About Us: The Council of Forest Industries

The Council of Forest Industries is the voice of the BC interior forest industry. COFI companies operate 100 production facilities in more than 60 forest dependent communities in the interior of British Columbia. COFI member company operations account for approximately 80 percent of all BC softwood lumber shipments and 35 percent of all Canadian softwood lumber shipments.

COFI member companies directly employ approximately 50,000 people. However, approximately 150,000 families, both through direct and indirect employment, depend on COFI member companies for their livelihood and well-being.

The Council of Forest Industries offers its Interior member companies enhanced levels of service in the areas of forest policy, quality control, international market and trade development, public affairs and community relations. Headquartered in Vancouver, COFI also serves members from regional offices in Kelowna and Prince George. A quality control team delivers grade stamp licensing and quality control services.

Our Forest Education Programs are offered through our two regional offices in Prince George and Kelowna. These programs, although similar, are funded, developed and delivered independently taking into consideration regional geographic, demographic and historic differences. For information on either program please Contact Us.

What We Do: Forest Education

Making sure tomorrow’s leaders are well-informed about the value of BC’s forest resources and BC’s forest industry is a key component of sustainability for our industry and for communities throughout BC. From COFI’s Northern Operations office in Prince George our forest education manager provides current, balanced and factual information about BC’s rich, world class forest resources and forestry issues as they relate to communities and the forest industry to the general public and educators and students at schools and post-secondary institutions across BC’s north-central interior.

In partnership with industry professionals, forest education is promoted throughout the year through a wide variety of activities such as teacher Professional Development Day workshops, field tours, class presentations, guest speakers, industry tours and student career awareness programs. A variety of forest education teaching resource kits are also available to teachers along with industry career information, website links, posters and audiovisual supplies, all linked to BC’s school curriculum.

In addition to providing forest education information and programs, we make a commitment to students interested in pursuing a career in the forest industry by providing scholarships and bursaries to students enrolled in professional and technical programs in colleges and universities throughout BC.

Click on the COFI logo to learn more
about the Council of Forest Industries