VANCOUVER, Sept. 24, 2014 /CNW/ - Elected officials from five B.C. local government associations were honoured today at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention in Whistler, as Wood WORKS! BC presented the 2014 Community Recognition Awards. The awards are presented annually to communities that have been exemplary advocates for wood use in public structures. This may be demonstrated through the specification of wood in a community project and/or through visionary initiatives that work toward building a community culture of wood.
The 2014 recipients are:
AVICC -- Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (includes several local governments and First Nations in the Comox Valley): Comox Valley Economic Development Society for the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre (Merit: City of Nanaimo and District of Tofino)
AKBLG -- Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments: City of Kimberley for the Mark Creek Bridge (Merit: Village of Canal Flats)
NCLGA -- North Central Local Government Association: Town of Smithers for the Bovill Square
SILGA -- Southern Interior Local Government Association: Town of Summerland for the R.C.M.P. Building
LMLGA -- Lower Mainland Local Government Association: Village of Pemberton for the Downtown Community Barn (Merit: City of Richmond and Village of Harrison Hot Springs)
"We congratulate these local governments for their vision and leadership by choosing wood for design and construction of their civic projects," stated Lynn Embury-Williams, Executive Director, Wood WORKS! BC. "These projects truly showcase the many attributes of wood, while connecting us with our province's past and moving us toward a more sustainable future. Wood use in public buildings brings pride to B.C. towns and cities, and leaves a lasting legacy, which is an enduring celebration of our culture of wood."
William Billups, Technical Advisor, Wood WORKS! BC has worked extensively with local governments on projects ranging from fire halls to arenas to recreation centres. He noted the extensive use of technologically advanced wood products and systems in the projects of the 2014 award-winning communities, and explains the reason. "Local governments want the beauty and versatility of these wood products and systems which make it possible to create distinctive and innovative projects to enhance their streetscapes. The significant advantages from fire and seismic hazards are also a major consideration as well as the potential for retrofitting for future needs. Affordability of wood is very appealing to local governments as well, as they must make the most of thin capital project budgets," he explained.
Mary Sjostrom is mayor of the City of Quesnel, past president of UBCM, and her community was a recipient of a Community Recognition Award in 2012. "These Community Recognition Awards are a highlight of our association meetings at UBCM. They have been presented to large and small communities throughout B.C.. Every community can and should build with wood first, and use it wherever possible, including accenting with wood products." She added, "Building with wood is good, and being recognized with a Community Recognition Award is icing on the cake."
"In summary, local governments want a lower carbon footprint, lower building costs, and warm, beautiful and human-centred environments that British Columbians love. Wood provides those benefits while telling a community's story and making a positive statement about its values," concluded Lynn Embury-Williams.
BACKGROUND:
Wood WORKS! is a national industry-led initiative of the Canadian Wood Council, with a goal to support innovation and provide leadership on the use of wood and wood products. Through workshops, seminars and case studies, Wood WORKS! provides education, training and technical expertise to building and design professionals and local governments involved with commercial, institutional and industrial construction projects throughout B.C.. Wood WORKS! BC is a recognized resource to help B.C. communities with the "build with wood" requirements on publicly-funded projects, and its expertise is available free-of-charge.
For the past 16 years, Wood WORKS! BC has facilitated practical, efficient, versatile and cost-effective building and design solutions through the use of wood -- the most sustainable, natural and renewable building material on Earth.
Image with caption: "AVICC -- Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities: Comox Valley Economic Development Society - Vancouver Island Visitor Centre (Credit: Moore Architecture Inc. and Stantec Consulting Victoria) (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140924_C1501_PHOTO_EN_5965.jpg
Image with caption: "AKBLG -- Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments: City of Kimberley - Mark Creek Bridge (Credit: Aidan Bozek / Tyee Log Homes) (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140924_C1501_PHOTO_EN_5966.jpg
Image with caption: "NCLGA -- North Central Local Government Association: Town of Smithers - Bovill Square (Credit: Town of Smithers) (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140924_C1501_PHOTO_EN_5967.jpg
Image with caption: "SILGA -- Southern Interior Local Government Association: Town of Summerland - R.C.M.P. Building (Credit: KMBR Architects) (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140924_C1501_PHOTO_EN_5968.jpg
Image with caption: "LMLGA -- Lower Mainland Local Government Association: Village of Pemberton - Downtown Community Barn (Credit: Dave Steers) (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140924_C1501_PHOTO_EN_5969.jpg
Image with caption: "Lynn Embury-Williams, Executive Director-Wood WORKS! BC (CNW Group/Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140924_C1501_PHOTO_EN_5970.jpg
SOURCE: Canadian Wood Council for Wood WORKS! BC
Lynn Embury-Williams, Executive Director - Wood WORKS! BC: 1 877 929 9663 - ext. 1 or 778 887 8302
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