By Rejean Drouin (IWCS Canadian Trustee)
On Saturday & Sunday the 22nd and 23rd of March there was a Forest Science Fair at Laval University, in Québec. I assisted there Saturday and Sunday and handed out copies of the World of Wood (WoW) and IWCS leaflets.
Met some very interesting persons who are dedicated to the world of forestry. Met with Natural Resources Canada who is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively and inclusively. With their different research tasks like wood anatomy. This Department works with Forensic Services in Oregon to detect illegal wood trade in the area. Many wood samples were on the tables for visitors to view.
I met with two different offices in the Department of Forestry Québec. I met professionnels working at 2 Directions od Department of Forestry, Québec:
- Forestry Research Directorate – (Direction de la recherche forestière)
- Forest Protection Directorate – (Direction de la protection des forêts)
where I spoke of different aspects of trees and diseases caused by fungi and insects, forest and fires, and other points.. Also, met with wood related industrial companies specialising in different aspects of the tree and lumber. Met with a group from Quebec Forest History Society (SHFQ). By the end of the fair, I had handed out material hoping to get new members. I made a call back to a professional from Natural Resources Canada who seemed interested in becoming a new member of IWCS.
I also made an interesting contact with a specialist at Forêt Québec who will work with me on a paper about heartwood formation in domestic tree species. This could be integrated in a next WoW issue. He is also interested in becoming a IWCS member.
Monday the 28th of April I made a speech from 10 am to 12 am at the Center for Renewable Materials Research (CRMR) and the Department of Wood and Forest Sciences. Madame Besma Bouslimi gave me a big conference room for a conference on different items around becoming a member of IWCS and assisted me technically at the end with the presentation of three PowerPoint slide shows. The three subjects presented were:
1: The building of my collection
2: A joint venture between Russia and Québec: wood peckers in Ostrya virginiana in Québec and in Betula pubescens in Russia
3: The different figures in Karelian birch
Below is the invitational poster she installed in many places around the university before the meeting. The content of the conference is included.
Unfortunately, because of a Day Election and Examination time at the University there was only attendance by 10 persons. But I may get new members from that conference. Madame Besma took photos and will make a follow up of the conference.
I distributed 20 copies of WoW and as many copies of the leaflets presenting IWCS during the meeting. After Mr St-Pierre made a visit of the big Centre of research of the Department.
Let’s see if I could repeat the experience next autumn.