PEI Wood! It’s the beautiful, affordable, and environmentally friendly choice for today’s conscientious consumer.
Prince Edward Island is rapidly gaining a reputation for manufacturing affordable, high quality wood products for local and global markets. Most of these businesses use locally produced wood, and specialty imported woods, to create products which add value and beauty to any home or property.
On Saturday June 7, 2008 Wood Products PEI in cooperation with the PEI Model Forest Partnership and PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry will be hosting a Value-added Wood Products Open House Day. Several Island wood products manufacturers are opening their doors to show the types of products they produce every day. Consumers can discover the styles and variety of wood based products Island businesses make for homes and properties. People interested in wood working can learn about the range of employment opportunities available in communities across PEI, and local land owners can get a feel for the species and qualities required and how they may be able to find local markets for higher value wood.
“The day is not a sales event,” said Wood Products PEI President, Allison Coles. “Our members simply want to show Islander what we do and how locally produced wood products benefit Island communities, land owners and working people.” Coles noted that value-added wood products such as flooring, furniture, moldings and millworks contribute an estimated $35 Million to the Island’s economy each year and that there is room to increase the role this sector plays in local, regional and global markets.
Islanders are invited to visit any of the six participating businesses between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday June 7, 2008. Visitors will be able to see how products are made and meet with the owners and managers. Forestry staff will be on hand to answer questions about forest management and why “making the connection” between our growing resource and value-added manufacturing is so important to PEI’s economy.
Participating Companies:
Ravenwood Stairways
Ravenwood Stairways is a manufacturer of stair systems and components for the local and export market. Ravenwood is well known for their spiral staircases. They use a combination of locally produced wood such, as maple and birch as well as imported wood like walnut and cherry. Ravenwood uses a high tech piece of equipment called a CNC for precision cutting and improved productivity.
Location: Bloomfield Industrial Park, 77 Gard Rd
Phone: 853-3037
Craig Wood Products
Craig Wood Products is part of a small conglomerate of businesses operated by Bruce Craig and partners. In 2007 the company added a new kiln and now specializes in kiln dried hard wood and select softwood species for the retail and wholesale markets. They also produce mouldings and cabinets. The business is vertically integrated and is capable of handling wood from the log to finished products.
Location: Northam, 992 Northam Rd.
Phone: 831-3394
Coles Door Systems
Don’t let the name fool you. This company makes a wide variety of wood products for the local and export market. Everything from moulding, flooring and stair treads to components for other manufacturers. Even rustic fencing and furniture has been made at this long standing business. The company has installed a kiln to give them more control over the quality of their products.
Location: North Milton, 189 New Glasgow Rd.
Phone: 368-1622
Dogwood Siding
Dogwood Siding manufacturers a line of solid wood siding that is coated with a unique penetrating stain that is environmentally friendly. The company has developed a proprietary sanding technique that prepares the wood surface just prior to staining. Staining allows the wood to “breathe” freely and avoids some of the problems associated with other coating techniques.
Location: Bedford, 99 Bedford Rd.
Phone: 894-4099
Royalty Hardwoods
Royalty Hardwoods had one of the first production kilns on PEI for hardwood lumber. The company sells kiln dried hardwood and selected softwood species to local wood crafters and manufacturers. They also have considerable production of value-added products such as flooring, moulding, stair components and decking. Their onsite sawing and skilled grader gives them the ability to extract the maximum value from each log that enters their yard.
Location: Pooles Corner, 2227 Georgetown Rd.
Phone: 838-5446
Chisel in Time
Chisel in Time is a small business focused on making hand crafted furniture and cabinetry. The owner, Allen Burke, creates original designs or will build to specifications of his customers. Allen is the only Island hand crafted furniture maker that has been selling his creations thought the Boston Design Center, one of the most prestigious retail outlets in New England.
Location: St. Charles, 493 Sheehan Rd.
Phone: 687-3871