Ontario Wood Promotions Program

Ontario’s forest products and value-added wood product manufacturers and craftspeople use Ontario wood to produce hundreds of different products from lumber to log homes to household and office furniture to kitchen cabinets and musical instruments that are renowned for their quality, reliability and innovative design. The industry provides employment for over 200,000 Ontarians, all across our province. The Ontario Wood Promotions Program (OWPP) seeks to work with partners across Ontario to develop a strong culture of wood use that aims to help grow Ontario’s industry.

The OWPP was established in September 2005 to promote the forest products and wood manufacturing sectors. The goals of the program are to:

• Expand existing markets by increasing awareness of non-traditional markets and confidence in the capacity of Ontario manufacturers to supply quality products;
• Identify and quantify new specific markets where potential exists for Ontario value-added wood products, and introduce member suppliers to those individual markets compatible with their product potential;
• Provide the market information necessary to assist suppliers in successfully accessing specialty markets;
• Link marketing initiatives to research and development regarding technology, product development/innovation;
• Link primary & secondary forest industries, federal and provincial governments, and industry organizations through cooperative initiatives/partnerships;
• Build on the success of programs such as Wood WORKS!, to promote the development of a wood culture domestically to enhance the per capita use of wood products in the province and enhance awareness of the industry;
• Build workforce capacity to support the future wood products industries; and
• Develop domestic opportunities for Ontario wood products. A key part of this has been the development and launch of the Ontario Wood brand. The brand will help Ontario consumers to differentiate wood products produced in Ontario from others in the market place.    

Successful Applicants of the Wood Promotions Program Include:

Canadian Wood Council – Ontario Wood WORKS!

Wood WORKS! is a national initiative, led by the Canadian Wood Council, to increase the use of wood in commercial, industrial and institutional construction. Ontario Wood WORKS! exists to build pride in a Canadian wood culture through awareness and education, building proficiency in wood utilization through training, networking and technical support, and the celebration of “wood champions” who inspire excellence in building with wood. The OWPP has provided funding for this initiative since fiscal 2006/07.

Capital Assistance for post secondary institutions

In the winter of 2011 the OWPP sent out a call for proposals to all the post secondary institutions across Ontario to invite them to participate in an initiative to assist them in upgrading or purchasing new equipment that will be used by students as part of their studies in a curriculum that promotes the development of a culture of wood use in Ontario. An objective of the OWPP is to educate future practitioners to effectively utilize wood in construction and design applications. By upgrading equipment and teaching aides it allows future practitioners to be better ready to participate in the workforce by helping to ensure that they are trained on the latest equipment and technology. Ten institutions were successful. The OWPP cost shared in the following projects;

• Algonquin College purchased a new CNC Router;
• Centennial College built demonstration structures as teaching aides;
• College Boreal purchased a small pellet mill;
• Conestoga College purchased a virtual paint system, a dry filter spray booth and a veneer butt joining machine for it’s Woodworking Centre;
• Lambton College purchased trades equipment;
• Ryerson University purchased a CNC Router;
• Sheridan College purchased a CNC Router;
• University of Toronto purchased various pieces of equipment for its lab;
• University of Ottawa purchased various pieces of equipment; and
• University of Waterloo purchased a planer and jointer.

FPInnovations – NOVA initiative 
 

The Northern Ontario Value Added initiative’s (NOVA) objectives include; supporting investment in sector-related manufacturing by small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ontario, increasing the awareness of the business potential for value-added wood products, augmenting the capacity of First Nations to participate in the development and manufacturing of value-added wood products, and helping to enhance the marketing and sales capabilities of Northern Ontario wood product manufacturers. The OWPP has provided funding for this initiative since fiscal 2007/08.

In addition the OWPP in fiscal 2010/11 provided funding to FPInnovations to conduct a value added roadmap to establish baseline information on the value-added industry across Ontario and to gain a better understanding of the industry to assist with future direction and a potential move from a Northern Ontario initiative to an Ontario wide initiative.

University of Toronto

The OWPP has also assisted the University of Toronto in the development and promotion of new graduate programs in Forest Bio-materials Science and Engineering as well as some major and minor undergraduate courses in the same. Funds were provided from fiscal year 2006/07 until 2009/10.
 

• Wood Works!
• University of Toronto
• FPInnovations - Northern Ontario Value-Added Initiative