Press Room

 

Resources for members of the media

For media inquiries, contact:

Liz Kovach

WRLA President

Office: 1-800-661-0253

lkovach@wrla.org

 

Press Releases

Release: WRLA Announces "Let's Go Build" Recruitment Campaign (May 23, 2023) Read here

Release: Western Retail Lumber Association works with Calgary Board of Education to address the employment gap in the Building Materials Industry (April 10, 2023) Read here

Release: WRLA Awards $30,600 in 2021 Education Grants (December 10, 2021) Read here.

Release: 2022 WRLA Hardware & Building Showcase registration launches (September 7, 2021) Read here.

Release: The cost of lumber broken down in a new home build (June 28, 2021) Read here.

Release: North America sees a drop in wholesale lumber prices, when will consumers see the decrease? (June 17, 2021) (June 28, 2021) Read here.

Release: WRLA Praises Federal Government's New Retrofit Grant. (May 28, 2021) Read here.

Release: 2021 Spring Building Materials Update (April 13, 2021) Read here.

Release: 2021 WRLA Showcase with a Twist is Coming (January 11, 2021) Read here.

Release: North America sees record high lumber prices amid supply shortage. (April 9, 2021) Read here.

Release: 2021 WRLA Showcase changes format. (October 1, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA applauds Saskatchewan Party's election commitment of a new home renovation tax credit. (September 30, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA awards $20,000 in education grants. (September 17, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA Cancels Annual Calgary Classic Golf Tournament (August 7, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA launches "shop local" campaign. (June 29, 2020). Read here.

Release: Lumber and building supply industry provides more value than most retail sectors. (June 17, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA changes show name to the WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase (June 4, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA calls on government for more support for LBM Industry. (April 26, 2020) Read here.

Release: WRLA Applauds Increase in Wage Subsidy. (March 27, 2020) Read here.

Release: Building supply industry must be deemed essential service. (March 26, 2020) Read here.

WRLA in the News

Podcast: WRLA president, Liz Kovach, interviewed about "Let's Go Build" on the Canadian Contractor podcast (July 26, 2023) Listen Here

Newspaper article: Find your next great career in the lumber and building materials industry (June 12, 2023) Read Here

News Clip: WRLA collaboration with Calgary Board of Education Unique Pathways Program hosts info session at the Cedar Shop, segment on CBC Calgary (April 13, 2023) Watch Here [segment starts at 23:22]

News Clip: WRLA collaboration with Calgary Board of Education Unique Pathways Program hosts info session at the Cedar Shop, segment on CBC Radio Calgary (April 13, 2023) Listen Here

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach interviewed about the recent lumber tariff announcement on the Bill Kelly Show on 900 CHML. (February 3, 2022) Listen Here

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach interviewed by CTV News Winnipeg about the cost of lumber on (December 8, 2021). Watch Here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach interviewed by Hal Anderson on 680 CJOB in Winnipeg about supply chain issues and the state of lumber supply and prices on November 5, 2021. Listen Here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach on the CKNW Weekend Morning Show discussing the dropping price of lumber and the factors going into this. Listen Here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach interviewed on the falling lumber prices on CBC's Up to Speed with Faith Fundal on Sept. 16, 2021. Listen Here.

News Clips: WRLA President Liz Kovach talks about the falling lumber prices this season with The Candian Press:

News Clip: The WRLA building materials update in the Canadian Contractor July/August 2021 magazine. Read here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach breaks down the cost of lumber in a house project for the Journal of Commerce. (July 28, 2021). Read here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach was interviewed about the impact of wildfires on the price of lumber on the Bill Kelly Show on 900 CHML (July 26, 2021). Listen here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach explained the cost of lumber impacts to the cabin market in the summer issue of The Cottager.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach was interviewed on when the prices of lumber will be dropping for consumers in Canada on the Bill Kelly Show on 900 CHML (July 2, 2021). Listen here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach was interviewed on when the prices of lumber will be dropping for consumers in Canada by Geoff Currier on 680 CJOB (June 16, 2021). Listen here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach was interviewed on the factors contributing to the high prices of lumber in North America for CBC North (June 9, 2021). Listen here.

News Clip: WRLA President Liz Kovach explains the factors contritubting to the high price of lumber for the Daily Hive in Alberta. (June 1, 2021) Read here.

News Clip: Liz Kovach explains the context of rising lumber prices and theft concerns with CTV's Evan Solomon (May 31, 2021). Hear the interview at the 49 minute mark here.

News Clip: Liz Kovach gives context to rising theft concerns around lumber (May 29, 2021). Watch CTV Calgary's story here.

News Clip: Lumbermaia: How supply constraints in B.C. are colliding with insatiable demand in the U.S. to push lumber prices through the roof in the Globe & Mail (May 14, 2021). Read here.

News Clip: Liz Kovach explains what's contributing to the high price of lumber in Canada (May 13, 2021). Watch CTV Calgary's story here.

News Clip:

  • Watch: Global News Winnipeg report (May 7, 2021)

News Clips:

News Clips: Liz Kovach, WRLA president, talks about the historic cost of lumber

  • Listen: 680CJOB interview (April 9, 2021)
  • Listen: CBC Manitoba's Up to Speed with Faith Fundal interview (April 9, 2021)
  • Watch: Global News Saskatoon report (April 10, 2021)

News Clip: Liz Kovach, WRLA president, talks about the continued lumber supply and demand issues with Jordan Armenise of Global News Radio 900 CHML Hamilton (March 23) Listen here

News Clip: WRLA reports positive moves by Saskatchewan and feds. (Fenestration: Canada's Window & Door Magazine; December 4, 2020) Read here.

News Clip: Home renovation numbers on the rise in Saskatoon and surrounding area during COVID-19 pandemic. (Global News; October 29, 2020) Watch or read here.

News Clip: Liz Kovach, WRLA president, talks about the backlog of lumber and the higher prices due to pandemic projects. (CBC National; October 18, 2020) Watch here.

News Clip: Downturn in home renovation spending leads to lack of accessible supplies, contractors (Globe & Mail; August 28, 2020) Read here.

News Clips: Liz Kovach, WRLA president, talks about the lumber shortage impacting the industry and consumers amid the COVID pandemic.

  • Global News, Toronto; August 28, 2020: Watch here.
  • Global News Radio, Toronto; August 28, 2020: Listen here.
  • Winnipeg Free Press; August 24, 2020: Read here. (Note: You must register to read the article, but content is free and does not require a paid subscription.)
  • CJOB, Winnipeg; August 19, 2020: Listen here.
  • CTV News Winnipeg; August 18, 2020: Watch here.
  • Global News Regina & Saskatoon; August 18, 2020: Watch here.
  • CBC Radio Noon, Manitoba; July 21, 2020: Listen here.

News Clip: Liz Kovach, WRLA president, urges the government to provide more support to the LBM industry. Watch here (approximately 30:50).

 

 

Cell Phone Plans & Business Solutions:

Roger's Communications is offering WRLA members exclusive discounts on business solutions and independent employee benefits, extendable to their families. Click here for more info.

 

Cell Phone Plans & Business Solutions:

Roger's Communications is offering WRLA members exclusive discounts on business solutions and independent employee benefits, extendable to their families. Click here for more info.

 

Cell Phone Plans & Business Solutions:

Roger's Communications is offering WRLA members exclusive discounts on business solutions and independent employee benefits, extendable to their families. Click here for more info.

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