2024 Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships Celebrate Students Driving Innovation in the Wood Industry
Ottawa, ON, December 12, 2024 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) announced the recipients of the 2024 Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships: Laura Walters (McMaster University) and Jiawen Shen (University of British Columbia). Both students were recognized for their academic excellence and impactful research projects in the structural wood products industry. Established nineteen years ago, the memorial scholarships are awarded each year to graduate students whose wood research exemplifies the same level of passion for wood and the wood products industry that Catherine Lalonde tirelessly demonstrated as a professional engineer and president of the CWC. Laura Walters Laura is a 3rd-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering under a joint collaboration between McMaster University and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Her research project explores the use of pre-engineered beam hangers in mass timber post-and-beam systems, with a focus on the implications of design and modelling assumptions on the evaluation of structural load paths. Her work provides valuable insights into the design considerations and assumptions required for more accurate and reliable design of mass timber columns when pre-engineered beam hangers are used. Jiawen Shen Jiawen is a 1st year graduate student pursuing a Master in Wood Science at the University of British Columbia. Her research project focuses on the development of binderless composite bark-board cladding and insulation panels that are durable, ignition resistant, carbon neutral, and manufactured from an underutilized by-product that would otherwise be burned, landfilled, or used for low-value purposes. Collaborating with a Vancouver-based architecture firm on this project, her work is key to advancing the commercial application of these innovative cladding products. “This year marks a historic milestone for the Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarship program as, for the first time, it is awarded to two exceptional women,” said Martin Richard, VP of Market Development and Communications at the CWC. “Their achievements highlight the outstanding talent driving innovation in wood research and construction. We are inspired by their contributions and the growing diversity shaping the future of wood-based solutions.”
Canadian Wood Council and Woodsure launch new partnership between the WoodWorks and Woodsure programs
Ottawa, Ontario – September 17, 2024 — The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and Woodsure (A division of Axis Insurance Managers Inc.) are pleased to announce a new partnership between their WoodWorks and Woodsure programs respectively. This strategic collaboration is expected to help support the increased adoption of wood construction in Canada. The positive influences of design innovation, advanced materials, new building codes, and the evolving priorities of society are driving change in the construction sector; in particular, these influences are driving the expanded use of advanced wood construction. However, as with the adoption of any new technology, perceived unknowns can create barriers that need to be to overcome. One such barrier is access to insurance for this new class of technologically advanced wood buildings. This partnership aims to empower architects, builders, and developers to choose wood with confidence, knowing they have access to robust insurance solutions that understand the complexities of wood construction. Together, we can significantly enhance the acceptance, safety, and growth of mass timber construction, recognizing it as a strategically preferred material for sustainable building practices. Statements from Key Stakeholders Rick Jeffery, President & CEO, Canadian Wood Council: “We are thrilled to welcome Woodsure as a partner of our WoodWorks program. This collaboration is a natural extension of our mutual commitment to supporting wood construction, fostering growth of the wood construction sector, and encouraging increased adoption of sustainable building practices. By combining our efforts, we are confident that this partnership will have a positive impact on the industry.” Roland Waldmeier, National Senior Vice President, Construction, Contracting, and Real Estate, Axis Insurance Managers Inc. “We believe that insurance should not only keep pace with, but also actively support, the mass timber and wood frame industries. These sectors are vital to both social and economic objectives in Canada. Therefore, it is important for us to continually develop innovative insurance solutions that foster growth in the Canadian wood industry. By providing the necessary capacity, we make it easier for projects to secure the coverage they need.” Connie Rowley, Senior Vice President, Woodsure: “Supporting the mass timber industry with specialized insurance products is crucial for accelerating the adoption of wood construction. By offering tailored insurance solutions, insurers can provide the necessary capacity and confidence for developers to invest in mass timber projects. This support not only mitigates financial risks, but also fosters innovation and sustainability in construction. Enhanced insurance products can address concerns related to fire safety, structural integrity, and long term reliability, thereby reassuring stakeholders and encouraging broader acceptance of this eco-friendly building material. Consequently, this leads to a more sustainable construction industry and helps in reducing the carbon footprint.”
Canada’s Blueprint for Mass Timber Success Unveiled at Parliament Hill
June 13, 2024 (Ottawa)– Earlier today, The Transition Accelerator unveiled The Mass Timber Roadmap at the Press Conference Room in the West Block on Parliament Hill. The comprehensive report outlines an ambitious and strategic vision for the future of mass timber in Canada and its potential to transform green construction and drive economic growth across the country. Developed in partnership with Canadian Wood Council (CWC), Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), and Energy Futures Lab (EFL), The Mass Timber Roadmap comes after more than a decade of collaborative efforts to unlock and demonstrate potential of mass timber and lays out a visionary plan to increase the mass timber market – both domestic and exports – to $1.2 billion by 2030 and to $2.4 billion by 2035. This ambitious growth aligns with increasing market demand in North America and around the world. By leveraging the power of mass timber solutions, Canada has a unique opportunity to enable the construction of residential and commercial structures at greater speeds, with lower costs, and with a lighter carbon footprint; all while capturing a share of the rapidly growing global market. Achieving targets laid out in The Mass Timber Roadmap requires coordinated efforts across three critical action areas and the report provides actionable next steps, including: Today’s event on Parliament Hill featured the following speakers who highlighted the roadmap’s goals and the promising future for mass timber in Canada, followed by an engaging Q&A session with journalists: Key Quotes: “The mass timber sector provides a perfect example of how Canada can add value to its primary resources through innovative technologies and advanced skills. If we act strategically and quickly, we have the opportunity to build an industry that reduces emissions, addresses urgent needs, and positions Canada to win in emerging global value chains.” – Derek Eaton, The Transition Accelerator “To build a world-class mass timber sector, Canada must adopt a strategic approach to ensure we can compete and win globally. This is about smart policy here at home and bringing more Canadian wood to our cities and to the world. By enabling faster, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly construction with mass timber we can grow jobs, help address the affordable housing crunch, and reduce emissions.” – Kate Lindsay, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) “The potential for Canadian wood products to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment and drive the growth of a sustainable and prosperous wood industry is immense; however, global competition to capitalize on the significant economic opportunities mass timber presents in the transition to a lower-carbon world will require us to act swiftly to stay competitive and meet rapidly emerging domestic demand.” – Rick Jeffery, Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
Wood Design & Building Awards Winning Projects Announced
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Wood Council is pleased to announce the winning projects of the 40th annual Wood Design & Building Awards program. This prestigious awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding work of architectural professionals from around the world who achieve excellence in wood design and construction. “We’re proud to recognize leading innovators in wood design through our awards program,” says Martin Richard, Vice President of Communications and Market Development at the Canadian Wood Council. “This year’s submissions were remarkable in their scope, quality, and variety. They reflect a rising interest in biomaterials and highlight the importance of wood as a versatile, low-carbon, high-performance material, driving the next generation of sustainable buildings.” The jurors for the Wood Design & Building Awards were: A total of 19 winning projects from a diverse group of creators were selected from the impressive field of entries. New this year, the regional WoodWorks program awards from Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta were integrated with the Wood Design & Building Awards. The jurors for the WoodWorks awards were: Fifteen winning projects were selected, with five from each regional program. The creativity and talent of these winning teams, as well as the beauty and diversity of their wood projects, are transforming the built environment. In total, 33 award winners from around the globe were celebrated for excellence in wood design at the Wood Design and Building Awards celebration hosted at the WoodWorks Summit on October 22, 2024. COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS FOLLOWS: Honor Merit Citation Sansin Sponsored Awards Sustainable Forestry Initiative Sponsored Award Western Red Cedar Sponsored Award Wood Preservation Sponsored Award WoodWorks Ontario Category WoodWorks BC Category WoodWorks Alberta, Prairie Category
BUILDEX and Canadian Wood Council Bring Cutting Edge Wood-Based Design and Construction to All Professionals of the Built Environment
Vancouver, BC, September 19, 2024 – Informa Connect and the Canadian Wood Council announce their collaboration, WoodWorks at BUILDEX, integrating WoodWorks’ technical expertise and wood products industry representation into BUILDEX Vancouver, February 26 – 27, 2025. This initiative builds on a shared commitment to advancing Canada’s built environment and expands BUILDEX’s focus on innovative materials, design, and construction practices. WoodWorks at BUILDEX offers an exceptional opportunity for all professionals of the built environment to immerse themselves in the latest innovations in wood-based design and construction through: Rick Jeffery, President and CEO, Canadian Wood Council, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Working with Informa Connect to bring WoodWorks to BUILDEX Vancouver in 2025 allows us to concentrate on one of our core strengths—delivering industry-leading educational content, technical support, and access to leading wood product providers—at Canada’s most progressive design, construction and real estate event.” Sherida Sessa, SVP for North America at Informa Connect, added “British Columbia is recognized as a global leader in wood-based design and construction, and this partnership solidifies BUILDEX as a key destination for technical expertise, innovation and leadership in the wood products industry.” WoodWorks at BUILDEX amplifies BUILDEX Vancouver’s core offering to Canadian and North America’s design and construction leaders: timely market insights, respected technical knowledge, transformative networking, and exposure to the materials and technologies at the forefront of Canada’s built environment. BUILDEX Vancouver will take place February 26 – 27, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre West, attracting over 8,500 developers, architects, engineers, builders, designers, suppliers, and real estate professionals. Register now at www.BUILDEXVancouver.com to secure your place and witness the latest in progressive design and construction trends.
Canadian Wood Council and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute to co-host WoodWorks Summit in Toronto
Ottawa, Toronto | 27 March 2024] – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI) are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership aimed at fostering education in sustainable construction practices. Under this partnership, the CWC and BSI will join forces on various initiatives dedicated to accelerating the adoption of sustainable wood construction. Central to this effort is the WoodWorks Summit, which the organizations will co-host in Toronto October 21-25, 2024. The Summit promises to be a dynamic collection of events that will bring together industry leaders, practitioners, academics, and policymakers to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in wood construction and sustainability. “We are excited to embark on this collaborative journey with the Brookfield Sustainability Institute,” said Martin Richard, VP of Market Development and Communications at the Canadian Wood Council. “Together, we aim to drive innovation, share knowledge, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable wood construction.” The WoodWorks Summit will feature an engaging lineup of events, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, tours, and networking sessions. Attendees can expect to engage with cutting-edge research, best practices, and real-world case studies, all aimed at demonstrating the use of wood as an innovative, high-performance, sustainable building material. “Our partnership with the Canadian Wood Council underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment,” remarked Jacob Kessler, Director of Business Development & Account Management at the Brookfield Sustainability Institute. “By combining our expertise and resources, we can make significant strides to empower the design and construction community with the practical knowledge and technical resources needed to create healthier, more resilient communities with a reduced carbon footprint.” Through this collaboration, the CWC and BSI aim to catalyze positive change within the construction industry. For more information about the WoodWorks Summit, please visit www.woodworkssummit.ca.
Le Conseil canadien du bois dévoile la nouvelle identité de marque du programme WoodWorks
OTTAWA, Ontario – 27 septembre 2023 – C’est avec grand plaisir que le Conseil canadien du bois (CCB) a annoncé le lancement de la nouvelle identité de marque du programme WoodWorks. Le nouveau look a été créé en collaboration avec notre partenaire BBDO Canada dans le but de rendre la marque plus accessible et de lui donner une identité visuelle indépendante dans un contexte qui évolue rapidement. Avec son design moderne et épuré, la marque se veut inclusive et invite un public plus vaste à découvrir les avantages de la construction en bois ainsi que son rôle essentiel dans l’avenir du développement durable. Sa nouvelle identité incarne l’engagement du programme envers l’excellence technique et la responsabilité environnementale, ainsi que sa volonté de se mettre au service des communautés et des Canadiens et Canadiennes. Martin Richard, vice-président, Communications et développement des marchés du Conseil canadien du bois, s’est dit enchanté par le repositionnement de marque : « Nous sommes très heureux de lancer la nouvelle identité de marque. Elle traduit mieux la qualité du leadership technique de WoodWorks et l’objectif du programme, tout en démontrant notre engagement envers les gens qu’il sert et l’environnement. Nous voulons que le programme soit simple et accessible à tous en insistant sur notre détermination envers le progrès de la construction en bois ainsi que le développement durable au Canada et à l’extérieur de nos frontières. L’annonce d’aujourd’hui est une étape importante pour y arriver. » Le programme WoodWorks, sous sa nouvelle identité de marque, est axé sur le soutien technique d’experts à l’intention des promoteurs, des architectes, des ingénieurs, des constructeurs de bâtiments et des autres professionnels de l’industrie qui cherche à élargir leur capacité de conception et de construction en bois. Une des grandes priorités du programme reste la poursuite de l’excellence technique et la mise en relation des professionnels avec les renseignements et les ressources nécessaires à la construction en bois sous toutes ses formes, en plus de fournir des ressources et de la formation. L’éthos de la nouvelle identité de marque rend hommage au modernisme canadien avec un style intemporel dans sa simplicité et sa fonctionnalité. Le symbole représente la force commune de la communauté de l’architecture, de l’ingénierie, de la construction et des promoteurs pour rendre possible la construction avec le bois. La palette de couleur s’inspire des couleurs naturelles de nos forêts, des produits du bois et des nombreux chantiers de construction partout au Canada. Le Conseil canadien du bois vous invite à refaire connaissance avec le programme WoodWorks et à découvrir sa nouvelle identité de marque. Des images haute résolution de la nouvelle identité de marque et des logos sont disponibles sur demande. Pour d’autres renseignements ou pour les demandes médiatiques, vous pouvez communiquer avec :
Canadian Wood Council Unveils New Brand Identity for WoodWorks Program
OTTAWA, Ontario – September 27, 2023 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is delighted to announce the launch of an updated brand identity for its WoodWorks program. This reimagined look created in partnership with agency partner BBDO Canada, improves the accessibility of the brand and establishes an independent visual identity for the Canadian WoodWorks program within a rapidly evolving marketplace. With its simplified, modern design, the brand embraces inclusivity and invites a broader audience to explore the benefits of wood construction and the important role it must play in the future of sustainable development. The newly unveiled brand identity embodies the WoodWorks program’s dedication to technical excellence, environmental responsibility, and service to communities and individuals across Canada. Martin Richard, Vice-President Communications and Market Development at the Canadian Wood Council, expressed his enthusiasm for the rebrand, stating, “We are pleased to launch this new brand identity which better reflects the quality of WoodWorks’s technical leadership and purpose of the program while signaling our commitment to the environment and people the program serves. It’s an exciting step toward ensuring that the program is clear and accessible to all, reinforcing our dedication to advancing wood construction and sustainable development in Canada and beyond.” The WoodWorks program, under its new brand identity, is focused on expert led technical support to developers, architects, engineers, builders, and other industry professionals who want to expand their capacity for wood design and construction. The program remains committed to the pursuit of technical excellence and to connecting professionals with the information and resources they need to pursue wood construction in all its forms as well as providing valuable resources and educational opportunities. The design ethos of the new brand identity pays homage to Canadian Modernism, honouring a style that is timeless in its simplicity and functionality. The symbol showcases the strength of our collaboration with the AEC+D community in enabling construction with wood. The refreshed colour palette draws inspiration from the organic hues found in our forests, wood products and the many construction sites across Canada. The Canadian Wood Council invites everyone to reacquaint themselves with the WoodWorks program and its new brand identity. High-resolution images of the new brand identity and logos are available upon request.
