SADC Matawinie is proud to have collaborated in the organization of the Bois-forêt-délice conference dinner organized by the Association forestière de Lanaudière (AFL). The event was held on March 15 at the Académie de tourisme et d'hôtellerie de Lanaudière. Nearly 80 people from the Quebec and Lanaudière forestry community, large, medium and small forestry companies, the forest edibles industry, elected officials and representatives of the 3 levels of government, as well as regional economic development, attended the event to present the new Arboria project, a showcase for forest and wood.
During this meal, co-organized with the complicity of the CDBL and SADC Matawinie and specially concocted with regional products and forest edibles, guests enjoyed speeches by Philippe Lupien and Benoit Michaud.
The region's forest heritage: a structuring element of the Lanaudière region.
From the outset, Benoit Michaud, president and founding member of the Association forestière de Lanaudière and president of Ressources forestières biotiques, gave a heartfelt testimonial on his commitment to sustainable forestry, respectful of ecosystems and practices that support the capacity of forests to regenerate. He added that "the regional forest heritage is a structuring element of the Lanaudière region".
He reminded the guests that the AFL is recognized by the Ministère des Forêts de la Faune et des Parcs as a regional interlocutor in matters of forest culture. In 2003, the AFL was born out of a desire to bring together players and users of the forestry sector, to create closer ties and a better dialogue between stakeholders, and to promote the forestry sector to regional authorities and the general public.
This vast mission is also embodied in the creation of Arboria, a showcase for forestry and wood., Benoit Michaud continues " I feel that the best way to showcase what's great about our (forestry) sector today is to show it off proudly, welcoming people into a world they no longer suspect exists. Forestry, wood products and their trades have made giant strides in recent years. The Arboria project is built around this premise."
"Arboria is a structuring element for the understanding and appreciation of forestry and the renewal of wood materials in the 21st century.
With the Arboria project, a showcase for forests and wood, the AFL aims to bring together its private, community and public sector partners in 2017, in order to launch the design and construction of a reception and exhibition pavilion in 2018. The building's contemporary architecture will showcase Quebec's innovation, genius and creativity in the use of wood, and make new scientific knowledge about forests, their ecosystems and wood, an ecological and versatile material, accessible.
The new building will host, among other things, a permanent exhibition on the fantastic journey from forest seed to high-tech wood products, as well as new forestry trades. It will also host major interdisciplinary events focusing on trees, forests, non-timber forest products and, of course, wood and wood products.
Finally, Benoit Michaud invited the region's forestry and timber industry players and socio-economic partners to lend their expertise to the project.
"In this way, we believe we can further develop the feeling of belonging to the forest, and develop the reflex to return to it and tame it better".
Wood, an emblematic material of Quebec
Philippe Lupien, architect and landscape architect, Director of the Environmental Design Department at UQAM, spoke to the audience about the material wood in object design and architecture. Mr. Lupien took the opportunity of his talk to invite the forestry world to make the properties of wood better known to young designers, in order to support the development of a unique signature in Quebec design, associated with this emblematic material.
The AFL organizes and distributes a wide range of educational activities in primary and secondary schools, for adults in training, and for the general public.
In collaboration with municipalities and other regional organizations, it also develops activities to enhance natural spaces, as well as natural science and outdoor activities.