Working together to sustain, diversify and grow B.C.’s value-added wood manufacturing is a key government commitment to help get more value jobs from the trees we harvest. The new Value-Added Accelerators (VAA) will play an important role in making this happen.
The purpose of the Value-Added Accelerators (VAA) is to develop a suite of solutions to grow value-added manufacturing in BC, as a critical element of an integrated, competitive forest industry.
The objectives of the Value-Added Accelerators are to:
The Value-Added Accelerators are being led in partnership by the BC Value-Added Wood Coalition (BCVAWC), Council of Forest Industries (COFI), the First Nations Forestry Council (FNFC), BC Timber Sales and the Ministry of Forests. A working group of representatives is guided by a provincial steering committee.
The Value-Added Accelerators hosted an open house at the BC Wood’s Global Buyer’s Mission on September 7, 2023, with the purposes of sharing information about the Value-Added Accelerators with BC wood manufacturers and gathering information to support the accelerator process.
Virtual launch sessions were held in October 2023 for each of the North, South and Coast areas. These were followed up with in-person sessions in November to December 2023, in the North (Prince George), South (Kelowna) and Coast (Abbotsford), with an online session option for other attendees.
The Accelerators have brought together licensees, value-added wood manufacturers, First Nations and the Province to gain input on the three main themes identified: First Nations initiatives, business partnerships and government actions, programs and policies.
The Provincial Steering Committee is in the process of reviewing the information received through the engagement sessions and developing some actions and recommendations, which will be brought back to the Value-Added Accelerator participants, for discussion, before finalizing an implementation plan.
The Steering Committee would like to hear your thoughts on how the Value-Added Accelerators can be successful in the goal of supporting and growing value-added manufacturing in B.C.
Complete the survey to share your thoughts.
Email Forest.Policy@gov.bc.ca to be added to the mailing list for updates and information on B.C.’s Value-Added Accelerators.
BC Timber Sales (BCTS) – part of the Ministry of Forests and a partner in the Accelerators – is supporting the value-added sector by introducing the new BCTS Value-Added Manufacturing Program. This program will have a dedicated supply of fibre for value-added manufacturers, and the Ministry is actively exploring increasing this volume.