Scott Geffros
I would be remiss if I did not make mention of the SLA, however given the rate with which new developments seem to occur, any status updates would be long in the past by the time this goes to print. If you have a vested interest in these negotiations and their current or pending status, please watch for email updates and opportunities to join calls and webinars that will be hosted by the CWPCA.
On a different note, we are pleased to provide you with this update on the CWPCA, current happenings, and what to expect in 2017:
- 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the CWPCA’s Annual General Meeting, and we are planning to celebrate in style. Coinciding with our country’s 150th birthday we have chosen the National Capital Region as our destination for AGM 2017. The Hilton Lac Leamy Resort and Casino, minutes from downtown Ottawa, will play host to the meeting and speaker portion of the event. Currently, we are happy to confirm that we have secured John Dye, President of Timcon to present on the challenges being faced by the wood pallet industry in Europe, as well as Larry Berglund (http://larryberglund.com/), to present on trends in supply chain sustainability. We will be announcing more speakers in the coming weeks. Please block off May 28 and 29 in your calendars, and plan to join us in Ottawa.
- Coinciding with the end of 2016, the CWPCA made a move for the future, and after eleven years, has taken steps to internalize the HT inspection program. Doug Taylor and Associates, who have effectively managed the inspectors and provided expertise and insight to the program, will be stepping away. Doug will carry on in an advisory capacity, however the complete day to day operations of the entire program will now be tasked to CWPCA staff. We wish to thank Doug for his efforts and contributions, and want to recognize that without him we would not have been able to build the program into what it is today.
- As a part of the transition, Doug’s seat on the Canadian Forest Products Advisory Committee has been passed on to myself, and alongside Brian, we will continue to work with the Canadian Government and other forest industry stakeholders to ensure that the needs of the wood packaging industry are addressed and considered as existing policy evolves and new policy is enacted. These appointments are crucial to maintaining the CWPCA’s reputation as the go to organization representing the wood packaging industry in Canada for the government in times of need. The positive relationships that have been built as a result of our participation in committees like this one are evident in the fact that we have been brought to the table as an important voice for the wood packaging industry in the aforementioned SLA negotiations.
- Nature’s Packaging will be moving into its second year, and we could not be more excited. With the foundation in place as provided by the website, promotional video, and information downloads, the teams of volunteers from CWPCA, NWPCA and WPA look to expand the reach of Nature’s Packaging, and take the steps needed to broaden its exposure. The US industry has shown massive support for the further growth of this initiative, and we will continue to encourage all CWPCA members to do likewise. Spread the word: “Wood is Good”!
- Speaking of the U.S. industry, Nature’s Packaging has proved to be a positive catalyst in renewing and reenergizing the cross-border relations with the US industry, and its major associations. We look forward to continued joint efforts and information sharing about the state of our industry with the NWPCA and WPA. 2017 will also mark the first complete year that the CWPCA has held a seat in the “Pallet Foundation”, where we look forward to providing a Canadian voice to the North American industry.
We look forward to another year of growth and continuing in our efforts to make the CWPCA the best it can be.
