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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001217160-08-000220.txt : 20081014
<SEC-HEADER>0001217160-08-000220.hdr.sgml : 20081013
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081014215118
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001217160-08-000220
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081014
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081014

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JEWETT CAMERON TRADING CO LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000885307
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-LUMBER & OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS DEALERS [5211]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		32275 NW HILLCREST
		CITY:			NORTH PLAINS
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97133
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5036470110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1010
		CITY:			NORTH PLAINS
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97133

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOONE DONALD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900599

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19954
		FILM NUMBER:		081123879

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12670 SW HALL BLVD
		CITY:			TIGARD
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1010
		CITY:			N PLAINS
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97133
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000885307</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JEWETT CAMERON TRADING CO LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>jctcf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000900599</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOONE DONALD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 1010</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>N PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President/CEO/Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>560281</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amount of Securities Held has been adjusted by the 3 for 2 stock split effective March 15, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">An additional 14,183 common shares are owned indirectly by Mr. Boone in the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (&quot;ESOP&quot;), including 0 shares purchased in fiscal 2008. Donald Boone is the sole trustee of the Jewett Cameron ESOP and Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donald M. Boone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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