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VCR selected the four species below for their relatively high density and/or aesthetic characteristics. The lower hardness of softwoods often excludes their use for furniture components that are subject to heavy use such as table tops, chair legs and hospitality cabinetry. Conversely, the high strength-weight ratio of softwoods can be exploited for the production of plywood, upholstery frames and veneered MDF/agriboard panels.
Few wood species can duplicate the aesthetic appearance of flat-sliced veneered hemlock and Douglas-fir panels. In the 1970s, Schoeller-Duncan of Richmond, BC, marketed a range of edge-grain Douglas-fir furniture, and, today, designer Brad Cameron of Level, Vancouver, BC, uses the same species to unique advantage.
Designers and SME producers can also consult the softwood science resource and the book list on this topic. VCR highly recommends Understanding Wood and Identifying Wood by R. Bruce Hoadley. Also
Fine Woodworking on Wood and How to Dry It.
Ecolabelling Issues
VCR advocates the use of FSC-certified, recycled wood or timber from well-managed local woodlots (sources). Rare wood species should be used primarily for veneered agriboard panels or other certified boards (MDF, plywood), manufactured with non-toxic adhesives.
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Douglas-fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii 
Common names
Coastal Douglas-fir, Douglas pine, Oregon pine.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
Interior Douglas-fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca, usually found in mixed stands in southern BC and western Alberta; reaches only 44 m (140 ft) in height and cannot provide the same quality of clear lumber as its larger coastal cousin.
Tree
Canada's largest tree reaching heights of 80+ m (250+ ft) and diameters of 200 m (6 ft); 1,000 years lifespan; capital "D" in the name recognizes the pioneering botanist David Douglas and the hyphen reflects the fact that Douglas-fir is not a true fir of the Abies genus.
Geographical distribution
Found on Vancouver Island and wetter parts of lower BC coast.
Wood
Heartwood varies in colour from pinkish red in second growth timber to orange-brown in old growth; sapwood narrow in old growth timber and up to 8 cm (3 inches) in second growth; weight and strength varies considerably.
Density (12% mc)
540 kg/cubic metre (34 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 50.01 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 3.06 MPa
Modulus of rupture 88.60 MPa
Processing
Seasons easily and rapidly with little tendency to check; good dimensional stability;
machines reasonably well; good turning properties.
Uses
Plywood, veneer, general millwork, construction timbers.
Identification features: hand lens
Resinous odour; uneven "grain" caused by soft earlywood tissue and harder latewood tissue; resin canals (often in tangential groups) distinct with hand lens; rays of two widths.
Western hemlock - Tsuga heterophylla 
Common names
Pacific hemlock, West Coast hemlock.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
Mountain hemlock - Tsuga mertensiana, found mainly in coastal BC; about the same density as western hemlock but lower in bending strength and stiffness. Eastern hemlock - Tsuga canadensis, not recommended for furniture.
Tree
Large, graceful tree with stem often clear for 3/4 of its length; grows up to 50 m (160 ft) in height and 120 cm (4 ft) in diameter.
Geographical distribution
Found on coastal BC and interior valleys where rainfall is plentiful.
Wood
Light beige with pinkish to reddish brown tinges; little difference in colour between sapwood and heartwood; straight- and even-grained with medium-to-fine texture.
Density (12% mc)
480 kg/cubic metre (30 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 46.70 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 2.93 MPa
Modulus of rupture 81.10 MPa
Processing
Requires careful seasoning to avoid surface checking and ensure uniform drying in thick stock; machines easily with hand and power tools; must be pre-bored for nailing near end of boards.
Uses
Furniture, veneer, millwork, wood turnings, broom handles, pallets, ladder rails.
Identification features: hand lens
Earlywood to latewood transition gradual; no resin canals; frequently has narrow, dark streaks parallel to the grain as result of bark maggots.
Western larch - Larix occidentalis 
Common names
Western tamarack.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
Eastern larch Larix laricina, found across Canada, except BC and southern prairies; not as suitable as western larch for furniture manufacture.
Tree
Long, slightly tapering stem, often free of branches for most of its height; grows up to 50 m (160 ft) in height and 150 cm (5 ft) in diameter; only Canadian conifer with deciduous foliage.
Geographical distribution
Found only in southeastern BC.
Wood
Sapwood usually narrow and whitish to pale straw brown; heartwood russet to reddish- brown; straight-grained; wood feels greasy; same density as paper birch; perhaps because of its limited availabilty the unique properties of larch go largely unrecognized and the species is mainly used for construction lumber.
Density (12% mc)
640 kg/cubic metre (40 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 60.90 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 3.62 MPa
Modulus of rupture 107.00 MPa
Processing
Seasons moderately well except checking causes some difficulty; moderately difficult to work; takes a smooth, hard finish.
Uses
Furniture (one company in PEI uses tamarack for patio furniture), veneer, plywood, construction lumber, millwork; (interchangeable with Douglas-fir for many applications).
Identification features: hand lens
Earlywood to latewood transition very abrupt (similar to Douglas-fir); resin canals sparse and small, distributed mainly in latewood; growth rings very uniformly spaced; rays of two sizes.
Eastern white pine - Pinus strobus
Common names
Cork pine, white pine, majestic pine, yellow pine, Weymouth pine.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
All species of pines (genus Pinus). The most furniture-friendly include western white pine - Pinus monticola, found in southeast and lower coast of BC; lodgepole pine - Pinus contorta, found in the interior of BC and western Alberta; ponderosa pine - Pinus ponderosa, found in dry areas of southern interior BC.
Tree
Straight stem with little taper, free of branches for much of length if grown in close stands; grows up to 40 m (130 ft) in height and 150 cm (5 ft) in diameter; grows very short on very dry open sites.
Geographical distribution
Southern regions of eastern provinces.
Wood
Heartwood creamy-white to light brown, often with a reddish tint; uniform texture and straight grained; pleasant pine odour.
Density (12% mc)
420 kg/cubic metre (26 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 36.20 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 2.63 MPa
Modulus of rupture 65.00 MPa
Processing
Seasons easily with little shrinkage; very good stability in use.
Uses
Furniture, pattern stock, millwork, toys.
Identification features: hand lens
Earlywood forms majority of growth ring with gradual transistion to a narrow band of latewood; resin canals abundant and medium-sized; rays of two sizes visible with hand lens; rays containing resin canals often visible with naked eye.
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