One of the hot topics at the Montreal Wood Convention (MWC) this year was how the pandemic has impacted how work is done in the lumber industry. Discussing this topic were four heavy-hitters: Cees de Jager, CEO of the Softwood Lumber Board; Kevin Edgson, president and CEO of EACOM Timber Corporation; Craig Johnston, president and CEO of Forest City Trading Group; and Andy Goodman, president and CEO of Sherwood Lumber. In a conversation about the labour crunch, all panelists agreed that the skilled labour shortage has led many companies to rely on off-site, prefabricated pieces for construction. Goodman explained the appeal here is that this change allows businesses to schedule workers more effectively. …There was also the question of who builds with wood. Despite unemployment levels approaching their pre-pandemic state, the CEOs all noted that their companies are still facing labour shortages, which greatly impacts the industry as a whole.
More architects and developers are rallying for mass timber instead of concrete and steel, persuaded by its proven success and environmental benefits. Now, the B.C. government is joining the movement by investing in eight mass timber buildings and four research projects. It also declared that every new civic building will be made mostly of mass timber… One of the demonstration projects, a luxury residence, developed by Delta Land Group with architects Perkins + Will, offers a double helping of carbon benefits. It will be Canada’s first mass timber mid-rise to be built to passive house standards. …If mass timber has a starchitect, it’s Michael Green, whose Vancouver-based Michael Green Architects firm has completed 18 mass timber buildings in cities across North America. Mr. Green is a member of the B.C. government’s new advisory council, established to oversee the demonstration projects. …Mr. Green sees a future when mass timber “reshapes our skylines with beautiful buildings.”
The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) is pleased to announce the support of three USDA Forest Service 2021 Wood Innovations Grant winning projects. “The SLB applauds the public-private partnership approach taken by the USDA with the Wood Innovations Grant program.” said Cees de Jager, SLB President & CEO. “Of the Wood Innovations Grant proposals submitted this year, three were particularly compelling, with innovative strategies to expand the use of softwood lumber by developing all-wood solutions to address affordable housing, demonstrating the performance capabilities of mass timber, and supporting wood-steel hybrid construction.” The SLB will be supporting the following projects: Building Affordable Housing with Mass Timber; Demonstration of a Cost-Effective CLT Panel Capable of Resisting DOS/DOD Design Basis Threats – Phase I; and Advancement of Timber Panels as Structural Elements in Composite Floor Systems of Timber-Steel Hybrid Structures. 
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today awarded more than $15 million to fund grant proposals to develop and expand the use of wood products, strengthen emerging wood energy markets and protect community forests. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement in Colorado today while visiting prescribed fire and wildfire recovery areas adjacent to the Roosevelt National Forest Northern Colorado Front Range landscape. The grant funding, delivered through USDA Forest Service programs, will support 60 projects that cover a diverse range of activities from the development of affordable housing to expanding markets for mass timber, biochar, wood energy and other emerging wood products. The grants also include funds to help tribes, local governments and qualified non-profit organizations permanently conserve working forests that benefit communities.
Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced that over $1.6 million in federal funds that will support mass wood products production and affordable housing construction, is headed to Oregon through a program Merkley spearheaded in 2018. Merkley said, “We have been working to establish Oregon as a hub for mass timber products, using local timber and bolstering our forest products economy”. Merkley said the pathway for federal grants are needed to strengthen this growing sector. He said that means Oregonians can continue to innovate, create jobs, and address the state’s critical affordable housing construction needs. Wyden said the investment in innovation uses for the state’s signature timber products is “…good news for Oregon’s economy and for families in our state and nationwide who very much need housing options that fit in their budget”.
LITTLE ROCK — 
SOUTH KOREA — A 1-hour documentary aired on Korea’s most popular cable network JTBC on April 17 was not only informative but also inspirational as it alleviated public concerns and created favourable perceptions on tall wood construction. Entitled “Revolution of Wood”, the program depicted the coming era of mass timber as a step change soon to enhance Korea’s cityscapes. Tall wood building projects from Europe, North America, Japan and Korea were featured including Brock Commons andHan Green, the tallest modern timber building in South Korea. The program addressed public misperceptions that the more wood is consumed, the greater deforestation will be. Principles of sustainable forest management and wood’s inherent carbon and environmental benefits were highlighted.
It’s strong, versatile and literally as old as the hills so it’s perhaps hardly surprising that wood is experiencing a renaissance in a net-zero world where developers are looking to reduce their cement inventory. From schools to corporate headquarters and even football clubs, organisations are looking at how best to cut carbon emissions globally, and that’s sent demand for wood, and prices, rocketing. Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade at the Timber Trade Federation, said demand for timber products and many other building materials continues to outstrip available supply, creating a risk that demand-led inflation may choke off the sector’s projected pace of recovery. “We are seeing demand for wood products continuing to increase at UK, EU and Global levels which coupled with ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by Covid restrictions has inflated prices and extended lead times,” he said. …In every sphere, wood’s appeal appears to be on ever-firmer foundations.