Core Funding Agreements

The year 2023 marked a significant transition for the core funding agreements of the Canadian Wood Council (CWC). During this period, CWC successfully reconfirmed all major sources of funding, ensuring the organization's financial stability and growth.

Membership Base

The membership base of CWC remains robust. On November 30, 2023, the Board approved the 2024 budget, maintaining the current membership fee structure. We extend our gratitude to all members for their continued support and are pleased to announce that 100% of the membership fees budgeted for 2023 were collected.

Key Funders and Financial Performance

The National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) continues to be a principal funder for the Codes and Engineering team, facilitating contributions from grading agencies across Canada to the CWC mandate. In 2023, we met all our obligations under the Master Service Agreement (MSA), with actual expenditures closely aligning with the budget—coming within 0.3% of the forecasted amount, resulting in a minor variance of $6,000. This precise financial management was achieved through the efficient collaboration between the finance and Codes and Engineering teams, along with continuous updates to the MSA report, which provided a clear view of forecasts and budget variances.

NRCan Agreements

CWC successfully renegotiated and formalized three-year agreements with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), extending until March 2026. These agreements ensure the continuity of the WoodWorks program, a crucial initiative that supports the advancement of wood construction in Canada through project support. The program is delivered by CWC (National, BC, and ON teams), as well as program partners from AFPA, MLB, and QFIC. NRCan also continues to support the Advancing Wood Education program, which focuses on collaboration with post-secondary institutions (PSIs) and provides additional support to the Codes and Standards team.

"The newly renovated FPAC-CWC-NLGA office space, made possible by our members' unwavering support, seamlessly blends design and functionality while symbolizing our shared commitment to a future of forest sector innovation and excellence. Thanks to our valued forest products sector and construction partners, our new office stands as a testament to collaboration, sustainability, and the timeless beauty of wood. Over the next decade, the modernized office will be a cornerstone of our commitment to fostering staff engagement, attracting top talent, and retaining the best to serve our industry."

- Lana Legostaeva, Chief Financial Officer, CWC

The space intentionally breaks down physical and metaphorical barriers to help foster collaboration between sharing companies. It also serves as an inviting space to facilitate our return to in-person work and support the adoption of hybrid schedules for individuals and their respective teams.

CWC, FPAC, and NLGA would like to thank the following wood sector partners who contributed to the office’s design with walls, flooring, and beyond:

Western Archrib – Glulam Table Collab
West Fraser – MDF Reception, Plywood Reception and Boardroom, Baseboards
Marwood – Siding Accent Walls Meeting Rooms
J.D. Irving Limited – Flooring and Textured Panels
Acoustitech – Flooring Membrane

The successful relocation of the FPAC, Canadian Wood Council (CWC), and National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) headquarters this year marks a significant milestone for providing an optimal work environment for staff and overall, $1.2M in lease costs savings for the industry. The space, designed by Lemay Architecture and Design, incorporates wood and wood-based materials contributed and was thoughtfully designed to boost creativity, productivity, and to showcase the full journey of Canadian forest products – from forestry to wood construction.

This concept naturally extends to the materiality, where wooden wall and floor finishes, acoustic panels, and textures have been designed and selected for the office so that it can reap the benefits of wood in architecture and design – strength and stability alongside soothing and stress-reducing biophilic qualities, promoting air quality, softening sounds, and sustainability. The contemporary office captures the comforts of a home office through three areas that align with forestry: ‘forest’ meeting rooms that reflect movement and collaboration in an ecosystem, ‘trees’ in open work areas for focused work, and ‘wood’ hybrid workspaces for innovation and ad-hoc brainstorming sessions like the patterns found in the material’s grain.

At the beginning of 2023, the Board approved a new Governance Model for the CWC designed to increase engagement, improve committee function, and enhance understanding of what CWC does among industry and other key stakeholders.

The changes included: (1) the dissolution of the US Affairs Committee – CWC’s President & CEO is a voting Director on the AWC’s Board and will update the CWC Executive and Board on an as-needed basis for any US-related matters; (2) the dissolution of the Human Resources Committee – these duties now fall to the Executive Committee; (3) the combination of the Membership and Nominations Committees – this reformed committee is chaired by the immediate Past Board Chair and is primarily responsible for managing the nominations process and addressing membership issues and policies; and (4) the creation of a new Marketing and Communications Committee responsible for providing guidance on communications, educational outreach, and regional market development programs. Terms of reference for the various committees are available upon request.

There were several changes to the Board and Committee leadership confirmed at the 2023 AGM. Kevin Pankratz was appointed to the role of Board Chair, moving from his previous position as Board Vice Chair and replacing outgoing Chair, Jérôme Pelletier. The Vice-Chairs this term are Hugues Simon and Don McGregor. Keith Hess continues as the Board Treasurer this term.