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Course Overview Learn how leading cities across BC are supporting the adoption of modern methods of construction. This session will explore what policies and incentives cities have adopted to support mass timber in the planning and development approval process, how building departments are revising their permitting processes to support offsite and prefab construction, and how recent Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments have included more land use categories to support mass timber in mid and high rise applications. It will also examine how mass timber helps meet other City objectives, from low carbon emission goals for new construction to rapid housing targets, and highlight new and exciting projects in each of these cities that are in planning, under construction, or recently completed using mass timber. Learning Objectives Identify municipal policies, incentives, and planning tools that support the adoption of mass timber construction. Understand how permitting and development approval processes are evolving to accommodate offsite, prefabricated, and mass timber construction methods. Learn how Official Community Plans and land-use policies can create opportunities for mass timber in mid- and high-rise development. Assess how mass timber construction can help municipalities achieve broader objectives related to housing delivery, sustainability, and emissions reduction. Course Video Speakers Bio Annabelle Hamilton Executive Director WoodWorks BC | Canadian Wood Council Annabelle oversees WoodWorks BC, the market development program of the Canadian Wood Council. After completing her postgraduate degree in Northern Ireland, she worked with several multi-family development companies, managing multi-million-dollar projects across the full lifecycle – from acquisitions and municipal approvals through to construction completion. She now leads the WoodWorks BC team in advancing innovative solutions that support the adoption of wood products in multi-family and non-residential projects across British Columbia. Scott Groves Director Corporate Projects Township of Langley Scott Groves is the Director of Corporate Projects for the Township of Langley, where he leads the planning, design, and delivery of major community buildings and parks projects. An experienced civil engineer, he has spent his career in local government advancing complex capital initiatives, including arenas, community centres, fire halls, civic facilities, and large park and sports infrastructure that serve residents across the region. Before joining the Township of Langley, Scott held senior roles with several Metro Vancouver municipalities, directing capital projects, facilities, and strategic civic lands initiatives, and contributing to Olympic‑related infrastructure and major transportation projects. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is known for his collaborative approach to community building and his commitment to delivering high‑quality public spaces. Stacy McGhee Manager, Strategic Facilities Planning District of Saanich Stacy McGhee is a registered architect in the province of British Columbia. His work experience spans a wide range of building types, project sizes and procurements. Stacy’s work in both public and private sectors has given him a unique perspective of consultant and owner viewpoints enabling him to manage projects with a clearer mandate and sound contractual understanding. Stacy’s private sector work includes luxury hotels, commercial offices, historic renovation and healthcare. Since 2009, Stacy’s public sector work includes six years with the Province of BC working with BC Corrections to modernize facilities and to undertake large, multi-year P3 projects building $200M+ facilities in Surrey and the Okanagan near Oliver. Since joining the District of Saanich in 2015, Stacy has led the District’s Strategic Facilities Planning program which first produced the District’s first Strategic Facilities Master Plan followed by the recommended and prioritized implementations of a replacement for Fire Station #2 and the redevelopment of the Saanich Operations Centre. Stacy is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and a LEED registered professional.

Course Overview This session explores two distinct but complementary perspectives on advancing the built environment in Canada. Tanya Bachmeier, CEO of Cornerstone Timberframes, shares the evolution of her company from a traditional residential timber framing business to a multifaceted manufacturer delivering both custom timber frame structures and commercial mass timber projects. Drawing on decades of industry experience, she discusses the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned while adapting to changing markets and emerging wood construction technologies. The session also features Rosaline Hill, Principal Architect and Senior Planner at RHJ Architecture + Planning, who introduces BuildingIN, an initiative developed to address Canada’s housing supply challenges. Drawing on extensive experience in infill housing design and planning, Rosaline examines the barriers that limit housing development in existing communities and presents strategies to support sustainable, community-supported growth. Together, these presentations highlight the importance of innovation, collaboration, and practical solutions in shaping the future of wood construction and housing development across Canada. Learning Objectives Identify key business, workforce, and industry factors that support growth and innovation in the wood construction sector. Explain the benefits of heavy timber and mass timber construction and the importance of industry collaboration and knowledge sharing. Recognize common barriers to housing supply in Canadian communities and the role of infill development in addressing housing needs. Evaluate how planning, design, and housing policy tools can support sustainable, community-supported urban growth. Course Video Speakers Bio Tanya Bachmeier CEO Cornerstone Timberframes Tanya Bachmeier, CEO of Cornerstone Timberframes, will share her insights on the evolution of the timber industry, drawing from over three decades of experience with one of Canada’s leading heavy timber structure manufacturers. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in construction, Tanya has been immersed in the craft from a young age. Her journey from working alongside her father and uncle in the business to leading Cornerstone Timberframes as its CEO is a testament to her dedication, vision, and passion for the industry. In her speech, Tanya will explore how she and her partner have transformed Cornerstone into a multifaceted manufacturer, with a dual focus on traditional residential timber frames and cutting-edge commercial mass timber projects. She will discuss the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in a male dominated industry, finding a place in the emerging world of mass timber and emphasizing the importance of innovation while staying true to the craft’s roots. Through her unique perspective, Tanya will offer valuable lessons on leadership, adaptability, and the future of timber construction in Canada and beyond. Rosaline Hill Principal Architect, Senior Planner, Development Consultant RJH Architecture & BuildingIN Most people prefer to live in low-rise areas, on tree-lined streets, close to transit, in communities that are well serviced and walkable. Few municipal housing strategies target this vision or focus on existing low-rise neighbourhoods. But this housing niche holds the potential to transform our cities and pull us out of housing crisis. Low-rise multi-unit repeatable infill housing in existing urban neighbourhoods is the key to housing supply and municipal fiscal sustainability. At the same time, it is the most affordable way to dramatically reduce household emissions. Housing, fiscal and environmental sustainability, with new homes in the kinds of neighbourhoods people love – it is a win for all. So why aren’t developers building this? They are not allowed, or can’t make a profit doing it. But municipalities can change that! The BuildingIN team has leveraged housing industry knowledge to understand the financial and regulatory barriers to this housing solution. Using GIS, we map our advanced housing market response forecasting to show cumulative outcomes for housing, fiscal and emissions reductions across low-rise urban areas. With this powerful simulation tool, we have reverse engineered a solution for municipalities. As a winner of the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge, BuildingIN is able to provide municipalities with a full suite of services; to quickly implement regulatory changes and establish necessary investment strategies, so that developers will build the housing we need and want, over and over and over again. We enable municipalities to plan with certainty and make evidence based decisions, instead of the age-old ‘make some adjustments’ then ‘wait and see’ approach. Our team has been researching, testing, and simulating solutions for neighborhoods for the past 6 years. This has led us to the creation of BuildingIN – a transformational solution to our country’s housing supply challenge.

WoodWorks returns to The Buildings Show in 2026 bringing technical expertise and industry insight through a new partnership with CWC.

Course Overview The positive influences of design innovation, advanced materials, new building codes, and the evolving priorities of society are driving change in the construction sector that is expanding the use of advanced wood construction. Change, however, often presents new challenges, and the more widespread adoption of new technologies can be impeded by knowledge gaps and market forces. This expert panel will examine several important factors that can impact the decision to build with wood including insurance, financing and supply chain considerations, and identify both the challenges and opportunities they present. Learning Objectives Identify key market barriers to the adoption of mass timber construction, including insurance, financing, supply chain limitations, and knowledge gaps. Understand how project feasibility for mass timber is influenced by revenue uncertainty, cost premiums, and risk tolerance in development decisions. Learn strategies to de-risk mass timber projects through early collaboration, improved data sharing, supply chain planning, and policy incentives. Course Video Speakers Bio David Messer Director Climate Smart Buildings Alliance (EllisDon) David Messer is the Director of the Climate Smart Buildings Alliance, a joint initiative of EllisDon, RBC, Mattamy Homes and Atkins Réalis aimed at leading and accelerating the transition to a net zero buildings sector. Through CSBA David is leading projects aimed at increasing and removing barriers for the use of lower carbon building materials, as well as projects to increase building standards and the pace of building retrofits. David was previously the Executive Director of the Guelph-Wellington Smart Cities Office where he led two initiatives aimed at accelerating the circular economy, Our Food Future, an Infrastructure Canada funded smart cities project, and COIL (Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad), a circular business accelerator that worked with over 160 organizations to scale circular solutions in the food, environment and construction/demolition sectors. David has a long history of working on technology, policy and systems change as part of the Governments of Ontario and Alberta, within industry associations and as a consultant in the private sector. Scott Cameron President Skov Mass Timber Scott has over 30 years of experience in construction. Starting as a laborer and working his way through to General Superintendent, Project Director and an independent Consultant on Mass Timber Construction. As an accomplished public speaker, leader, and mentor, he has led many high performing teams and prides himself on being a collaborative problem solver. With decades of experience in ICI and residential construction, Scott has shifted his focus to multifamily Mass Timber construction to confront the housing crisis. Having been involved in many institutional and commercial Mass Timber projects, multiple 6 storey Multi Family projects, and the only two completed Encapsulated Mass Timber buildings in Canada after the 2018 code changes, Scott is one of the leading experts in North America on Mass Timber. As an outspoken advocate for Mass Timber, Scott promotes education and information sharing within the Mass Timber community. Having worked in B.C. and Ontario, Scott provides interactive presentations on Mass Timber construction to Developers and GC at project inception. The goal is not only to help navigate the unknowns when deciding between Mass Timber and conventional construction, but also to support the construction process to save time and cost. This led to SKOV Mass Timber Ltd, a consulting firm focused on Mass Timber to support Developers and GCs through the preconstruction process to project completion. With his experience, the aim is to bridge the skill gaps with education, information, and support for constructability reviews, schedule development, trade sequencing and support through the construction process. He is currently working with a Construction Management firm in BC on a portfolio of Mass Timber projects and supports other developers and GCs nationwide through preconstruction. Kevin Grosskopf Professor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Durham School of Architecture, Engineering & Construction University of Nebraska Dr. Kevin R. Grosskopf is a Professor at the Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Grosskopf received his Ph.D. from the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction at the University of Florida in 1998. He has served in various capacities in the commercial and utility industry and is a licensed Building Contractor in the State of Florida. Dr. Grosskopf has developed research expertise in building safety and sustainability including IAQ, energy efficiency, and, post-disaster response and recovery. More recently, Dr. Grosskopf transitioned to related areas in building prefabrication and construction workforce development. Dr. Grosskopf has received $8.1M in grants and endowments, including highly competitive contract awards from the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and, the Department of Labor (DOL). In addition, Dr. Grosskopf has written (or contributed to) 4 books, 35 research reports and more than 100 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, including top tier journals of the ASCE, ASTM and ASHRAE. Dr. Grosskopf has also given more than 100 invited presentations including guest lectures and presentations in more than 20 countries. Dr. Grosskopf formerly served as the Associate School Director for ACCE-accredited construction management and ABET-accredited construction engineering programs on both Lincoln and Omaha campuses. Dr. Grosskopf has also served as P&T chair for construction programs. Dr. Grosskopf has served on the ASC National Board and has coordinated two ASC Annual International Conferences (2009 and 2011). Annabelle Hamilton Executive Director WoodWorks BC Annabelle is the Executive Director of WoodWorks BC Team, overseeing active engagement, technical support and strategic development of initiatives that support the growth and awareness of Mass Timber in the BC market. Prior to joining WoodWorks, Annabelle built her career in the private sector, working for several Vancouver based multi-family Developers successfully leading projects from concept to completion.

Course Overview Advancing mass timber construction is critical to achieving Canada’s climate, housing, and economic goals. This course explores how innovative wood-based building systems – supported by programs such as Construction through Wood (GCWood) – are transforming the construction sector by enabling low-carbon, high-performance buildings. Drawing on insights from federal initiatives, industry leaders, and regional experts across Canada, the session examines the technical, regulatory, and market barriers to adoption, including fire performance, seismic design, supply chain capacity, and workforce readiness. It also highlights emerging opportunities in prefabrication, modular construction, and hybrid systems, while showcasing policy tools, demonstration projects, and the national Mass Timber Roadmap that are accelerating uptake. Designed for architects, engineers, contractors, and policy professionals, this course provides a comprehensive overview of the strategies and collaborative efforts required to scale mass timber construction across diverse Canadian markets. Learning Objectives Understand the role of mass timber in achieving net-zero emissions, addressing housing demand, and supporting the forest economy. Identify key barriers to mass timber adoption, including technical performance, regulatory challenges, supply chain limitations, and market awareness. Evaluate how programs such as GCWood and demonstration projects support innovation, de-risk technologies, and advance building codes. Course Video Speakers Bio Jean-Francois Levasseur Director, Industry Relations & Innovation Programs / Directeur, Relations avec l’industrie et programmes d’innovation Natural Resources Canada Graduating from the University of Ottawa’s Chemical Engineering program, Jean-Francois started his career in a variety of increasing roles in Kraft pulp mills, including mill process and environmental engineer positions. He then joined Environment and Climate Change Canada where he led on numerous aspects of environmental regulatory regimes applicable to Canada’s forest sector. At Natural Resources Canada since 2009, he has led in the design and implementation of various funding programs supporting strategic R&D, innovation and capital investments that accelerate the transformation of the Canadian forest sector towards the Bioeconomy: the Pulp & Paper Green Transformation (PPGTP); the Forest Innovation Program (FIP); the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program (IFIT), and; the Green Construction through Wood program (GCWood). Together, these programs provided more than $1B to support energy efficiency improvements, green energy production, and the commercialization of innovative products, transformative technologies and new wood based green building and mass timber demonstrations. Scott Jackson Director, Conservation Biology Forest Products Association of Canada As the Director of Conservation Biology, Scott works with member companies, governments and partners to develop and communicate policy positions on a range of files related to forest management, biodiversity conservation, including fish, wildlife and at-risk species, and climate change mitigation and adaption. He also supports FPAC’s efforts to promote the forest sector’s commitment to science-based sustainable forest management, as well as its contributions to Canada’s social and economic standing. Scott has been working for over 20 years in the field of forest management and natural resource policy. Most recently, he has worked as an independent consultant and as the Director of Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations with Forests Ontario, a not-for-profit organization committed to forest restoration, stewardship, education and awareness. Scott has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science (Biology) from Queen’s University and a Master of Forest Conservation degree from the University of Toronto. Steven Street Executive Director WoodWorks Ontario In his current role as Executive Director of WoodWorks Ontario, Steven leads a dynamic team, bringing value and new opportunities to the program’s partners in the wood industry. With many high-profile projects moving wood construction into the mainstream, knowledge transfer and market acceptance have never been more important to the wood industry. The construction sector has entered a new era of rapid industrialization, shifting from site-built to factory-built methodologies. Building code advances in the last few years are catalyzing the types of materials, approaches and buildings available for development. In this age of great change we can influence how we build, with new sustainability targets and an obligation to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Shawn Keyes Executive Director WoodWorks BC Shawn is an accomplished structural engineer and the Executive Director of WoodWorks BC. With a rich background in engineering, project management, and business administration, Shawn offers dynamic leadership, overseeing a multi-disciplinary team of experts advancing wood construction across the province. He joined WoodWorks in 2022 after a decade-long, distinguished career in consulting where he worked on pioneering timber projects across Canada at a leading design firm. Shawn is a licensed professional engineer in BC and ON. He holds masters degrees in both engineering and business, with a M.Eng. from Carleton University and an MBA from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Rory Koska Executive Director WoodWorks Alberta Rory Koska has over 30 years of experience in the design and building industry in Alberta. He is a graduate of the Architectural Technologies at NAIT. Rory worked with Igloo Building Supplies Group Ltd as a senior truss designer on residential and commercial buildings and later ran his own consulting firm. Rory has led the WoodWorks Alberta program for over 15 years and has brought the program through many milestones. The Alberta regional program has evolved into a conduit between industry innovation and the design community. Under Rory’s direction the WoodWorks Alberta program has established itself an invaluable resource for communities and the construction industry interested in building with wood. David Porter Program Coordinator WoodWorks Atlantic In 2019, David joined the Maritime Lumber Bureau as the Program Coordinator for the WoodWorks Atlantic program. He works with architects, engineers, developers, building/fire officials and government, to increase the use of wood in non-residential projects. He has been involved in the design and construction of many wood projects built in Atlantic Canada, providing technical support for both light wood frame and mass timber. Simon Bellavance Technical Advisor Cecobois Simon T. Bellavance holds a bachelor’s degree in wood engineering from Laval University, specializing in wood structures. Before becoming a technical advisor at Cecobois, he served as the technical lead for value-added wood products at Chantiers Chibougamau. In addition to his responsibilities in quality control and continuous improvement, he participated in several research and development projects for the

WoodWorks is once again partnering with BUILDEX Vancouver in 2027 to deliver WoodWorks at BUILDEX — a dedicated program that brings together wood design innovation, technical expertise, and industry perspectives from across Western Canada. This two-day collaboration within BUILDEX is designed to equip architects, engineers, developers, and builders with the latest strategies, technologies, and lessons learned from the field.

Course Overview In late 2014, following years of research and development in advanced wood products and systems, amendments to the 2012 edition of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) came into effect permitting mid-rise wood construction for residential and office buildings up to 6 storeys. This marked a significant shift, expanding the use of light-wood frame construction beyond the previous 4-storey height limit, and opening new opportunities for cost-effective and versatile building solutions. To improve affordability and harmonize with the National Building Code, the 2012 OBC was further amended in mid 2023 to permit limited combustible cladding and combustible exits to be featured in mid-rise wood construction. These amendments, with some minor editorial changes, were also carried forward to the 2024 edition of the OBC, which came into effect on January 1, 2025. This presentation will provide an overview of the technical and regulatory changes to the OBC with respect to the design and construction of mid-rise wood buildings and explore the role of this building archetype in achieving our housing targets with affordable, high-quality, and sustainable construction. Learning Objectives Understand the intent, scope, and application of technical and regulatory changes as well as key 2024 OBC provisions for mid-rise wood construction in Ontario. Explore the advantages of 5- and 6-storey wood buildings on the housing supply efforts in Ontario through market potential, project highlights, and the role of modern methods of construction. Know how to access free design and best practice resources for mid-rise wood construction and how to access free WoodWorks project support. Course Video Speakers Bio Hailey Quiquero Senior Manager WoodWorks ON / Canadian Wood Council Hailey Quiquero is currently the Senior Manager at WoodWorks ON for the Canadian Wood Council. Prior to their current role, Hailey worked as a Product and Design Manager and Computational Design Specialist at R-Hauz, as well as in various roles at Entuitive and Carleton University. Hailey holds a Master’s Degree in Structural and Fire Engineering and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering from Carleton University. Throughout their career, Hailey has been involved in research, teaching, and structural design within the engineering field. Vusal Ibrahimli Technical Specialist, Codes and Standards – Fire Canadian Wood Council Vusal Ibrahimli, M.A.Sc., E.I.T. is a Technical Specialist, Codes and Standards – Fire at the Canadian Wood Council. He supports fire-related code and standards initiatives and provides technical expertise for wood construction, including contributing to education and conference programming related to fire performance and code compliance.

This issue of Wood Design & Building is, in many ways, about relationships. Relationships between materials and place, between education and practice, and between forestry and the built environment. And perhaps most importantly, the relationships being built by the people at all points along the path from forest to finished building who are sharing their knowledge, experience and passion for wood buildings. That exchange of knowledge is strengthening confidence, capability, and collaboration throughout the design and construction community. In our interview with Dr. Blériot Feujofack, Education Manager at the Canadian Wood Council, we explore how new learning opportunities and accessible industry knowledge are helping prepare the next generation of designers and builders. In Lloyd Alter’s article, A Treehugger Goes Logging, we are reminded that building with wood also means understanding where the material comes from and appreciating the depth of knowledge required to manage forests sustainably. By sharing perspectives across forestry, manufacturing, and construction, the article highlights the people and practices that shape the material long before it reaches the built environment. That spirit of collaboration and shared learning is also reflected in our featured projects. In Saskatoon, the misiwe-kisik | One Sky school demonstrates how a project team’s commitment to doing something special for the community helped foster the collaboration and innovation required to use century-old, reclaimed nail-laminated timber from decommissioned grain elevators. The project’s Cree name, reflecting connection, belonging, and relationship across communities, feels equally fitting for a sector increasingly shaped by collaboration and shared ambition. What makes this moment remarkable is not only what we are building, but how we are learning to build it together.

Save the date! WoodWorks Alberta and the Canadian Wood Council are bringing the Wood Solutions Conference to Calgary in November — and you won’t want to miss it. Tickets will be available this fall! Stay tuned for updates on Early Bird registration and event details.

Course Overview This presentation highlights the Canadian Wood Council’s suite of free, web-based fire design tools, CodeCHEK, FRR & STC Tool, and Exposed Mass Timber Calculator. CodeCHEK enables project teams to evaluate code-compliant opportunities for wood construction by assessing key building characteristics, such as height, area, sprinkler presence and more, highlighting potential pathways for alternative solutions, and clarifying where wood elements may be permitted in buildings otherwise required to be of noncombustible construction. The FRR & STC (fire-resistance rating & sound transmission class) Tool helps designers in the determination of generic fire-resistance rating designs of lightweight wood-frame wall, floor, and roof assemblies using the Component Additive Method described in Appendix D of the NBC, which is referenced as an acceptable solution in Section 3.1 of the NBC and can be used for Part 3 and 9 buildings. In addition, the tool provides the sound transmission class (STC) value that is associated with each wall or floor assembly for which STC information is available. The Exposed Mass Timber Calculator helps users assess whether mass timber compartment exposure/encapsulation designs align with the 2025 National Building Code of Canada provisions by evaluating compartment inputs against applicable criteria and generating warnings when configurations are not code-consistent, positioning it as a practical screening and learning aid that complements (but does not replace) detailed code analysis and professional judgment. Learning Objectives Evaluate code-compliant opportunities for wood construction using the CodeCHEK tool by analyzing key building parameters (e.g., height, area, and sprinklering) and identifying potential pathways for alternative solutions. Apply the FRR & STC Tool to design compliant assemblies by determining fire-resistance ratings and sound transmission performance of lightweight wood-frame wall, floor, and roof systems using the Component Additive Method. Assess mass timber exposure and encapsulation strategies using the Exposed Mass Timber Calculator to verify alignment with 2025 National Building Code of Canada provisions and support early-stage design decision-making. Course Video Speakers Bio Noah Fetterly Technical Specialist, Codes and Standards-Fire Canadian Wood Council Noah Fetterly is a Technical Specialist, Codes and Standards – Fire at the Canadian Wood Council (CWC), where he contributes technical expertise to national code development, fire safety research, and guidance for wood and mass timber construction. He holds a background in Fire Protection Engineering Technology, having graduated from Seneca College, and began his career working with fire alarm systems inspections and testing. At CWC, Noah supports technical communications, research initiatives, and industry tools related to fire performance and encapsulated mass timber construction, helping ensure alignment with the National Building Code of Canada and related standards. He is an active contributor to technical discussions involving fire safety, mass timber design, and regulatory compliance.