LAUNCH OF FOREST CENTRE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Construction has officially started on the Saskatchewan Forest Centre building in downtown Prince Albert.

Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline and Prince Albert Mayor Don Cody launched construction today at the site where the new building for the Saskatchewan Forest Centre is being erected at 1061 Central Avenue across from Prince Albert's City Hall.

"We are excited that construction is starting on a building that will be a focal point for forest development in Saskatchewan," Cline said. "The Saskatchewan Forest Centre is vital to the forest industry and a critical piece of infrastructure to Saskatchewan's wide open future."

Cline said the forest centre will be a key facility to help the forest industry advance in technology and innovation and take the next step in international competitiveness.

"Construction of this new forest centre is expected to bring an additional much needed 150 new jobs to Prince Albert," Prince Albert's Mayor, Don Cody said. "Once it's completed the centre will be a valuable addition to downtown Prince Albert and to the province."

"We appreciate the province's continued support for the centre," Saskatchewan Forest Centre CEO Robin Woodward said. "We are looking forward to having a permanent home for our staff, which has grown to 20 in the past year."

Construction of the building's shell, which is estimated to cost $7.75 million, was awarded last week to Regina-based PCL-Maxam. The capital cost for the total project is about $12.7 million. The estimated 75,000 sq. ft. building will showcase Saskatchewan's wood products and new technologies.

The new building is expected to be completed in about a year and will initially house approximately 90 people from the Saskatchewan Forest Centre, Saskatchewan Environment and various private sector forest companies.

The Saskatchewan Forest Centre is a non-profit company governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, nine of whom are from the private sector and four from government. It began operation in 2001 and is currently located in rented office space. Its focus is on technology transfer for agroforestry, value-added forest sector development and fire/forest ecology.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-8277