The City of Quesnel’s New Forestry Innovation Centre

The Forestry Innovation Centre received the Wood Works Award at UBCM. The annual Wood Design Award of BC led by the Canadian Wood Council, aimed to honor excellence in wood-based projects and to recognize the people and organizations that are pioneering and achieving this objective.

Located on the second floor of City Hall in Quesnel, the Forestry Innovation Centre was completed in July 2019 and will celebrate its grand opening in September 2019. The goal of the Forestry Innovation Centre is to showcase all of the various local wood products that are manufactured in Quesnel, alongside research and development in innovative local natural resource management and manufacturing practices.

The Centre has 3 permanent offices and space for 5 itinerant researchers, as well as a board room. The space has been designed as a flexible work environment to foster innovation and collaboration, as well as showcase locally-made structural and finishing wood products; local artisan furniture; and art installations. There is also an interpretive centre that disseminates knowledge about landscape level management, fuel management and the future of forestry.

The Forestry Innovation Centre is a display of local milling capabilities. The feature wall in the entrance was made with multi-colour shiplap, produced by C & C Wood Products, along with a 3D wood display created by local artist Aaron Harder of Conquest Projects. The Centre features various displays of wood products including structural, finishing and artisan displays to showcase what is possible with the innovative use of wood.