The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) and the Coast Forest Products Association (CFPA) will become one association next year to “create a stronger, unified voice for the BC forest industry.”

The two will continue under the Council of Forest Industries banner, effective April 1, 2018. Until that time, COFI and CFPA will operate independently, and our members and staff will work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition.

A letter from Susan Yurkovich, president and CEO of COFI, and Rick Jeffery, president and CEO of CFPA, stated: “Our goal is to continue our focus on public policy issues with the provincial and federal governments, as well as to strengthen our relationships with communities, indigenous people and local governments.”

Established in 1994, Coast Forest Products Association is based in Vancouver. It represents 17 member companies that operate along British Columbia’s coast, according to the organization’s website.

COFI represents 18 member companies, and calls itself “the voice of the B.C. interior forest industry.”