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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release July 21, 2010 |
Ministry of Forests and Range
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DUNGATE COMMUNITY FOREST THANKED FOR OLYMPIC PODIUM
HOUSTON – Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad presented a gift of appreciation to the Dungate Community Forest for donating the wood used to build the podium on which Canada’s Jon Montgomery celebrated his gold-medal win.
“Jon Montgomery’s race to the top of the podium is an Olympic memory for millions of Canadians,” said Rustad. “And the people of Houston felt an extra sense of pride because he celebrated on a podium made of wood grown and harvested by their friends and neighbours.”
The Community Forest Board was presented with a special 76 cm x 76 cm x 10 cm (30-inch x 30-inch x 4-inch) shadow box containing a medal tray identical to the ones used during the Games, and a photo of Montgomery on top of the podium. The recognition also included a special edition, coffee-table book featuring all of the podiums, printed specifically to recognize donating licensees and a letter of thanks from Premier Gordon Campbell. Canada’s women’s bobsleigh team also celebrated Gold and Silver medals on the podium, as did the men’s four-man bobsleigh team, bronze.
“The directors of Dungate Community Forest are proud to have had a small part in the Winter Olympics and are especially pleased to have Houston recognized,” said Dungate Community Forest Director Arnold Amonson.
“As partners in the management of the Dungate Community Forest, Houston District Council is proud of the contribution of local pine for the construction of a podium for the Olympics,” said Houston Mayor Bill Holmberg. “The community really turned out for the Torch Relay event here in January, we were in the finals for the GamesTown competition, and we gathered together to watch the Closing Ceremonies on our new screen in the arena – courtesy of Livesites funding. This memento will join the Olympic torch we have on display in reminding our citizens and demonstrating to visitors that we in Houston truly are with glowing hearts.”
The lodgepole pine for the podium was felled in the Dungate Community Forest and milled in Houston. The wood was converted into panels, cut into complex shapes using sophisticated computer-controlled machinery and assembled into a podium in Vancouver. It was used for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
A profile of the podium is at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/Olympics/podiums/Podium_Profile_Houston.pdf
“The podiums helped highlight British Columbian wood products to millions of Olympic viewers around the world,” said Bell. “Our rapid increase in lumber sales and market share in China continues to create jobs in communities across the Province.”
The Ministry of Forests and Range sourced the wood and co-ordinated the production of 23 podiums used at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The podiums were made from 18 wood types donated from community forest operators and other forest licensees around the province.
The Dungate Community Forest covers 14,000 hectares and began operations in 2008. It is managed to exemplify stewardship and support for local value-added manufacturing. Wood for 14 of the podiums was donated by community forests.
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Media Contacts:
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Cheekwan Ho Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8482 |
Arnold Amonson Director Dungate Community Forest
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