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The Wood Innovation Group
TWIG is building connections across BC’s wood value chain—from forest to finished product. Through events, workshops, and community gatherings, we create space for learning, exchange, and collaboration—helping lay the groundwork for wood products that reflect the strength and potential of a complete BC value system.
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This newsletter is dedicated to those who see potential in BC’s forest resources and want to be part of shaping what comes next—through creativity, design, hands-on work, or new ways of thinking. It’s about blending tradition with technology and contributing to a more resilient, locally rooted forest economy.
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Your voice matters. If you have events, projects, or ideas to share, reach out to us at info@twigbca.ca
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Wood-First-Wednesday
September 3rd, 6:00 - 8:00
Squamish Legion
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40194 Glenalder Pl, Garibaldi Highlands
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Monthly gatherings in Squamish bring together wood professionals, makers, and the public to explore projects, share knowledge, and spark collaboration. More Info+
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Wood-First-Wednesday
September 3rd, 6:00 - 8:00
Threefold Beer
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41507 Powell St, Vancouver
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A casual monthly meetup for anyone interested in wood—connecting professionals, students, and community members to share ideas, ask questions, and build relationships.
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Log Jam
October 25, 2:00- 6:00
MakerLabs
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780 E Cordova St, Vancouver
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Join TWIG and MakerLabs for a hands-on hackathon where wood meets technology, creativity, and design. Collaborate, prototype, and imagine new possibilities for BC wood.
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More info for these events will be expanded on below, and the up-to-date TWIG events can be found online at twigbc.ca/events/
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Enjoy Yourselves!
From all of us at TWIG, we hope you had (are still having) a wonderful summer. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events as we head into a busy September season.
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With forest-felt regards,
Patrick Christie and The TWIG team
info@twigbc.ca
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LogJam
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A Hackathon for Wood and Technology Projects
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October 25
MakerLabs - 780 E Cordova St, Vancouver
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LogJam is a hands-on hackathon where wood meets technology, creativity, and craftsmanship. Over the course of a dynamic afternoon, participants from across TWIG’s wood innovation network will team up with MakerLabs members and fellow makers to imagine bold new ideas made from wood.
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Armed with access to MakerLabs’ fully equipped WoodLab, precision tools, and digital fabrication equipment, teams will brainstorm, prototype, and test inventive projects that combine wood with other technologies and materials. To kick things off, the TWIG team will lead a BC Wood show-and-tell, highlighting opportunities for wood product design and introducing participants to the unique qualities of BC wood species.
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From seasoned woodworkers to curious creatives, LogJam is all about collaboration, skill-sharing, and turning raw ideas into inspired possibilities for the future of wood. Join us for a creative afternoon of imaginating, hands-on building, and discovering the endless potential of wood.
*Ticket reserves your spot and gets you snacks and refreshments
Registration
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Robot Made: Large-Scale Robotic Timber Fabrication in Architecture
Associate Professor AnnaLisa Meyboom from UBC SALA, will hold a technical workshop on robotic fabrication in collaboration with UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP). While many industries have made leaps and bounds in adopting highly flexible and fully automated fabrication workflows using robotics, the construction and design industry are only just starting to open the door to these technologies. Recent developments in robotics combined with more accessible design-to-fabrication tools can now offer architects, designers and fabricators unprecedented access to a new design paradigm. We are pleased to welcome two experts to share their knowledge and experience with students and practicing architects here at UBC. Using a state-of-the-art eight-axis industrial robotic work cell in the CAWP pilot manufacturing pilot, the workshop will guide participants through the unique technical and conceptual foundations that underpin robotic milling in wood through the development and construction of a full-scale fabrication project.
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The workshop is structured as a five-day intensive with an in class session on Saturday with introduction to robotic fabrication, robot orientation, followed by a parametric design, FEM engineering design and fabrication session on Sunday and then hands-on fabrication session the following three days.
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British Columbia Timber Building Tour
The Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is pleased to announce the British Columbia Timber Building and Technical Tour to showcase leading manufacturers of mass-timber building components, prefabricated energy efficient homes, and modular building systems fabricators.
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The UBC CAWP has been leading tours to Europe for over 15 years. This tour is an opportunity for participants to visit some of BC’s leading mass-timber building component and prefabricated building systems manufacturers, many of whom have attended our past tours to Europe and have adopted and implemented principles and technologies into their manufacturing practices.
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These companies provide building solutions to meet the sustainability and green building requirements of advanced energy efficient materials, and mass-timber products for single family, multi-family, and non-residential construction.
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Are you looking to hire someone? Do you have a new position opening up at your company? Let us know, and we can make a posting here to share it with our readers.
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Growing Connections Across BC
TWIG is always looking for new ways to bring people together—through regional events, project tours, workshops, and collaborations that highlight BC’s wood innovation. We currently host activities in Vancouver, Victoria, and Squamish and are eager to explore opportunities in the Interior, Northern BC, the Sunshine Coast, and beyond.
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If you’re interested in hosting a tour, partnering on an event, or helping bring TWIG programming to your region, we’d love to connect. Together, we can create spaces for learning, collaboration, and conversation that strengthen BC’s entire value-added wood sector.
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Contact us at info@twigbc.ca and let’s explore what’s possible together.
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Donate to TWIG
At TWIG, we believe the best connections happen informally—and that innovation grows when new relationships are formed. That’s why we keep some of our events free, open, and easy to join.
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To keep this going—and for our funding model to work—we rely on financial contributions from the industry. Your support not only keeps the wheels turning but also shows that the work we do matters.
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If TWIG has offered you connections, inspiration, or opportunities, we invite you to show your support. Every contribution makes a difference.
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Got an idea? Need some Testing?
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Do you have a concept, product, or prototype that you want to realize? TWIG can work with you to make this happen with financial support through The Wood First Program. Carried out through the Center for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) and its team of technical staff, we are able to provide an array of support on various wood-based projects.
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