An Interior BC town was recognized at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Vancouver this week for leadership in structural and architectural wood use.
Five local governments were presented with 2021 Community Recognition Awards for use of wood in their community projects by Wood WORKS! BC, with Princeton being recognized for their revamp.
The province-wide awards are presented annually to communities that have been exemplary advocates for wood. This may be demonstrated through the specification of wood in a community project and/or through developing policies that strongly encourage wood use.
The 2021 recipients are:
- LMLGA -- Lower Mainland Local Government Association: City of Richmond for the Minoru Centre for Active Living
- AKBLG -- Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments: City of Fernie for the Fernie Memorial Arena Truss Repair
- NCLGA -- North Central Local Government Association: City of Prince George for the Prince George Fire Hall #1
- SILGA -- Southern Interior Local Government Association: Town of Princeton for the Princeton Revitalization and Branding Initiative
- AVICC – Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities: Township of Esquimalt for the Esquimalt Town Centre and Library
“We congratulate these five local governments for their visionary initiatives that truly enhance their communities and streetscapes,” said Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC in a press release.
“These new structures connect us with the wood culture of our province and contribute to community pride and prosperity, especially when using local labour and BC wood products.”
These awards also introduce a new initiative, with the province’s Mass Timber Demonstration Program starting to support the advancement of mass timber projects by financially assisting local governments in their quest to expand wood use.
The second intake of this funding opportunity has a deadline of Oct. 8, which can be found online at www.masstimberbc.ca
Local governments can contact Wood WORKS! BC for resources such as technical expertise, training and education when considering their next civic project.