Wood Works! recognizes champions of wood.

There are many champions for the cause of wood and Wood WORKS! has recognized their efforts.

At a gala evening held at Huntsville's Deerhurst Resort on Oct. 16, several northern individuals and companies were recognized for their efforts to encourage the use of wood in construction.

The recipients include: Timmins Mayor Jamie Lim who received the Building the Future Award - Wood Champion for her efforts in encouraging the use of wood in construction.

Building the Future Award - Architecture went to Walter Kuch of Kuch, Stephenson, Gibson, Malo Architects and Engineers in Thunder Bay. This Thunder Bay-area architect was nominated for his use of wood both structurally and aesthetically in a variety of projects, including the Old Fort William Visitor Information Centre, Sleeping Giant Park Visitor Centre, Elk Lake Eco-Resource Centre and the Marathon Tourist Information Centre and Ski Lodge.

Parry Sound Mayor Ted Knight received the Building the Future Award - Community Leader for his support of the Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc. and for his support of the Wood WORKS! "Build With Wood" resolution.

The Wood Design Award - Commercial also went to Parry Sound's Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, designed by Keith Loffler of Toronto, for its glulam timber scissor trusses, Douglas fir heavy wood decking and solid maple auditorium flooring.

The Value-Added Award went to Kent Trusses in Sundridge for its contribution to the expansion of the forest industry's value added sector in Ontario by purchasing lumber from Ontario-based mills, by manufacturing all their products at the Sundridge plant and by constantly promoting engineered wood products for residential and commercial industries.