Leadership in structural and architectural wood use by local governments was recognized at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver last week. Five local governments were presented with 2021 Community Recognition Awards for use of wood in their community projects by Wood WORKS! BC.
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:
AKBLG - Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments: City of Fernie for the Fernie Memorial Arena Truss Repair
AVICC – Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities: Township of Esquimalt for the Esquimalt Town Centre and Library.
LMLGA - Lower Mainland Local Government Association: City of Richmond for the Minoru Centre for Active Living.
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
“Wood’s many benefits are showcased in all of these structures, including reduced carbon impacts and increased building performance, and demonstrate that traditional as well as technologically advanced wood systems can be used effectively and distinctly in many types and sizes of civic structures,” said Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC.
New initiatives such as the province’s Mass Timber Demonstration Program will 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 October 8.