile House and Ehren Putz of Tolko Industries, Williams Lake placed first and third respectively. Tyler also went on to be part of the winning team as the Caribou Bug Killers (West Fraser Mills Ltd.) won the 2007 Team Award, along with team members Baljinder Gill and Dave Munro. Each team member won $250.00 and Tyler’s winnings totalled $1250. For the second consecutive year Sajjan Minhas of Canfor - Rustad, captured the Champions Div. (past winners) and Travis White of Tembec Industries, Canal Flats was a close second. “We are extremely proud of our education program and these results are just ‘icing on the cake’,” said Desrosier. For more information contact Gary Desrosier, Quality Control Manager by phone at: (250) 860-9663 or by e-mail at: desrosier@cofi.org.
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Justin, who won a gold medal for his project, “Is Bug Wood Boggy?”, represented the Bulkley Valley at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Truro, Nova Scotia May 12-30th. His project investigated whether pine beetle wood absorbed more moisture than non-pine beetle killed wood. Through his experiments he found that beetle-killed wood absorbed substantially more moisture that healthy wood. In preparation for the nationals Justin did additional research and was very excited about his trip to Nova Scotia.
Louise, who recently won gold at a regional Historica Fair, will travel to Lethbridge, Alberta July 9-16th to compete in the National Historica Fair with her project “Beetle Blues”. She was inspired to research the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic after a witnessing the affects of the beetle while on a family trip through Manning Park last summer. Her project outlined the causes of the epidemic, examined its affects on trees, climate and forest ecosystems and concluded with a summary of industry and government action plans to deal with the epidemic today and in the future. Congratulations to both Justin and Louise. For more information contact:Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations by phone at: (250) 614-4352 or by e-mail at: lear@cofi.org. |
From Fort St. John to Smithers to Quesnel high school students have been drawn out of their classrooms to spend time touring mills or forestry operations to learn about careers in the trades and forestry. But the two programs, Project Trades and Natural Resource Management, are not just tours; they are in-depth programs where students get the opportunity to interact with professionals who work in the various careers. While the ‘in the bush’ or ‘in the mill’ part of each program provides the career ‘awareness’, it is the interaction with the professionals that provides the ‘inspiration’. Being given the opportunity to talk to a millwright on the job or to timber cruise with a forester is what is drawing students to participate in COFI’s Forest Education Programs. The many professionals participating in the programs ‘walk the talk’ and are better able to show students what their careers are really like than the student’s classroom teachers. And what is drawing students to consider careers in the forest industry is the enthusiasm and the pride that all of volunteers from COFI member companies, Ministry of Forest and Range, consultants and CNC and UNBC exhibit towards their respective careers. Thanks to a large part to the many volunteers that assist in these programs we are witnessing an increase in students interested in becoming a tradesperson or forest professional and working in the forest industry. For more information on either career program contact Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations, by telephone at: (250) 614-4352 or by e-mail: lear@cofi.org. |
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While in Prince George COFI member operations hosted the group for tours of forest and mill operations. On day one of the tour the delegates were given a helicopter tour and ground stops south of Prince George with representatives of Dunkley lumber and Canfor to learn about BC forest management practices and the effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic. At Dunkley Lumber the group toured Dunkley‘s high out-put random length sawmill to better understand interior lumber manufacturing. Returning to PG the group was given a presentation on the economics and competitiveness of the interior forest industry by Doug Routledge, COFI VP Forestry and Northern Operations. Day two of the tour included a presentation by BC’s Chief Forester Jim Snetsinger on forest management as well as tours of Lakeland Mills’ stud mill, Brink Forest Products’ finger-joint mill and Winton Global Homes’ truss and panel manufacturing divisions. The two-day interior portion ended with a tour of UNBC showcasing UNBC’s use of wood followed by the delegates attending a dinner with local community, business and forestry leaders at UNBC.
The tour was made possible with the generous contributions from the above mentioned companies as well as support from Carrier Lumber, Prince George Airport Authority, UNBC, Prince George Forestry and Railway Museum and the logistical support of COFI Northern Operation’s staff. BC Market Outreach Network provided financial, planning and logistical support. For more information contact Chris Lear by phone at: (250) 564-5136 or by e-mail at: lear@cofi.org |
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