Olympic podiums made from local wood

Northern B.C. is a key part of the medal ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Wood from the Cheslatta Community Forest, the District of Fort St. James Community Forest and Houston's Dungate Community Forest was used to construct the medal ceremony podiums.

A total of 23 podiums have been constructed out of 18 wood types for the event. Each podium is assembled from more than 200 wood pieces highlighting the importance of forestry in B.C..

"We just saw the incredible excitement our communities felt when the torch came through the north," says Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad.

"Now to know that a piece of our community is going to be centre stage during the games is incredible," Rustad added.

The Cheslatta Community Forest donated underwater lodge pole pine from the depths of the Nechako Resovior for the podium that will be used during the team biathlon and team cross-country medal celebrations at Whistler Paralympic Park.

Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) Chief Corrina Leween said to Lakes District News that CCN wanted to be involved in some way with the Olympics.

"We thought that the spirit of the territory and the historical significance of the water wood would enable us to be a part of the Olympics," Leween said.

James Racochy, CCN’s land, resource and community forest manager said, "We were also intrigued by the project when we heard Rona was going to sponsor the construction of the podiums, offering opportunities to the disadvantaged and marginal individuals that aren't as fortunate as the Cheslatta."

The District of Fort St. James Community Forest donated white spruce for the podium that will be used during the cross-country skiing medal celebration at Whistler Olympic Park.

Dungate Community Forest donated lodge pole pine for the podium that will be used for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton medal celebrations at the Whistler Sliding Centre.