In BC SYP is not an option, but I found some very nice almost completely knot free straight grained douglas fir on Vancouver craigslist last year for about $50 - someone had a leftover from a project. More than enough to build one big heavy bench. Just keep looking around until you develop better sources. I bet there is a guy or few in Prince George who has some trees on their acreage, a small sawmill and a much better price than local lumberyard. Douglas Fir for $12/bdft in BC just can't be right.