Forestry & Value Added Wood

Industry Snapshot  Competitive Advantages Opportunities

Incentives  Testimonials    Resource Organizations

 

Industry Snapshot

British Columbia is the largest producer of forest products in Canada and Kamloops has been a significant contributor to the production. As a provincially recognized forest centre, Kamloops and the central interior account for the second highest concentration of value-added plants in the province.    Forestry and value added wood is one of the major economic sectors in Kamloops. With a strong and diverse labour pool of forestry specialists, contract loggers, truckers and silviculture workers, industry and community, the industry continues to support employment.

The number of value-added wood products manufactured in Kamloops continues to grow and ranges from plywood and veneer products, finger jointed lamina, prefabricated housing units to custom kitchen cabinets.  Many companies, agencies, and services related to the forest industry are headquartered in Kamloops including Domtar, Tolko Industries, FORREX and Compwood Products.

 

Competitive Advantages

The value-added wood industry in the Kamloops Forest District has a number of strengths, which position it well to compete in the North American home building market.  Local strengths include knowledge and experience of the industry, export market experience, and interest in developing partnerships.

Other strengths found in Kamloops are: a large number of businesses supporting the home building industry, fiber supply, a skilled labour pool, transportation (4 highways and 2 railways), good infrastructure, proximity to markets (only a 3 hour drive from Vancouver), local government and local research & development support.  

 

Opportunities

Kamloops is an ideal central location for the forestry and value added wood sector.  Offering selective wood species and lumber grades available at competitive prices, an educated workforce and major highway and railway routes, Kamloops holds many opportunities for new companies wishing to relocate their business here.

The interest and development of bio-energy in Kamloops is on the rise.  With its easy access to wood waste, the pulp and paper industry seems a natural fit for gasification systems that produce biofuels, for consumption or for sale.  Domtar's Kamloops mill is working with technology partners Paprican and Nexterra Energy Corp to build a pilot plant for using wood-based synthesis gas to fuel the mill's lime kiln.  

Increased availability of fiber to traditional value-added manufacturers will enable local companies to grow their operations and evolve to new markets.  For smaller mills, increased demand from traditional value-added producers and new innovative wood product manufacturers can stimulate the revival of specialty mills and solidify their market niche through custom cut and specialized product.  The recent reduction in US market demand has also increased the local supply potential for quality hardwoods, softwoods, and panel products.

For more information about BC's Value Added Wood industry click here.   

Kamloops is also the proud home of, Forum for Research and Extension in Natural Resources (FORREX).  FORREX is a British Columbia based charitable non-share corporation, founded in 1998 to help people develop science and knowledge-based solutions to complex natural resource challenges.  Through the contributions of staff, partners and donors, FORREX links people to knowledge, and facilitates continuous innovation and improvement in natural resource policy and management - practices that greatly influence the ecological, social and economic well-being of our communities.

 

Incentives  

The Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC) was established in 2006 to address the growing Mountain Pine Beetle problem in the forests of British Columbia.  The SIBAC receives funding from the Government of British Columbia to develop potential solutions to deal with the Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation.

 

Testimonials

"If you have ever dreamed of living and working out of a small resort, consider moving to Kamloops.  The amenities here are fantastic, and the relaxed lifestyle is reflected in the cooperative, good natured way that we do business."

Chris Ortner, Cirque Resource Associates Ltd.

 

Resource Organizations

Kamloops Timber Supply Area - Sustainable Forest Management
Kamloops Forest District
Council of Forest Industries
BC Wood
Southern Interior Forest Region 
Forum for Research and Extension in Natural Resources (FORREX)