Forestry exhibition draws world experts

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With a growing international reputation, Prince George is considered one of Canada's top forest industry areas in the country. Its biggest resource is softwood lumber, a type of lumber that is produced by conifer trees such as spruce. Hundreds of sawmills in the area produce this type of lumber, so it is no surprise the city of 85,000 would host the largest forestry exposition in the country from June 3 to 5 this year. The twelfth biannual forest expo will offer thousands of people a chance to connect with hundreds of forestry related exhibitors from around the world.

The event hosted by the Prince George Regional Forest Exhibition Society will offer panels, seminars and workshops, as well as indoor and outdoor trade booths showcasing the latest in new forest technology, equipment, supplies and ideas.

Panels include Workforce In Transition, a discussion on how the forest industry can recruit, train and keep its workers. Also, Making the Woods Safer, where each province will have a chance to address its needs in their logging sector. Seminars at the University of Northern British Columbia will offer forest companies' sawmill operators, managers, Native and community leaders a chance to network and gather information. Included in the four-day event are the International Logger Sports competitions such as hot saws, tree-cutting and axe-throwing.

This forestry expo began after the association was incorporated on Aug. 30, 1984 by a group of people who had a common interest in forestry. The first expo was held in May, 1985.

Trudy Swaan, general manager of Forestry Expo 2004, said their expositions are getting bigger and better every second year.

"We are sure that this is going to be successful. It is going to be a fun and educational filled four-days, and we are hoping for 325 booths at show time," she said.

New this year is the Bio Energy Conference and Exhibition that will be held in conjunction with the forestry expo. This conference, focusing on the promotion and awareness of renewable sources of energy, is going to take place on June 2 and 3.

Swaan said that they are hoping that First Nation people will get involved in the wood competitions and logging sports at the expo because they had not received any registrants at the end of April. "I know that there are beautiful First Nations carvers, totem pole makers and canoe makers, and we have over $10,000 in cash and tools to give away. The entry forms can be downloaded from our Web site.

"I know that Chief Barry Seymour of Lheidli T'enneh Band is going to bring welcoming greetings for the attendees at the bio-energy conference as well as our attendees at our seminars, and he is also doing speeches at some of the luncheon events," she said.

The last expo in 2002 drew more than 17,000 people and this year they are expecting 16,000 to 20,000, said Swaan.

For further information you can log on at www.city.pg.bc.ca. The telephone number for the forestry expo is 1-250-563-8833 and the bio-energy conference telephone number is 1-250-964-1782.