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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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Timber Tech Connect - Tour of 837 Beatty
October 15, 5:30 - 7
837 Beatty Street
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Timber Tech Connect returns this October with a tour and conversation at one of Vancouver’s most ambitious hybrid timber retrofit projects.
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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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Digital Wood - Mini Symposium
November 3rd, 1:30 - 7:30
UBC - Location TBA
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A mini symposium discussing the state of the art in digital design, engineering and fabrication of timber systems and innovative prefabricated building approaches.
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Wood-First-Wednesday
November 5th, 6:00 - 8:00
Location TBA
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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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Wood-First-Wednesday
November 5th, 6:00 - 8:00
Location TBA
Squamish
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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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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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Welcome to Fall!
One highlight was the panel “Design Partnerships: The Early Years of Timber Innovation in B.C.” This reunion of architects and engineers provided a candid look at how mass timber gained momentum in this region. Without a roadmap, teams took risks—some costly, some groundbreaking—that paved the way for the practices now considered standard. What came through most clearly was trust: architects, engineers, fabricators, and clients choosing to lean in together. Beyond the technical wins, it was collaboration, persistence, courage and some sleepless nights that laid the foundation for the world-class projects and firms leading in B.C. today.
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If you’re curious about where timber innovation is headed next—especially around “digital wood” processes—join us at the upcoming Mini Symposium we’re co-hosting with AnnaLisa Meyboom of UBC SALA.
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About Wood-First-Wednesday
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For those who haven’t attended, Wood-First-Wednesday (WFW) is TWIG’s most informal and ongoing gathering. We started in Vancouver back in December 2021 and have held nearly every first Wednesday since. In December 2023, the series expanded to Squamish.
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What makes WFW unique is its simplicity: there’s no agenda, no talks, no sponsorships. It’s a space for building meaningful relationships, sharing knowledge, and meeting others whose work intersects with wood in all its forms. At a recent gathering, someone remarked that “if you have a question about wood, there’s likely someone at the table who can give you an incredibly thorough answer."
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While business connections sometimes spark, the real value lies in the access to collective knowledge and the cross-pollination of ideas. WFW is also a platform for students to explore career pathways, for newcomers to connect with others, and for seasoned professionals to share their experiences. You can listen quietly, contribute actively, or simply show up—the experience is shaped by what you make of it.
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We look forward to seeing you at our next WFW in November. 🍻
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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
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- If you're a student, reach out to us for a discount code.
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Tour of 837 Beatty
Registration at 5:30
Tour from 6:00–7:00
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Social @ Yaletown Brewery 7:00 - 8:30
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$15
PPE is required (steel toes, vest, hard hat). We have a limited number of spare PPE items available. Please reach out to info@twigbc.ca if you need any.
Ticket includes appies at the Yaletown Brewery
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Join us for an evening of learning and connection as we explore 837 Beatty Street, a hybrid mass timber addition currently under construction atop a historic warehouse in downtown Vancouver. This site tour offers a rare inside look at how one project is balancing heritage conservation, structural adaptation, and low-carbon building practices.
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837 Beatty Street is a three-storey former warehouse located in downtown Vancouver and part of the distinctive Block 68 collection of heritage buildings. Constructed in 1911 during a major early 20th-century building boom, it reflects the Edwardian industrial style typical of the era. The structure, made of load-bearing masonry and heavy timber, was originally designed to support four additional storeys—an expansion that was never realized.
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Over a century later, that vision is finally coming to life. The building is being restored, and a new four-storey mass timber commercial office addition is being constructed atop the original structure. The result is a thoughtful blend of past and future—preserving the character of the original warehouse while introducing a sustainable, modern addition designed for today’s commercial needs.
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Manager of Revive @ ETRO Construction
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A longtime supporter of TWIG and a familiar face in BC’s sustainable building community, Shaun St-Amour will host this edition of Timber Tech Connect, guiding attendees through the 837 Beatty project.
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Shaun leads the Revive division at ETRO Construction, which focuses on building retrofits that combine seismic resilience with energy performance upgrades. His background spans wood products processing, Passive House construction, and trades education—giving him a unique ability to bridge technical knowledge with on-site delivery.
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Before joining ETRO, Shaun was a regional consultant for 475 High Performance Building Supply, and earlier, ran his own sustainable contracting firm. He’s also been active in public knowledge-sharing platforms like the Passive House Accelerator, advocating for scalable high-performance buildings across BC.
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At this event, Shaun will share insight into:
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The retrofit strategies used at 837 Beatty
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The coordination of heritage conservation and mass timber
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ETRO’s evolving approach to sustainability through the Revive platform
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Digital Wood - Mini Symposium
November 3, 2025
1:30 PM – 7:30 PM
UBC – Location TBA
Approximately 4.5 credits AIBC credits pending
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A mini symposium discussing the state of the art in digital design, engineering and fabrication of timber systems and innovative prefabricated building approaches.
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This half-day event will have presenters discussing the innovation happening in the construction industry with regard to timber design, engineering and fabrication and the interconnectedness required to achieve a project. The symposium will discuss what is required to complete these challenging projects in timber. In addition, leaders in the prefabrication industry will discuss challenges for companies entering the timber prefabrication sector, with the high risks and upfront investment required. The presenters will discuss strategies companies are adopting. We will start with a discussion of what academia is doing with regard to innovation in timber and educating future leaders in the technology.
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This half-day symposium will feature keynote speaker Russell Loveridge (ETH Zürich) followed by talks from Sheryl Boyle (Carleton University) and AnnaLisa Meyboom (UBC), exploring the state of the art in timber design, digital fabrication, and academic innovation. The afternoon continues with two panel sessions: Challenging the Limits of Wood, featuring Patkau Architects, Spearhead, and Fast + Epp, and Prefab in a Competitive Environment, with insights from Intelligent City, MGA, and Leckie Studio. Each session will explore challenges and strategies in prefabrication, hybrid systems, and project delivery across scales. For the full schedule and registration details, please follow the link below.
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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 our Chapters
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. If you would like to host TWIG in Vancouver, Victoria, or Squamish, please let us know, and we can create an event 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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