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The Wood Innovation Group
Welcome to the TWIG Newsletter! We're working to help shape the future of the value-added wood products industry. Our events and programming provide a dynamic platform for professionals to connect, learn, and share innovative ideas. Our newsletter is dedicated to those interested in using creativity and design to transform wood into finished products while blending tradition with cutting-edge technology.
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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
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Craft Beer Market, 85 W 1st Ave, Vancouver
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The Vancouver group meets again for its regular gathering at a local craft brewery More Info+
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Sea-2-Sky Wood Network
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Van Urban Timber, 1126 Resolution Way, Squamish
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The Squamish group is headed back to VUT for a community gathering More Info+
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Mass Timber Housing
March 11th, 12:00 - 1:00
$10 | Online
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Hosted by Paul Gilies of DIALOG, focused on modular solutions for Mass Timber housing.
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Industry Night and Open House
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Student presentations, industry networking, and live demos of advanced wood-processing technology
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Mass Timber Fabrication
March 20th, 12:00 - 1:00
$10 | Online
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Hosted by Hugh Grady of Kalesnikoff, focused on the CLT process from a fabricator's perspective.
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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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Hello TWIG Community!
Spring is just around the corner! The days are getting longer, and soon, we’ll see the first buds on the trees—nature’s signal of new growth and renewal. As we look ahead to the warmer months, we’re planning a series of in-person tours to local projects and facilities, adding new opportunities for networking and learning to our evolving event lineup.
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This month, we’ve added a few new Shape Workshops, focusing on CLT from both a housing and manufacturing perspective. Be sure to check them out and register using the links. We are grateful to the presenters who are contributing their time to make these workshops happen.
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We’re also sharing Part Five of our Wood & Culture series, exploring what defines a wood culture and why revitalizing BC’s industry from a cultural perspective is so important. Thanks to those who have been following along! You can catch up using the PDF link below if you missed any previous parts.
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With forest-felt regards,
Patrick Christie and The TWIG team
info@twigbc.ca
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From Industry to Identity: Revitalizing a Wood Culture in BC
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We have covered a lot of ground in the past four articles exploring wood at the intersection of culture, looking at global and local histories and the forces that have shaped wood identities. For BC to truly lead in value-added wood production and sustainable forestry practices, we need a renewed cultural vision—one that values wood not just as a resource but as a cornerstone of identity, community, and innovation. We need to move from a culture defined by economic drivers to one that integrates design, craftsmanship, sustainability, and the deep-rooted connections between wood, people, and place.
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A holistic wood culture is more than an industry—it is an integrated approach connecting wood as a resource, the forest as a living system, and the people who depend on it. It is reflected in how people interact with wood, the values they place on it, and the ways it is shaped into meaningful products, spaces, and cultural symbols.
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A strong wood culture is defined by how wood is integrated into daily life through homes, public spaces, and everyday objects. In regions with well-developed wood cultures, wood is a defining element of architecture, interiors, and product design—shaping how people interact with their built environment. Locally sourced materials reflect lifestyle, tradition, and climate, reinforcing a sense of place and identity.
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Despite BC’s vast forests, we have yet to fully embrace wood in this way. The industry remains largely focused on wood as a commodity, while imported species are often chosen over local ones for interiors and product design. A renewed approach would see wood more deeply integrated into BC’s built environment—not only in construction but in public furniture, civic architecture, home goods, and even everyday touchpoints like ferry terminals, airports, and hospitality spaces.
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Sustainability & Stewardship
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A deep respect for wood as a renewable resource is at the heart of strong wood cultures. Regenerative forestry models in countries like Sweden and Germany treat forests as long-term cultural assets, not just economic resources. Sustainability also means valuing every part of the tree in manufacturing, reducing waste, and recognizing forests as more than just a source of raw material.
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In BC, First Nations stewardship principles reflect this holistic approach, viewing forests as living systems intertwined with community well-being. However, BC’s broader forestry sector has historically prioritized extraction over regeneration. A renewed wood culture would embrace Indigenous leadership, value-driven production, and a deeper connection between people and forests—not just as a resource but as spaces that sustain life, culture, and recreation.
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Wood is more than a material—it carries cultural significance, shaping traditions, spiritual practices, and regional identity. In cultures where wood plays a central role, public art, architecture, and everyday objects tell stories of craftsmanship and connection to the land. In Japan, for example, wood is revered for its natural beauty and is deeply integrated into sacred spaces and traditional structures.
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BC’s Indigenous communities have long reflected this perspective through intricate carvings, settlements, and tools. Today, this continues in the modernized facilities they are building for their nations. However, BC’s modern wood industry was built largely on European influences, prioritizing efficiency and export over cultural continuity. As a result, innovations today often lack deeper symbolism, and any sense of identity is shaped by individual designers or firms rather than a cohesive BC narrative. A revitalized wood culture wouldn’t just preserve traditions but build upon them, embedding cultural meaning into modern innovations.
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A thriving wood culture balances heritage with innovation, where traditional craftsmanship and modern technology complement rather than replace each other. Regions with strong wood identities support independent craftspeople, small-scale manufacturers, and design-driven industries that create unique, high-value products. These sectors sustain tradition while advancing new ideas that strengthen local industries.
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BC, by contrast, has leaned heavily on large-scale production, while smaller workshops and independent makers often struggle for visibility and support. The future of BC’s wood culture could include a more diverse network of contributors, where innovation is not exclusive to big companies but accessible to smaller players collaborating across disciplines and forging new connections between industry, design, and culture.
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At TWIG, we view innovation as more than just technological advancement or a product. It is an outcome shaped by the conditions that allow for knowledge exchange, creative thinking, and access to resources that enable ideas to become reality. By redefining innovation to include social and cultural progress, BC can move beyond commodity-driven production toward a thriving, diverse ecosystem of professionals—foresters, craftspeople, architects, policymakers, designers, and manufacturers—working collectively to shape a distinct identity for BC wood.
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Cultural Markers: How We Measure Progress
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How will we measure the progress of an evolved wood culture? One way is through cultural markers—visible and tangible representations of how wood is integrated into daily life, public spaces, and regional identity.
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We already see wood-based cultural markers in BC’s public spaces and built environments—YVR Airport being a prime example—but they are largely concentrated in major capital projects and high-investment developments. While these projects showcase BC’s connection to wood, a truly embedded wood culture would extend beyond large-scale initiatives. Imagine if BC wood was woven into everyday spaces—transportation hubs, small businesses, community spaces, and the objects we interact with daily. What if design stores and souvenir shops sold products that reflected BC’s identity—pieces crafted from BC wood by BC makers?
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To build a true wood culture, we need to create things that reflect who we are and build a collective identity. And to do that, we need to co-create it together.
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---> You can find a link to the PDF of the previous articles HERE
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The Shape Workshop series offers micro-learning units that break down various aspects of the value-added wood industry into concise, knowledge-building sessions. Each workshop spotlights topics, case studies, and businesses that exemplify core innovations, ideologies, and processes in adding value to wood. Designed to fill knowledge gaps and inspire creative thinking, these workshops provide insights for workers in the wood industry and encourage a “think outside the box” approach to wood products. We aim to make the information accessible by defining industry-specific terminology and simplifying complex topics into easy-to-digest knowledge bites.
The workshops will cover various topics designed to reflect the priorities of B.C.’s value-added wood sector. These include sustainable building systems, advanced manufacturing and assembly methods, the integration of computational design, resource optimization through circular economy practices, and the development of high-value wood products. The workshops aim to equip participants with practical knowledge and tools that contribute to the sector’s long-term growth and success by focusing on innovation and collaboration across the value chain.
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Workshop #4 - Mass Timber Housing
March 11th, 12:00 - 1:00
Online | $10
Hosted by - Paul Gilies from DIALOG
Register +
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Homegrown Housing Solutions for BC Communities
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Tallwood mass timber housing offers a low-carbon alternative to conventional concrete and steel structures, helping to decarbonize our built environments while addressing the housing demands of our rapidly growing cities. By leveraging mass timber structural innovations, offsite construction, and replicable prototypes, the goal is to streamline municipal approvals, accelerate construction, and reduce costs—ultimately delivering housing faster, quieter, and with less disruption. The biophilic benefits of these buildings are equally important, enhancing well-being and reconnecting urban living with nature.
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Paul Giles from DIALOG will discuss their work in advancing mass timber housing solutions through efficient design, replicability, and innovative construction methods. As BC continues to expand its mass timber sector, the ability to standardize designs and optimize prefabrication is key to delivering cost-effective, locally sourced housing. This session will explore how high-performance design, modular construction, and supply chain coordination can help the industry meet housing and sustainability goals while strengthening BC’s communities and value-added wood sector.
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Workshop #5 - Mass Timber Fabrication
March 20th, 12:00 - 1:00
Online | $10
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Hosted by - Hugh Grady from Kalesnikoff
Register +
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From Design to Installation – A Fabricator’s Perspective
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Mass timber continues to gain traction as a sustainable, high-performance building material, and fabricators play a fundamental role in optimizing project success. Early planning, smart design, and fabrication efficiency are key to ensuring streamlined construction and maximum material performance. Viewing CLT from a fabricator’s perspective provides crucial insight into how design choices, material selection, and digital tools influence everything from raw materials to final installation.
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Hugh Grady from Kalesnikoff will explore how DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) principles, digital modeling, and modular strategies enhance fabrication precision and efficiency. This session will examine how prefabrication and modular approaches reduce waste, lower costs, and minimize on-site labor while improving construction speed and accuracy. Learn how these lessons can be applied to your own projects to optimize design, improve fabrication outcomes, and maximize the potential of mass timber.
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Mass Timber in Preconstruction: Navigating Design, Budget, and Buildability.
We are about ready to launch the next edition of our Timber Tech Connect series, this time in partnership with Kindred Construction. We had the Kindred team participate in the last event at Concept Lab focused on Vienna house, and they were keen to work with us on producing the next event.
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Mass timber is an emerging build form with significant potential in sustainable construction, but adoption remains challenging due to factors such as limited supply chains, higher costs compared to conventional materials, and the need for better industry-wide collaboration. This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities of getting mass timber projects off the ground, focusing on the preconstruction phase. Through the perspectives of an architect, a developer, and a construction management professional, the discussion will address the key considerations in design, budgeting, and construction planning. Drawing key learnings from our current projects—including Catalyst 2, Res One, 981 Davie, and Vienna House—panelists will highlight different preconstruction approaches, key lessons learned, and strategies for mitigating risks. By sharing these learnings and identifying scalable opportunities, this session aims to equip industry professionals with the knowledge needed to make mass timber a more viable and competitive option in the built environment.
We will update you with a special e-mail with more details about the speakers with a link to sign up.
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Open House & Industry Night
March 13, 2025, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver
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The UBC Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) will be hosting the 2025 Open House and Industry Night event on Thursday, March 13, 2025. This is an opportunity for interested individuals to learn more about the education, training, research, and industry assistance programs that take place at our facility. The event will feature presentations from Wood Products (WP) students, and industry alumni. In addition to the presentations, the CAWP will be conducting demonstrations of their state-of-the-art equipment, including the Kuka Robot Cell, Hundegger Robot Drive, Homag 5-axis CNC, and SimSpray VR training simulator. Industry is encouraged to attend this event to network with our WP students.
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***All CAWP events and training can be found online at here
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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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Expanding regional networks
We are seeking leaders and community builders to expand TWIG's regional networks in the communities where they live. We operate in Squamish, Victoria and Vancouver and are looking for new places to expand our networks. We would love to see new networks grow in Northern BC, the interior, the Sunshine Coast and anywhere else in BC. We really believe in these networks and their ability to impact communities and help develop innovation within regions.
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If this resonates with you and you are passionate about creating community, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at info@twigbc.ca, and we can schedule a call to explore what might be possible.
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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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