The ReUse People of Canada

The ReUse People of Canada TRP makes reclaimed materials easy to use, affordable, & accessible, while reducing waste & supporting local jobs. www.thereusepeopleofcanada.org

For contractors, builders, and film production teams, we offer: • Cost-effective alternatives • Processed & standardized materials • local

We are getting up bright and early to prepare our yard for the big 2x6, 2x8 yard sale and we are receiving another load ...
05/30/2026

We are getting up bright and early to prepare our yard for the big 2x6, 2x8 yard sale and we are receiving another load from DL Bins. They have separated clean lumber from Hartland landfill!

Before You Buy New…Some of the lumber currently sitting in our yard was already standing in homes built in 1924 and 1948...
05/29/2026

Before You Buy New…

Some of the lumber currently sitting in our yard was already standing in homes built in 1924 and 1948.

Now it’s getting a second life.

From June 1–6, we’re offering 10% off all de-nailed 2x6 and 2x8 Douglas Fir lumber.

Whether you’re building a fence, workshop, garden project, shed, or tackling a weekend repair, reclaimed lumber can often do the job while keeping valuable materials out of the waste stream.

What surprises many people is just how solid some of this older lumber is.

The ReUse People of Canada
Malahat Industrial Park
Map and directions are below.
https://trpcanada.org/contact-trp-canada/

Inventory changes regularly, and every purchase helps support material recovery, training opportunities, and a growing circular economy right here on Vancouver Island.

Not that long ago, I honestly couldn’t have told you the difference between antique lumber, vintage lumber, or SPF.To me...
05/28/2026

Not that long ago, I honestly couldn’t have told you the difference between antique lumber, vintage lumber, or SPF.

To me, wood was just wood.

Then I met people like Ted Reiff from The ReUse People, who spent decades helping people see reclaimed materials differently — not as waste, but as resources with history, quality, and different uses.

Now when loads arrive at the yard, I’m starting to understand why people get excited about certain boards.

Here’s the simple breakdown I’ve been learning:

Antique Lumber
(Generally 1899–1924)

Usually recovered from heritage homes, barns, and industrial buildings built with old-growth timber.

• Extremely tight growth rings
• Dense, slow-grown wood
• Often longer and larger dimensions
• Full of character and history

This is the material woodworkers, restoration experts, and designers get really excited about.

Vintage Lumber
(Generally 1925–1985)

A lot of what arrives at our yard falls into this category, especially older Douglas Fir.

• Stronger and denser than much modern lumber
• Beautiful grain patterns
• Excellent for reuse projects, workshops, sheds, furniture, and creative builds

Modern SPF Lumber
(Generally post-1985)

SPF stands for Spruce, Pine, and Fir — the standard framing lumber used in most modern construction.

• Faster-grown timber
• Lighter weight
• More uniform
• Practical and incredibly useful for framing, fencing, sheds, and DIY projects

And honestly, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is this:

Reclaimed lumber isn’t just “used wood.”

Different eras produced different material.

Ted and other early reuse pioneers understood that long before I did. They helped create systems that categorized and valued materials instead of treating everything as demolition waste.

I’m still learning every single day, but now when I walk through the yard, I don’t just see piles anymore.

I see history, craftsmanship, resources — and opportunity.

TRP was never meant to be just a lumber yard.Yes, we recover and resell reclaimed building materials — but the larger vi...
05/26/2026

TRP was never meant to be just a lumber yard.

Yes, we recover and resell reclaimed building materials — but the larger vision has always been about building something much bigger around them.

We believe spaces like this can become:

A reclaimed materials hub
Keeping usable lumber and building materials in circulation instead of sending them to landfill.

A learning and community space
Where people can learn skills, volunteer, share knowledge, teach, mentor, and reconnect with hands-on work.

A place for connection
Where people stop by for coffee, conversations, collaboration, and community. Where retirees share knowledge, students gain experience, neighbours meet neighbours, and people feel part of building something meaningful together.

A creative and circular economy ecosystem
Supporting film, theatre, artists, makers, builders, and future trades through reuse and local collaboration.

Every pile sorted.
Every board denailed.
Every volunteer hour.
Every conversation at the yard.

It is all part of testing what a true circular community hub could look like on Vancouver Island.

We are still early.
Still building.
Still learning.

But we believe reuse can create more than diversion.

It can create connection.

WE SOLD OUT. Every processed 2x4 is gone. We have some money in the bank!Honestly, we didn’t expect that.When we first s...
05/26/2026

WE SOLD OUT. Every processed 2x4 is gone. We have some money in the bank!

Honestly, we didn’t expect that.

When we first started processing reclaimed 2x4s, we thought they might sit in the yard forever. Instead, people came looking for clean, reusable lumber for sheds, fencing, workshops, garden projects and repairs — and the demand kept growing.

That tells us something important:

There is a market for reclaimed lumber when it’s organized, measured, cut, denailed and ready to use.

But it also highlights a challenge most people never see.

Every reclaimed board represents:
• sorting
• lifting and stacking
• denailing
• trimming damaged ends
• measuring and organizing
• equipment costs
• training and safety
• and time

Giving away nail-in lumber might sound sustainable, but it doesn’t create a system that can survive, employ people, or scale.

Our goal at The Reuse People of Canada is to build a real circular materials hub — one that creates jobs, training opportunities, affordable materials, and long-term diversion from landfill.

The processed 2x4s selling out is a small but important sign that this can work.

Now we process more.
Now we build better systems.
Now we keep going.

Most of the lumber at The Reuse People of Canada starts with a homeowner making a different choice.Instead of sending re...
05/19/2026

Most of the lumber at The Reuse People of Canada starts with a homeowner making a different choice.

Instead of sending reusable building materials to landfill during renovations or deconstruction projects, they choose to donate them for reuse.

Eligible donated materials may be independently appraised, allowing donors to potentially receive charitable tax receipts while keeping valuable materials in circulation.

Then the real work begins.

Every board needs to be:
sorted
de-nailed
measured
stacked and organized
prepared for its next life

That’s why reclaimed lumber has value.

Behind every stack of wood in our yard is time, labour, and the belief that reusable materials deserve better than disposal.

Every board reused helps support:
✔ landfill diversion
✔ local jobs and training
✔ circular economy infrastructure
✔ and a second life for old-growth lumber

This is more than “used wood.”

It’s a different way of thinking about building materials.

Today felt like an important step forward at the TRP Canada yard. Our summer yard hours sign is up.Our section pricing s...
05/19/2026

Today felt like an important step forward at the TRP Canada yard.

Our summer yard hours sign is up.
Our section pricing signs are up.
The reclaimed lumber sections are starting to come together.

And most importantly?
People came through the gate.

Today we sold:
• de-nailed 2x4s - lots of them
• and a few old growth 2x10s

Over the past few weeks we’ve been working to transform salvaged material piles into organized, accessible reclaimed inventory that people can actually browse and use.

The difference organization makes is incredible.

Once materials are sorted, measured, priced, and visible, people begin to see:
• sheds
• fencing
• workshops
• film flats
• garden projects
• future builds

…instead of just piles of wood.

There’s still lots to build, but for the first time the yard is starting to feel operational rather than temporary.

That feels pretty exciting.

05/18/2026

Big step for TRP Canada this weekend — our new website is now live.

We’re building more than a reclaimed lumber yard. We’re building a circular materials hub that keeps valuable building materials in use and supports community access, jobs, training, and reuse across construction and film production.

You can now:
• Browse reclaimed materials online
• Learn how our donation and appraisal process works
• Explore the story behind TRP Canada
• Connect directly with our team

This is still just the beginning. Inventory will continue to grow and evolve as more materials are recovered, processed, and prepared for reuse.

Every board reused helps keep valuable materials out of landfill and supports the growth of a circular economy on Vancouver Island.

Visit us online:
trpcanada.org

Today trucks were loading up reclaimed lumber at TRP Canada — and honestly, that’s exactly what we want to see.For the m...
05/16/2026

Today trucks were loading up reclaimed lumber at TRP Canada — and honestly, that’s exactly what we want to see.

For the month of May:
ALL de-nailed 2x4s are just $1 each
Any length
Cleaned and ready to use
Salvaged from local projects and kept out of landfill

Every board reused helps support:
Material diversion
Local jobs and training
Building a circular economy hub on Vancouver Island

We’re back Monday with more inventory.

Come see what’s arriving next.

Malahat Industrial Park
DM us for availability or bulk quantities

Look at those clouds!

Address

Victoria, BC

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 1pm
Tuesday 10am - 1pm
Wednesday 10am - 1pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm
Friday 10am - 1pm
Saturday 11am - 2pm

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