Turning risks into resources O by Todd Humber n a perfect 10 degree Celsius Sun-I’m not a tree hugger, nor am I de-day afternoon in April, my partner vout forestry aficionado who takes joy in and I took our two dogs for a walk clear-cutting. If nothing else, I’m a prag-in the woods. We were looking for a new matist. Do we need wood? Yep. Lumber is spot to explore and settled on Holland one of the most practical (and renewable) Landing Prairie Provincial Park, located resources we have. My house is framed not far from our home north of Toronto. with wood. The desk I’m typing this col-We loaded up Athena, umn on is wood. The floor our four-year-old Bernese under my feet is wood. It Mountain Dog, and Scout, provides well-paying jobs our two-year old Labradoo-for Canadians. dle, into the car and set off. As we walked through It’s not your typical provincial the forest, the dogs darting park, in that there are no staff around through the under-and no facilities. “Currently, brush, I looked at the piles much of the reserve is planted of woody biomass and INFINITE OPPORTUNITIES to Red Pine, but future plans thought about something include restoring the native Jamie Stephen, manag-ALSO prairie ecosystem,” the Ontar-ing director of Torchlight io Parks description reads and winner of honourable We saw some of the mention for 2024 Thought “future plans” in action, with part of the Leader of the Year, said: “Last year, our park fenced off and evidence of recent wildfires emitted 2.4 billion tons of CO2, tree-clearing. In one open section, we end-which is 50 per cent more emissions than ed up walking on top of what essentially the entire history of the oil sands.” looked like mulch — aka woody biomass. Murray’s point on communication is This was just a few days after Cana-worth repeating. The biomass industry will dian Biomass recognized the winners of always have detractors, aggressively scour-its first awards program — so things like ing for weak points and poor practices. Is pellets and biofuels were a little more top the industry perfect? No. Are there bad ap-of mind than usual. I also heard Gordon ples? Sure, just like in any industry. Murray’s voice echoing in my head. In an era where sustainability matters, Murray, executive-director of the Wood where fully using resources and not wast-Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC), ing anything should be applauded and not was named 2024 Champion of the Year. skewered, this sector has a positive story In a panel discussion on the challenges to tell. Ensuring the industry’s voice is just facing the industry, one thing jumped to as loud as the critics, and more accurate, mind for him. “We’ve attracted some vo-can defuse a lot of the arguments. • cal critics who tend to ignore science and twist facts to their own purposes to show biomass in bad light. Often, these folks are skilled communicators who’ve succeeded in getting through to the regulators and are causing some stress.” Spring 2024 Biomass, Bioenergy and Bioproducts canadianbiomassmagazine.ca Volume 24 No. 2 Reader Service Print and digital subscription inquiries or changes, please contact Angelita Potal, Customer Service Ph: (416) 510-51 13 Fax: (416) 510-6875 Email: [email protected] Mail: 1 1 1 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 Senior Editor -Todd Humber Ph: (289) 264-4883 [email protected] Contributors -Gordon Murray and Maria Church Group Publisher -Anne Beswick [email protected] Ph: (416) 510-5248 Mobile: 416-277-8428 Account Coordinator -Shannon Drumm Ph: (416) 510-6762 [email protected] National Sales Manager -Rebecca Lewis Ph: (519) 429-5196 [email protected] Quebec Sales -Josée Crevier Ph: (514) 425-0025 Fax: (514) 425-0068 [email protected] Western Sales Manager -Tim Shaddick [email protected] Ph: (604) 264-1 158 Fax: (604) 264-1367 Audience Development Manager -Serina Dingeldein Ph: (416) 510-5124 [email protected] Media Designer -Svetlana Avrutin CEO -Scott Jamieson Canadian Biomass is published four times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. 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All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Such approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised. Publisher reserves the right to refuse adver-tising that does not meet the standards of the publication. Calgary biofuels player’s patented tech is both feedstock and product agnostic The winners of the 2024 Canadian Biomass Awards are unveiled The opioids crisis: How to respond to a poisoning at your workplace 4 www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca Canadian BIOMASS SPRING 2024
Canadian Biomass Spring 2024: Page 4
