What are Your Opinions on Labour Recruitment and Retention Challenges? |
As you may have heard, BC Wood is leading a project which will identify ways to increase recruitment and retention of skilled workers for BC’s value-added wood products sector. We are looking for input from employers in the industry to develop these workforce strategies. Based on your input a strategic plan will be developed to support the growth, productivity, and profitability of the Value-Added Wood industry. I would be grateful if we could interview you to gain your valuable insights. Deetken Insight, a Vancouver-based consulting company, will lead these interviews.
I would ask that you consider participating in a 45-60-minute virtual interview (via Zoom or, if you prefer, Google Meet) sometime in the near future. During this interview you will be asked about your opinion on the labour market challenges facing the Value-added Wood industry and the actions you would suggest are taken to address these challenges and to help continue to grow your business. We would appreciate if you could review the Project Background Document as well as this presentation that we will use to guide our interview (also attached).
Please click here to schedule an interview. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Brian ( bhawrysh@bcwood.com) directly. |
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Social Media Workshop: Get Known & Dare to be Digital
March 22 & 23 | 12:00 to 1:00 PM PST
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Join BC Wood and Jonathan Christian of We Make Stuff Happen for a two-part online course via Zoom platform to learn basic information, tips, and tricks to help you create more effective social media accounts that connect with your audience.
We will cover:
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Know which Platforms to use and how to post so that you get real engagement
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Know each day just what to do and what to say
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Have more time, improve profits, and finally enjoy your marketing
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Stop letting people "pick your brain" and instead get them on your email list, in your social space, or buying from you
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Be able to turn casual eyeballs into 5-star reviews and have them coming back for more and telling their friends
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4 Have a strategic plan, knowing who your ideal customer is and how to reach them directly, avoiding the annoying Gatekeepers
Date: March 22 & 23, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
Cost: $45 per person
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BC WOOD's WoodTALKS PROGRAM Starts a New Year from April 1 and is Now Inviting Industry Speaker Participation
Ken Hori | khori@bcwood.com
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The 2021-22 program provides BC value-added wood manufacturers the opportunity to provide accredited educational presentations directly to the Specifier Community including architects, designers, engineers, developers, builders, and contractors in BC, Alberta and the US.
Participants in the program receive the exclusive benefit of establishing themselves as trusted industry specialists, presenting their company's products and expertise, while building their client bases.
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These presentations include:
- LIVE WEBINARS
- LIVE LUNCH & LEARN WEBINARS
- VIRTUAL FACTORY & SITE TOURS
- and when regular face-to-face business resumes, participants in this program will have opportunities to deliver IN-PERSON LUNCH & LEARNS
BC Wood is a Recognized Educational Provider with AIBC (Architectural Institute of BC), AIA (American Institute of Architects), BC Housing Continuing Professional Development, AAA (Alberta Association of Architects), the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA), the Independent Contractors and Builders Association (ICBA) and IDCEC (Interior Designer Continuing Educational Council).
Space is limited so for more information on how you can participate, or if you have any questions contact: Ken Hori at BC Wood Specialties Group C: 604-317-3161, khori@bcwood.com.
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WMC Management Skill Training Program |
UBC - Online Managements Skill Training Courses
These wood products industry specific courses are designed for owners, managers, supervisors or management tracked employees. These are not academic courses and the skills learned can be applied immediately to the work place. Each part time course is led by a tutor with extensive industry experience.
For more information on the courses, please click on the following link: Management Skill Training or call Jason Chiu at 604 822-0082.
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USA Program: One Year Review & Looking Forward
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A few comments, suggestions, and ideas...
With vaccines finally starting to roll out, we are transitioning into the next phase of Covid and its impact on our personal and work lives. It's not much of an understatement to suggest that it has been quite a year. For the US program, BC Wood pivoted to virtual and online marketing activities as a way to drive market development and stay connected with our important business contacts. As with anything new, some events were more successful than others.
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One activity that seemed to work well and provide an excellent opportunity to engage with buyers and influencers directly were Building Connections, Bond, and ProCONNECT events. These activities brought together BC manufacturers with US based architects, designers, builders, and developers. BC industry had the opportunity to meet directly with pre-selected groups of key buyers and decision makers in 20-minute Zoom meetings. This format works because they involve face to face meetings and both participants have agreed to the meetings. In discussions with manufacturers who have participated, they appreciate the direct connection and time savings that these events provide.
As we transition into our new fiscal year and into the next phase of the pandemic, we plan to continue providing market development activities such as Building Connections, Bond and other virtual and hybrid events. Our strategy of directly connecting buyers and suppliers remains an important and valuable component of the BC Wood US market development program.
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Promote your Company in Korea through BC Wood’s Korean Brochure
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BC Wood is currently updating its Korean language brochure that is used at all of our trade events in South Korea and distributed in response to all inquiries by our in-market office and during outreach visits. By being a part of the new brochure, your product information and hand-samples can also be displayed in the Seoul office for year-around exposure.
Even if you cannot take advantage of our trade show programs by participating directly, our brochure program will cost-effectively get your company in front of a wide cross-section of the Korean building products industry. If you are interested, please contact JC Lee at jclee@bcwood.com as soon as possible for more information.
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2021 Global Buyers Mission™ (GBM) Review
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The 17th Annual Global Buyers Mission was held January 25th – 29th, 2021 and welcomed 677 delegates from all over the world. We were extremely pleased with the efforts made by those buyers and suppliers that supported and participated in the 2021 Virtual Global Buyers Mission.
This year, we registered 268 pre-qualified buyers from Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Russian Federation, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. Some facts and comments:
- 58% of responding Buyers said it was their first GBM.
- 96% of Buyers who participated in a Social Table activity said it was a productive use of their time and 88% would participate in a similar feature in a future event.
- 95% Indicated a high level of interest in learning more about BC’s value-added wood products.
- 79% said the event increased the likelihood that they will purchase BC
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Cedar-Built Greenhouses founded in 2000, is a family-owned manufacturer of greenhouse kits based in Abbotsford, BC. These high-end, handcrafted greenhouses packages are made from kiln-dried, clear or tight-knot Western Red Cedar. All products are made to order in various styles and options.
The company got its start 21 years ago after architect-by-trade Noel, decided to build a greenhouse for his wife, co-founder Jane, and word got around. After building and filling a few orders from their garage, the business snowballed. They now receive and fill orders from across Canada and the United States. Noel’s background in architecture, specifically 20 years of designing log homes, has set Cedar-Built Greenhouses apart from competitors. They are beautifully designed, with an engineers’ level of durability, and most importantly, simple to assemble. This has made the product popular with home gardeners and survivalists alike.
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Over the last five years, the company has been run by son Scott Frost, who continues to grow the business, pushing the company to find new wood technologies and adopt more ecologically sustainable practices. For more information on the company, contact Scott Frost at cedarbuiltmgmt@gmail.com, visit their website at www.cedarbuilt.homestead.com, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. |
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TWIG (The Wood Innovation Group) Hosts First ‘Perennial’ Gathering for BC Wood Products Innovators |
Thursday, March 18, 2021
TWIG (Previously known as the ‘Outside The Box’ networking and educational group, welcomes you to participate in ‘Perennial,’ our first annual gathering of people interested in advancing innovation in the care and use of our province’s vast forest heritage.
The ‘virtual’ event will be conducted in 7 repeating two-hour time blocks. In these facilitated consultation sessions, participants will share what they do; what they can contribute, and what kind of assistance they need to move their ideas, projects, products and programs forward. Our purpose is to provide an awareness building opportunity for participants – coupled with an opportunity for TWIG to identify gaps they may be able to help fill as the group evolves.
Registration is free of charge, and participation requires only two hours of your time.
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Kalesnikoff Named BC’s Lead Exporter of Manufactured Products |
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Kalesnikoff is honoured to have been named the province’s lead exporter of manufactured products in the BC Export Awards, hosted by Business in Vancouver.
“Value-added manufacturing is a vital aspect of our industry, supplying jobs and stimulus to our economy,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, before announcing Kalesnikoff as the winner in the manufactured products category.
This acknowledgement comes a year after Kalesnikoff opened their industry-leading and state-of-the-art mass timber facility, launching their line of mass timber products. This award builds on how they have established their global markets over four decades and how their successes keep adding up – even during the global pandemic. As a fourth-generation, family-owned business, Kalesnikoff has 81 years of history in the lumber industry and has been a global exporter since the 1980s.
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New School Thinking: What is the future of school design in a rapidly changing world?
naturally:wood
For the better part of a decade, BC has been experimenting with more innovative design when it comes to schools. Today, the province is home to a growing number of schools that are shaking off convention in favour of more flexible and versatile architecture. Designs that might have once seemed ahead of their time, even quirky, are proving functional and timely in 2020—and showing what is possible here in BC and beyond.
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Export Planning: Growing Beyond BC
Futurpreneur Canada
Hosted by Futurpreneur Canada, this event on March 30th features Nick Maclennan of Export Navigator, who will speak about the key elements of an effective export plan, and answer your questions associated with planning to export to another province or another country.
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Trade Accelerator Program
World Trade Centre Vancouver
Become export ready. Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Let us help you create a customized business and export plan to tap into international markets.
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Wood, Well-being and Performance: The Human and Organizational Benefits of Wood Buildings
naturally:wood
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Wood can support healthy school design. Authored by Dr. Graham Lowe, Wood, Well-being and Performance: The Human and Organizational Benefits of Wood Buildings is a must-read and summarizes the latest scientific research and converging trends on biophilic design.
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$66.5 million in new student housing announced at Okanagan College campuses
Students will soon be able to study in their own communities, thanks to new, environmentally friendly mass timber housing being constructed at Okanagan College's Vernon, Salmon Arm and Kelowna campuses.
"Affordable housing is key to building strong, healthy communities. This new student housing will help students focus on their studies, and its mass timber construction will create good jobs for local workers," Premier John Horgan said Friday, during the live streamed announcement.
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Canadian Mass Timber to Make Vancouver Schools More Earthquake-Resistant
Natural Resources Canada
Canada supports innovation in the forest sector through the green construction of low-rise non-residential wood buildings. Mass timber use in public buildings, such as schools, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, promotes innovation and supports local value-added manufacturing.
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., today announced a $1,482,000 investment in British Columbia's Vancouver School Board District #39. This investment will enable the construction of two local schools as part of recent seismic upgrades to make B.C. schools safer.
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Fast + Epp head office receives recognition by the Canadian Wood Council and BC forest industry
Canadian Architect
Fast + Epp’s new head office is being recognized by the Canadian Wood Council and the BC forest industry for its innovation and ingenuity in wood design and building, and for being selected for funding support under Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction through Wood (GC Wood) Program.
The hybrid mass timber building, located near downtown Vancouver on Yukon Street, is among the first office buildings in Vancouver to use mass timber as a structural material, and will showcase the same structural technologies that are at the forefront of their consulting practice.
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