May 6 2013
A Japanese community, devastated by the tsunami of March 2011, is welcoming a brand new public market, thanks to donations from the Canadian lumber industry and its partners.
Officially opening on May 4th 2013, the Yuriage Public Market, is a result of the Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project, established after the devastating Great Eastern Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami that ravaged huge areas in the north-east of the country.
"It wasn't just homes destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami here in Japan," says Shawn Lawlor, from Canada Wood Group. "Community centres, care facilities, kindergartens; they were all washed away. Those places are the lifeblood of any community and I'm delighted that Canada is playing such an important role in helping to rebuild the Tohoku region of Japan."
The Canada Wood Group, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and the Province of British Columbia, are spearheading projects using Canadian wood in the construction of several major community buildings; the first, the Donguri Anne Public Library in Natori was unveiled earlier this year. That building is a hybrid heavy timber post and beam structure that uses a wide variety of Canadian forest products such as Coastal Hem Fir, Western Red Cedar and Maple flooring.
"Our government is pleased to contribute to the reconstruction of Natori City - a community that was so severely impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011," said Minister Oliver. "The reconstruction efforts in Natori will serve as an enduring symbol of friendship between Canada and Japan."
Canada and Japan share important and strong economic, cultural, historic ties and Japan is a long time export customer for the Canadian lumber industry. In 2011 when Japan needed help, Canada was only too happy to offer a hand. The Canadian forestry sector saw they could help in the rebuilding effort - providing an essential natural resource abundant in Canada, was one key way in which to reach a branch across the Pacific to our neighbours to the west.
In the aftermath of the tsunami, international media reported: "Yuriage was wiped from the map." Natori suffered the worst per capita loss of life. These two projects mean their inhabitants now have places to go to interact, to live their lives, to take their children and to experience normalcy again.
Source: http://www.canadawood.org/