The quality of this event was remarkable. Many of Ontario’s biomass industry “heavy weights” were in attendance. All presentations were of high calibre and demonstrated how effective Dr. Gord Surgeoner’s Rapid Response Program is.

From an OBPG perspective the presentation of the President of WhiteCloud Innovations, Catherine Tredway, was the highlight of the afternoon.

Catherine Tredway, formerly only known to me as the “Fibreboard Lady”, made quite an impression. It is encouraging to meet someone with such enthusiasm, drive, ambitions and especially the intention to work closely with all sectors of the biomass value chain, including the growers. Catherine describes her team and network as extended family, which is supported with the fact that her 2 daughters are part of the organization.

As a biomass producer I am particularly encouraged with Catherine’s business model, which includes royalties of her products for producers. WhiteCloud Innovations’ products, currently at a prototype stage, have remarkable quality attributes, such as being flame-resistant, waterproof and best of all being cost effective.

For biomass producers the most attractive characteristics of WCI’s Organic Composite Boards is the very high biomass content. A presentation of Ms. Tredway includes more details of the Organic Composite Boards.

With the support of OAFT’s Rapid Response Program, WhiteCloud Innovations managed to market their products in North-America with “blitz” travel tour, including stops in major locations in Canada and the USA. The future client base includes heavy-weights, like IKEA and Steelcase. To-date WhiteCloud has an order book of more than 500’000 tonnes of OCB’s.

OBPG is very much interested to see WhiteCloud succeed and will provide the necessary support to come up with the needed supply of biomass.

Congratulations and thanks to Gord Surgeoner and his team for organizing this great event.