May 11, 1998 For Immediate Release

Sharp Construction Ltd has been awarded a $99,500 contract to perform the site preparation work for the new Enhanced Forestry Laboratory that will be built at the University of Northern British Columbia's Prince George campus. The actual preparation work is scheduled to begin on May 19th.

Slocan Forest Products and its President I.K. Barber have pledged $500,000 toward construction of the Laboratory, which will be used by researchers to investigate a wide variety of forest management problems and opportunities in northern climates. The Laboratory will consist of four compartments to allow the independent control of variables such as light and temperature. Equipment will include a computer control system, an irrigation network, and fertilizer pumps.

"When built, this lab will allow us to perform unique research that will have a significant effect on forest operations in northern BC and across northern Canada," says Winifred Kessler, Chair of the UNBC Forestry program. "We're working towards developing centres for research and teaching on forest growth-and-yield and mixedwood ecology and management, which are real priorities for this region."

The Enhanced Forestry Laboratory will be 7170 square feet and will be built adjacent to the student residences, west of the main campus buildings. Construction of the building itself is expected to begin in early August, with completion expected in the Spring of 1999.