Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
Wood First Initiative: Creating a Culture of Wood
British Columbia is home to one of the world’s most sustainable and globally competitive forest sectors. The Province’s Wood First Initiative aims to build on that reputation by promoting the use of B.C. wood products.
The overall goal is to encourage a cultural shift toward viewing wood as the first choice for construction, interior design and daily living.
Wood is durable, cost-effective and climate friendly. Using more wood will help strengthen the province’s forest-dependent communities and assist in meeting our climate change goals.
To support implmentation of the Wood First Initiative, Government has passed the Wood First Act, and established a Wood Enterprise Coalition.
The Province has also committed to building the Wood Innovation and Design Centre. To be located in Prince George, the Centre will position B.C. as a world leader in wood construction, design and education.
News Releases
- Winning architects, structural engineers and project teams enthral and inspire at 2013 BC Wood Design Awards – March 4, 2013 (Wood WORKS! BC)
- Wood WORKS! BC congratulations 2011 Community Recognition Award winners - Sept 28, 2011 (Wood WORKS! BC)
- Ground breaking for the first six-storey wood frame residential development in B.C. – June 18, 2010 (Office of the Premier)
- –B.C. announces formation of the Wood Enterprise Coalition Apr 20, 2010 (Ministry of Forests and Range)
- Petäjävesi, Finland's new wooden municipal offices cost less than using concrete – Mar 17, 2010 (Finnish Forest Association)
- The aesthetic experience at the Richmond Olympic Oval: "it's the wood" – Feb 26, 2010 (Wood WORKS! BC)
- BC "Wood First" Champions saluted – Feb 23, 2010 (Wood WORKS! BC)
- Wood WORKS! BC congratulates four BC communities on adopting Wood First Resolutions – Feb 3, 2010 (Wood WORKS! BC)
- Act Introduced to Expand Wood Use in Public Buildings – Sep 22, 2009 (Ministry of Forests and Range)
- Province to Raise Roof on Wood-frame Construction – Sep 25, 2008 (Ministry of Housing and Social Development)
Why Build With Wood
- Using wood can limit climate change due to the reduced energy required to create
wood building products and through carbon storage in the wood itself. Every tonne of wood material used in construction saves
about 5.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into
the atmosphere. - Wood is strong, lightweight and
flexible. Wood building systems have been proven to be
seismically safe. - Wood is organic, sustainable, natural,
and renewable. - Wood requires less energy to manufacture than any other
building material. - Wood is cost-effective and easily sourced locally. Building with wood supports our economy and local communities.
- Wood is visually appealing, warm and inviting.
- Wood buildings are
easy to renovate, expand and adapt to changing uses.
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