The doors are open - or rather seven doors - at the new Central Interior Logging Association offices.
The CILA is the anchor agency, but a coalition of forest industry contacts have joined forces at a single facility on Queensway. The official opening ceremonies were held on Friday, after about three weeks slowly moving into the one building from other locations all over the city.
"The location has been a huge change," said MaryAnne Arcand, executive director of the CILA, which was previously located in the commercial space available at the Railway and Forestry Museum. "I'll bet the walk-in traffic has tripled since we moved here."
That sentiment was echoed by the BC Forest Safety Council which also joined the group at 2666 Queensway and has seen an upsurge in visitors.
Arcand said their previous location was an excellent place for them to start up but over the years they grew to need more space. The new location has the space to allow programs to grow and activities to be more robust.
With the addition of the partner agencies, the CILA is also feeling the impact of their neighbours.
It is a one-stop shop," Arcand said. "Someone comes in for an initial purpose, but they end up walking around the building covering other things on their list as well. That ability to collaborate and consult on the fly is a huge benefit."
The building is occupied by the CILA, BC Forest Safety Council, Council of Forest Industries, Resources North, Forrex, the Carbon Offset Co-operative, and Malfair Law. Many of these also have sub-agencies and events adding to the holistic system of forest industry interests under the one roof.
