VICTORIA, BC. — British Columbia truckers are happy to report that the coastal forestry sector is thriving again and a whole bunch of people are gathering in Victoria this week to celebrate that fact.

From Wednesday to Friday, the province’s 425 independent forest contractors (representing some 15,000 workers) and their suppliers will meet to discuss the past, present and future for this most important sector.

Not only will The B.C. Truck Loggers Association (TLA) be toasting a measurable revitalization of the forestry business, they’ll be celebrating the TLA’s 70th Anniversary.

That milestone will be marked Friday at the Fairmont Express Hotel when TLA President Bill Markvoort presents seven decades of printed and digital copies of Truck LoggerBC magazines to the Royal BC Museum. The gift includes $5,000 to assist the Royal BC Museum with cataloguing and processing this historic information.

“The TLA has been shaping policies to build our coastal communities, sustain our working forests, and keep our members strong for 70 years,” said Markvoort. “And our roots are deep — some family-owned TLA businesses have been operating for more than four generations.”

The theme of this year’s conference is “Shifting Gears, Building Momentum.”

“Once again the TLA is gathering business and forest industry leaders to discuss challenges they believe we will face in the coming years and present solutions that B.C.’s future government should consider to ensure a strong and viable business community and, as a result, a prosperous climate for all British Columbians,” said Dwight Yochim, RPF, TLA Executive Director.

With the global market recession fading, it is clear the coastal forest sector is on the road to recovery, the TLA said in a statement.

“This year’s conference is about shifting gears and building momentum so we can achieve three things: meeting forecast market demands for coastal forest products, harvesting the allowable annual cut, and growing both domestic and international log and lumber production.”

“Changes in government policies could have significant impacts on the forest economy. Our goal at this convention is to provide the next B.C. government with options to help make B.C.’s economy a strong and sustainable one,” added Yochim.

The annual conference and trade show is one of B.C.’s “must attend” events, featuring a who’s who list of speakers, exhibitors and conference attendees. The convention also includes a trade show featuring new harvesting technology, satellite communications software and the best the coastal forest industry has to offer.