Plans were announced today to build a support centre for children with disabilities in Japan as part of Canada's and British Columbia's effort to aid reconstruction following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The Jericho Support Centre will provide rehabilitation and training services for children with physical and mental disabilities in the Tohoku region. Following the tsunami and ensuing Fukushima nuclear crisis more than 1,000 patients with physical and mental disabilities were evacuated from the nuclear exclusion zone and tsunami-hit communities.

"Canada is proud to contribute to the reconstruction of important community buildings that were damaged or lost following the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "The new support centre will benefit the lives of many and serve as an enduring symbol of friendship between Canada and Japan."

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"I am amazed at the resiliency of the Japanese people and proud we are able to play a small part in helping the Tohoku region recover from the tragic events of 2011", said Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. "The centre will provide welcome relief, support and rehabilitation for children and their families."

The estimated $1.725-million centre will feature a rehabilitation room, doctors' offices and examination rooms, family-visitation quarters and a meeting hall. It will be built with British Columbia's wood products - known for their seismic performance and environmental sustainability. The design for the building is currently being finalized, with construction expected to begin in spring 2014 and be complete in fall 2014.

The Jericho Support Centre is part of the $4.8-million Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project to help rebuild public facilities using Canadian wood products and advanced wood technologies. The federal government contributed $2.2 million and B.C. government contributed $2 million to the Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project, Canadian forest companies contributed $460,000, and the Alberta government contributed $150,000.

Thomson announced the project while leading 25 senior forestry executives on a trade mission to Japan and China. They are nurturing business-to-business and government-to-government relationships that are a key to expanding market opportunities.

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Quick Facts:

• The Jericho Centre will be a 500-square-metre, single-storey, hybrid post and beam structure. It will use B.C. wood products including certified Canadian Hem-Fir (N) (Canada Tsuga) timbers, spruce-pine-fir (SPF) dimension lumber, oriented strand board sheeting, western cedar decking, hardwood maple flooring and others.
• The project features new, advanced wood technology products developed specifically for the Japanese market by Canadian forest companies.
• Modern wood frame buildings are earthquake-resistant with a small carbon footprint.
• The Canada Wood Group, a consortium of industry associations, is providing technical support and expertise to Japan as part of the reconstruction project.
• Other funds from the $4.8-million Canada-Tohoku project have been used to rebuild the Yuriage public market and the Donguri Anne Public Library.

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Learn More:

For photos from the 2013 Forestry Asia Trade Mission, visit: http://ow.ly/pCHMa

BC Jobs Plan: www.bcjobsplan.ca

Building our Natural Advantage: Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia: www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/

Canada's Economic Action Plan: www.actionplan.gc.ca

Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261