Exploring the Feasibility of Point-Supported Mass Timber for Tallwood Construction
Course Overview
This session examines the growing potential of point-supported mass timber systems in tall building construction, contrasting them with traditional timber framing and conventional steel and concrete approaches. It highlights regulator advancements, the role of mass timber in addressing mid-density housing needs, and the structural fundamentals of gravity and lateral systems. Through cost and schedule comparisons, design principles like bi-axial bending and punching shear, and insights from ongoing Canadian codification efforts, the presentation offers a comprehensive overview supported by real-world projects such as VAHA Burrard and BCIT Tall Timber.
Learning Objectives
Evaluate the opportunities and constraints for point-supported mass timber when compared to traditional timber framing schemes.
Analyze the schedule and cost benefits of point-supported mass timber systems versus steel and concrete in tall construction projects.
Explore state-of-the-art design methodologies and ongoing efforts towards codification in Canada.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1132245390
Speakers Bio
Carla Dickof, P.Eng., M.A.Sc. Associate Principal | Director of Research & Development Fast+Epp
Carla Dickof is the Associate Principal & Director of Research and Development at Fast + Epp, where she leads the Testing Team at Fast + Epp’s R&D hub, Concept Lab, and uses the data gleaned from research programs to regularly contribute to academic journals and conferences.
Carla completed her Master’s degree studies at the University of British Columbia, where her thesis research focused on hybrid systems, specifically those combining steel and mass timber (CLT).
Her experience as an engineer spans commercial, recreational, educational, and residential projects – and, since joining Fast + Epp in 2012, Carla has gained a robust fluency in all major building materials, including concrete, steel, light-framed wood, heavy timber, and mass timber. Her understanding of building physics and materials brings invaluable insights to her projects.
Alejandro Coronado, P.Eng. Technical Advisor WoodWorks BC
Alejandro Coronado is a Technical Advisor with a multidisciplinary background spanning contracting, supply, and consulting engineering. With both a Diploma and a Bachelor’s Degree in Structural Engineering from BCIT, Alejandro began his career in single-family residential design and steadily advanced to contribute to landmark projects such as the Centre Block Base Isolation at Parliament Hill, the UBC Museum of Anthropology Great Hall Renewal, the Royal BC Museum PARC Campus, and a mass timber campus in Silicon Valley. Initially drawn to mass timber for its expressive architectural potential, Alejandro quickly recognized its broader value in addressing today’s social and environmental challenges. Through many years of hands-on experience, Alejandro has become a champion for sustainable construction and simple yet effective structural solutions.
Building Canada’s Future With Wood
Course Overview
This session will feature thought leaders in a podcast-style conversation exploring the evolving role of wood in Canadian construction. Through a series of rotating interviews, the discussion will highlight key themes including the rise of mass timber and tallwood buildings, the shift toward offsite construction, and wood’s potential to address the housing affordability crisis. The session offers a forward-looking yet grounded perspective on the opportunities and complexities shaping the industry.
Learning Objectives
Understand how mass timber and tall wood construction are transitioning from niche applications to mainstream use in Canadian mid- and high-rise buildings.
Understand how prefabrication, modularization, and early team integration influence cost, schedule, and risk outcomes in wood construction projects.
Explain how mass timber can support institutional, residential, and mixed-use project goals related to sustainability, constructability, and housing delivery.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1178529090
Speakers Bio
Russell Hixson Editor SiteNews
Russell Hixson is an award-winning investigative journalist who began his career covering crime and courts in the United States before transitioning into Canada’s construction sector. He spent eight years at the Journal of Commerce, where he developed deep expertise in the industry and its key issues. He has also reported on the federal budget from Ottawa and documented the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while working remotely.
Hixson has developed a strong interest in the construction industry and is passionate about sharing its stories through SiteNews, with the goal of engaging and informing a broader audience.
Jana Foit Principal, Higher Education Practice Lead Perkins&Will, Vancouver
Jana Foit is a Principal and Higher Education Practice Lead at Perkins&Will’s Vancouver studio. With over two decades of experience, she has led numerous mass timber projects, including the Earth Science Building and Gateway Building at the University of British Columbia, as well as the BCIT Tall Timber Student Housing project.
She is a frequent speaker and panelist on mass timber design and contributes to several industry publications, including the Nail Laminated Timber Design and Construction Guide, the Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings, and the Technical Guide for the Design and Construction of Tall Wood Buildings in Canada.
Robert Malczyk Principal Timber Engineering Inc.
Robert Malczyk is one of a small number of university-trained specialized timber engineers. After completing his master’s degree at Warsaw University of Technology, he moved to Canada to study under the renowned Professor Borg Madsen at the University of British Columbia.
In 1997, he co-founded Equilibrium Consulting Inc., contributing to award-winning projects such as the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Galleria Italia designed by Frank Gehry. In 2021, he co-founded Timber Engineering Inc. He currently works on projects across Canada, the United States, and Asia.
His expertise focuses on a systems-based approach to mass timber design, with an emphasis on structural efficiency and energy performance.
Andrew Stiffman Vice President, Construction Services Kalesnikoff
Andrew Stiffman brings diverse project experience across single-family homes, large-scale passive house developments, and low- to mid-rise mass timber construction. At Kalesnikoff Mass Timber, he oversees the full project lifecycle of prefabricated and mass timber projects, from early-stage discussions through to completion.
His background in building science, development management, and hands-on high-performance construction enables him to combine technical expertise with practical delivery, leading multidisciplinary teams to successful project outcomes.
Mass Timber Industrial Buildings and Warehouses
Course Overview
The emerging use of mass timber in industrial buildings presents promising opportunities that are shaping the future of construction in this sector. As a sustainable and economically competitive alternative, mass timber is redefining what is possible in industrial construction, a field traditionally dominated by prefabricated steel. An analysis of two cutting-edge projects in Sudbury, Ontario, highlights key advantages, including cost competitiveness, reduced embodied carbon, and superior aesthetic appeal. The insights from these two projects present stakeholders with helpful considerations and valuable strategies for integrating mass timber into future developments.
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn how to create flexible, multi-tenant industrial layouts using mass timber systems that are able to accommodate evolving tenant needs.
Participants will gain insight into how early-stage collaboration with mass timber suppliers streamlines design, engineering, and construction processes.
Participants will gain insight into the role of mass timber in biophilic design, and how its visual warmth and natural materials contribute to wellness-centred spaces that appeal to tenants.
Participants will understand how mass timber can be a cost-competitive alternative to steel, especially in volatile markets, and assess its impact on embodied carbon and sustainability goals.
Born and raised in Greater Sudbury, Darian holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Laurentian University – in Biochemistry and Business Administration with a specialization in finance. In December of 2021, he joined Bloomington Developments, a real estate investor and developer in Greater Sudbury with a focus on commercial and industrial assets. While he has had the chance to apply his skills in capital budgeting, asset valuation, financial forecasting, and cost tracking in his time with Bloomington, his first major role with the company was unrelated to his educational background: overseeing the two concurrent mass timber building projects that are the subject of this seminar. Darian now manages all construction projects – whether new builds or renovations – and negotiates all leases across the company’s portfolio, in addition to his roles as primary liaison on legal, administrative, tenant relations, marketing, and business development matters.
Patrick Danielson, OAA + AIBC, MRAIC Founder and Principal Danielson Architecture Office Inc.
Patrick holds a degree in Biomedical Science and a graduate degree from the School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia. Combining these disciplines, he developed a unique “genetic design” approach — an evolving architectural strategy informed by biological principles. Patrick has expanded this framework through academic research, patented innovations, private sector projects, biological studies, and his experience as a pilot.
From Vision to Reality: Solutions for Beautiful, Sustainable, Attainable Housing
Course Overview
As the push for sustainable residential development intensifies, mass timber is increasingly taking a central role in how we reshape city building approaches. This session will delve into why we are pursuing a national residential portfolio based on mass timber, addressing the material’s impact in reducing carbon footprints, its status as a renewable resource, and the challenges surrounding its implementation for a large-scale residential portfolio. We will explore how transparency in supply chains and construction methods can unlock better outcomes for the built environment. The discussion will also address key challenges in delivering mass timber projects at this scale, from procurement complexities to cost-effective strategies. Lastly, we will chart the way forward by examining how prefabrication, structural systems, and repeatable typologies can advance the competitiveness and feasibility of mass timber, positioning it as a cornerstone of attainable housing and a sustainable construction future.
Learning Objectives
Understand the strategic importance of mass timber in city building and how it supports long-term sustainability goals, housing affordability, and market transformation.
Analyze key challenges in the building with mass timber in a portfolio context—from supply chain limitations to procurement complexities—and explore innovative strategies for advancing timber design and construction.
Explore the role of prefabrication and material properties in delivering cost-effective timber projects and repeatable building typologies.
Evaluate carbon reporting and the transparency of value chains in the timber industry, while discussing the potential for timber to drive a sustainable future.
Consider the intersection of timber construction with local guidelines and how structural engineering and urban design principles can align with broader industry goals for competitiveness and diversity.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1022248668
Speakers Bio
Nina Boccia Director of Marketing KPMB
Nina Boccia is a marketing and communications professional with over a decade of experience creating dynamic and engaging content that connects to vision and values. She previously served as an associate editor at Azure Magazine and managing editor of its sister publication, Designlines, where she interviewed and reported on the best minds in design and architecture. Through her work in arts and culture in Toronto, she has held various leadership positions; creating and overseeing programming, marketing initiatives, and fundraising efforts. She has spearheaded and managed national marketing efforts including branding campaigns, partnerships, and content strategies. Nina is passionate about sharing stories that are purpose-driven, facilitate important conversations, drive investment in community and culture, illustrate the transformative power of design, and champion the people creating meaningful impact.
Geoffrey Turnbull Director of Innovation and Sustainability Kindred Works
As Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Kindred Works, Geoff Turnbull champions an evidence-based, holistic approach to creating beautiful, sustainable, and high-performing development projects. Geoff came to Kindred Works with a broad background in architecture, business, film, computation, and real estate development, including serving as director of KPMB LAB, the sustainability-focused research group at leading Canadian architecture firm KPMB Architects. A licensed architect (OAA) who holds the LEED AP and CPHD designations, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance from Dalhousie University and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Toronto.
Adam Gerber Principal ASPECT Structural Engineers
Adam is the CEO and Principal of ASPECT Structural Engineers and a leader in mass timber engineering. His engineering achievements cover a variety of unique and complex structures utilizing different building materials, and he has a breadth of hands-on and technical experience unique in the field. Adam earned his master’s degree in structural and earthquake engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2016, where his research focused on the development of timber-concrete composite technology and vibration performance of floors. Prior to and throughout his degree in civil engineering from the University of British Columbia, Adam gained experience in the design and construction of timber structures as a carpenter, foreman, estimator, and, ultimately, structural engineer. This experience enables him to view projects from the perspective of designers, builders, and project managers, leading the creation of cost-effective, constructible, and efficient solutions. Adam is deeply committed to sustainability and is a certified Passive House Consultant. A respected public speaker, he has shared his insights on mass timber at numerous industry conferences, including BuildEx Vancouver, the World Conference on Timber Engineering, and the International Mass Timber Conference in Portland.
Laurence Holland Associate KPMB
Laurence has worked on several projects that draw on his expertise in urban design, community consultation, and multi-family residential design, along with his proficiency in communication and policy analysis. In addition to leading the design of several projects within the Kindred Works residential portfolio, he was a key member of the interdisciplinary Downsview Framework Plan team, working on the intersection of resilient landscapes, sustainable mobility systems, and architecture. Working closely with Indigenous design partners and community members, Laurence led the award-winning design of the Resilient Duplex for Fort Severn First Nation. Outside his project responsibilities, Laurence has led the establishment of funding opportunities and education programs for equity-deserving groups as part of KPMB’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He is also a sessional lecturer at the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design at the University of Toronto.
In addition to combustible, heavy timber and noncombustible construction, a new construction type is presently being considered for inclusion into the National Building Code of Canada (NBC). Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) is proposed to be defined as the “type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of encapsulated mass timber elements with an encapsulation rating and minimum dimensions for the structural timber members and other building assemblies.” EMTC is neither ‘combustible construction’ nor ‘heavy timber construction’ nor ‘noncombustible construction’, as defined within the NBC.
EMTC is required to have an encapsulation rating. The encapsulation rating is the time, in minutes, that a material or assembly of materials will delay the ignition and combustion of encapsulated mass timber elements when it is exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed by the NBC. The encapsulation rating for EMTC is determined through the ULC S146 test method.
In order for structural wood elements to be considered ‘mass timber’, they must meet minimum size requirements, which are different for horizontal (walls, floors, roofs, beams) and vertical (columns, arches) load-bearing elements and dependent on the number of sides that the element is exposed to fire.
EMTC construction in Canada is expected to be limited to a height of twelve-storeys, that is, the uppermost floor level may be a maximum of 42 m (137 ft) above the first floor. An EMTC building must be sprinklered throughout according to NFPA 13 and it is likely that some mass timber will also be able to be exposed in the suites. All EMTC elements are expected to have a minimum two-hour fire resistance rating and the building floor area to be limited to 6,000 m2 for Group C occupancy and 7,200 m2 for Group D occupancy.
There are restrictions on the use of exterior cladding elements in EMTC, as well as other restrictions on the use of; combustible roofing materials, combustible window sashes and frames, combustible components in exterior walls, nailing elements, combustible flooring elements, combustible stairs, combustible interior finishes, combustible elements in partitions, and concealed spaces.
If any encapsulation material is damaged or removed, it will be required to be repaired or replaced so that the encapsulation rating of the materials is maintained.
Additionally, requirements related to construction site fire safety are to be applied to construction access, standpipe installation and protective encapsulation.
EMTC and its related provisions are anticipated to be included in the NBC 2020.
NBC definitions:
Combustible means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”
Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.
Heavy timber construction means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs and by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.
Noncombustible construction means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.
Noncombustible means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”
For further information, refer to the following resources:
ULC S146 Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Encapsulation Materials and Assemblies of Materials for the Protection of Mass Timber Structural Members and Assemblies
Fire performance of mass-timber encapsulation methods and the effect of encapsulation on char rate of cross-laminated timber (Hasburgh et al., 2016)
CAN/ULC-S114 Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials
NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems
Advancing North American Mass Timber Projects: Harnessing the Strength of Local Expertise
Course Overview
As global adoption of mass timber construction accelerates, a growing number of solutions are available in the marketplace that can contribute to the success of your project. This session, presented by Simpson Strong-Tie, will explore some of the unique challenges faced by North American projects and some of the domestically developed solutions available to meet those challenges.
Learning Objectives
Understand the need for greater tolerance on concealed beam hangers, the importance of ensuring connectors are easy to install, and the specific requirements for large elements in North American buildings.
Understand the advantages domestic suppliers can bring to your project, including the rapid delivery of hardware to job sites.
Learn about the necessity for effective installation tools and processes tailored to the scale of large North American projects.
Learn about the need for effective moisture mitigation and the systems and strategies that can prevent unnecessary exposure of mass timber to the elements during construction.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/968295117/90544c8a0f?share=copy
Speaker Bio
Adrian Mitchell Chair of Simpson’s internal Mass Timber Focus Market Committee Simpson Strong-Tie
Adrian is a mass timber and off-site business specialist with a principal focus on the rapidly expanding mass timber segment, for which he serves as Chair of Simpson’s internal Mass Timber Focus Market Committee. Adrian has spent the bulk of his 20-year career in the off-site, mass timber, and modular spaces, primarily as a business development leader and private consultant. With professional experiences ranging from heavy civil, oil and gas, high-end custom homes to large-scale mass timber missed-use projects and artificial intelligence in BIM, he has a unique and well-rounded background in wood and steel applications in off-site construction. Adrian is a native of Vancouver, Canada, and a graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s School of Business, he enjoys all the typical Canadian pastimes like playing hockey, building things from wood, and mountain biking.
A Business Case for Tall Wood
Course Overview
This session will present a vision and business case for innovation, sustainability, and affordability for the tallest residential wood tower in the world (proposed in Nova Scotia). Addressing rapid delivery to meet urgent residential needs supported by Bird Construction costing and scheduling.
Learning Objectives
Understand the business case for developing tall residential mass timber buildings, including how sustainability, affordability, and rapid delivery needs are addressed through advanced structural design and innovative project phasing strategies.
Identify the key costing, scheduling, and manufacturing considerations that influence the feasibility of tall wood construction, including lessons learned from previous mass timber projects and the role of integrated project teams in mitigating bottlenecks.
Evaluate how mass timber products such as glulam and CLT can support high‑rise residential development, including insights into supply‑chain innovation, local manufacturing capacity, and the broader economic and environmental impacts of tall wood construction in Atlantic Canada.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1046545126
Speaker Bio
Patrick Crabbe Director of Mass Timber Bird Construction
Patrick Crabbe is the Director of Mass Timber at Bird Construction – Bird is a publicly traded, commercial and industrial conglomerate, recognized as a top 5 General Contractor (GC) in Canada.
Patrick is also the leader of a Mass Timber Manufacturing start-up, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. MTC is a sawmill integrated, glulam focused entity, that is currently executing a $2.3M feasibility effort to code approve proprietary high performing mass timber products (made from undervalued-commodity maritime spruce, pine and fir) that will expand the needed capacity of North American mass timber products and positively impact sustainable forestry practises.
Patrick’s professional career has been dedicated to developing markets for high-value structural wood products and working with industry to facilitate the. Through this experience, Patrick has a comprehensive understanding of construction contract methods supply chain solutions to set-up large, complex, mass timber build programs for success.
Patrick is an active member of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (led by the World Bank) and a trusted advisor to Infrastructure British Columbia and the Canadian Wood Council.
Joe Nickerson Vice President & Partner Sidewalk Real Estate Development
Joe Nickerson is a leader with a proven history of success managing a variety of real estate portfolios for high-net-worth families in Toronto, Alberta, and British Columbia. Joe has worked at RBC Capital Markets and for both private and public real estate holding companies ranging from $100M to $11B in AUM. Joe holds an MBA with a specialization in Real Estate & Infrastructure from Schulich School of Business and studied Private Equity & Finance at SDA Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
Mass Timber Designs for Rapid Housing Projects
Course Overview
In 2021, YW of Kitchener-Waterloo (YWKW) obtained funding from the federal Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to construct supportive housing for homeless women in the community. The 41 compact yet accessible 1-bedroom transitional housing units on a narrow parcel of surplus land were designed, constructed, and occupied within 1-year of contract award.
The optimized mass timber design resulted in time and cost savings during construction. These savings helped meet the financial constraints of project while maximizing the climate action response through mass timber’s reduced carbon footprint. Exposed mass timber elements also impart a sense of warmth and well-being rarely seen in austere supportive/affordable housing projects.
This presentation shares best practices and lessons learned from this first completed project in Kitchener along with several other similar projects in various stages of design and development.
Learning Objectives
Understand the applications of mass timber in rapid housing projects and the related sustainability benefits.
Analyze the challenges and solutions in designing mass timber housing projects, including regulatory, logistical, and technical aspects.
Evaluate the design considerations and project management strategies essential for successful mass timber housing projects.
Discuss the future potential of mass timber in addressing housing crises, focusing on scalability and adaptability.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1046545380
Speaker Bio
Matt Bolen Principal EDGE Architects
Matt Bolen is a Principal at Edge Architects in Waterloo, On. In addition to providing professional consulting services, the firm has been involved in several innovative research/development initiatives.
Matt’s area of expertise is multi-res building design ranging from mid-rise supportive housing to high-rise market rate. His professional interests include mass timber, modular/ prefabrication, and high-performance design.
Matt is a licenced Architect with the OAA and a certified Passive House Designer. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture program & has worked as an adjunct professor at the school since completing his master’s degree in 2009.
Low Carbon Buildings AND Energy Systems? Yes, We Wood.
Course Overview
As Toronto grows, so does the need for housing and energy. The use of wood products presents a tremendous opportunity to meet these essential needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and growing the local and regional economies. This panel will discuss opportunities to use wood for construction mass timber affordable housing and generation of low carbon heat and power in Toronto.
The panel that ensues will explore how the strategic adoption of innovative biomass district heating systems in urban settings can reduce the carbon footprint of cities while delivering both economic and environmental benefits to rural communities. Experts from Sweden and Canada will discuss how utilizing forest residuals for urban energy needs not only cuts carbon emissions in cities but also supports sustainable forest management and strengthens rural economies. The discussion will explore how Sweden’s successful large-scale implementation of biomass district heating can be replicated in Canadian cities like Toronto, providing a renewable, low-carbon energy solution that bridges the needs of both urban and rural communities.
Learning Objectives
Understand how wood construction, including mass timber, can contribute to lower embodied carbon in urban development projects.
Explain the relationship between building emissions, housing demand, and the need for faster low-carbon construction solutions.
Describe how forest biomass and district energy systems can support low-carbon heat and power generation in cities.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/1022193338
Speakers Bio
David MacMillan Manager, Environment & Climate Division City of Toronto
Katherine joined Enwave in 2024 to lead the launch of a new business platform focused on integrating clean electricity solutions with Enwave’s district networks, customer sites and electrical grids. Katherine brings over 15 years of experience in Ontario’s electricity sector, most recently as the Director of Innovation, Research & Development with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
Katherine is recognized across the Canadian energy sector for her leadership in advancing innovative clean electricity solutions, and for her ability to broker productive, effective partnerships between the private sector, utilities, and provincial and federal government.
Katherine teaches in the Master of Law, Energy & Infrastructure program at Osgoode Hall and is a member of the Clean 50. Enwave is Canada’s single largest owner and operator of district energy, providing heating and cooling services to buildings through networks in Toronto, Windsor, London and PEI.
Leveraging innovative solutions such as deep lake water cooling, biomass, energy from waste, sewer heat recovery, solar PV and storage, Enwave provides affordable, reliable, clean thermal energy and electricity to its real property and utility customers and partners.
Gabriella Sicheri Vice President, Development CreateTO
As Vice President, Development at CreateTO, the City of Toronto’s real estate agency, Gabriella Sicheri leads complex master planning projects, including the Bloor-Kipling Six Points 17-acre site created through the decommissioning of the Six Points Interchange. In her role, Gabriella reimagines the use of underutilized City assets in a way that will create meaningful space for end users and their communities, while generating important City-Building outcomes for the City.
With over 18 years of experience in the public real estate sector, Gabriella has lead important City-building initiatives and key civic projects across Toronto. Prior to joining Build Toronto (now part of CreateTO), Gabriella worked for the Toronto District School Board, where she negotiated, executed and managed complex redevelopment projects, land transactions and a leased portfolio of three million square feet to leverage public assets and generate revenue in creative ways to support new building construction and renovation.
In 2019, Gabriella was recognized as an Urban Land Institute Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Championship Team Member, which represents outstanding women leaders and influencers in real estate and development in the Greater Toronto Region.
Gabriella holds a degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University.
Ian Dunn President and CEO OFIA
Ian has a long history in Ontario’s natural resource sector. Before the OFIA, he worked as a consulting forester and environmental scientist, undertaking projects for clients in the oil and gas, mining and exploration, nuclear energy, government, and forestry sectors.
Since joining the OFIA in 2015, Ian has served in various forestry, manufacturing, and environmental policy roles. Appointed as the OFIA’s President & CEO in 2021, Ian currently oversees Association strategy, governance, public relations, and business administration. Working closely with Association membership, Ian developed a comprehensive strategic plan for the OFIA, representing a new direction and approach for the Association.
Ian championed the development and continued implementation of Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy and Biomass Action Plan, focusing on competitive measures designed to attract capital investment and strengthen the sector. He represents the OFIA softwood lumber producer’s interests in the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, developing strategies with members, and coordinating legal efforts with counsel.
He actively engages in forest management planning and conservation-related files, including parks and protected areas, species at risk, carbon markets and pricing, and Indigenous relations. Serving as a public appointee to Ontario’s Species at Risk Program Advisory Committee (SARPAC), and the Boreal Caribou Conservation Agreement Working Group, Ian provides strategic advice to the province on its species at risk program.
In 2019, Ian was recognized by Canadian Forest Industries magazine as one of the “”Top 10 under 40″” within the forest sector. He frequently speaks on behalf of the Association to the media, including interviews with the CBC, CTV News and Consumer Alert, Toronto Star, Northern Ontario Business, and many other local radio stations and newspapers. He has provided guest lectures at the University of Toronto and Lakehead University on forest policy and current issues in forest management.
Ian is a registered professional forester and has been a full member of the Ontario Professional Foresters Association since 2013. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two children.
Tom Antle Director of Engineering TorchLight Bioresources
Tom Antle is the Director of Engineering at TorchLight Bioresources. He holds a BASc in Mechatronic Engineering from the University of British Columbia and a dual MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from KTH in Stockholm, Sweden, and Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. He has been a Development Engineer at Stockholm Exergi, one of the world’s largest low carbon heating utilities, and a Project Manager and Reliability Engineer in British Columbia’s pulp industry. At Torchlight, he focuses on developing new biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants and integrating BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) into both new facilities and existing pulp mills. His major projects include the Rocky Mountain Carbon BECCS plant and the Heat New Glasgow district heating CHP. Tom is dedicated to leveraging biomass fuels to drive national decarbonization while promoting economic growth in Canada’s forestry economy. He is based in Coquitlam, BC.
Online Tools for Wood Construction – CodeCHEK, FRR & STC & EMTC 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
https://vimeo.com/1189075781
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.
Local Government support for Modern Methods of Construction
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
https://vimeo.com/1209529933
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.
Mass Timber Construction at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Course Overview
Canadian Nuclear Labs’ Chalk River Laboratories comprise the largest single complex in Canada’s science and technology community. The site contains more than 50 unique facilities and laboratories including a three new buildings constructed with mass timber.
These three buildings are the focus of a detailed environmental impact study. This webinar will offer a case study of the three buildings and share the results of the environmental impact study. Topics covered by the presentation include: -Why Wood? (drivers that led CNL to chose mass timber) -Carbon Impact (operational, embodied, sequestered, avoided, and a life cycle assessment) -Procurement (Integrated Project Delivery Method) -Building Performance (construction elements, energy performance, envelope performance, fire performance, durability, resiliency, and potential for adaptive reuse) -Code Requirements (regulatory approvals, permit process)
The projects are considered successful examples of sustainable procurement aligning with the ‘greening government’ strategy which supports the Government’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, and includes a 40% reduction by 2025 for federal facilities.
Learning Objectives
Understand the strategic importance of using mass timber construction at CNL and its alignment with sustainability goals, including carbon reduction and the promotion of sustainable building practices.
Analyze the logistical and engineering challenges associated with implementing mass timber in a large-scale infrastructure project.
Evaluate the benefits of mass timber in the context of operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact.
Discuss the implications of mass timber construction for future building projects in terms of regulatory compliance, market trends, and technological advancements.
Course Video
https://vimeo.com/911562291
Speaker Bio
Donald Chong, OAA, MRAIC, B.Arch Design Principal, Associate Vice President HDR
Don has firmly established himself in Toronto’s architecture culture through his inventiveness and investment in placemaking. His project skills volley between the strategic planning of urban and institutional work through to the detailing of finely crafted furniture, as well as research-based design. Don has held numerous design conference speaking engagements, from the Wood at Work Conference to the Architectural League of New York, and has been featured in print publications, such as Design Lines, related to mass timber design.
Susan Croswell, OAA, MRAIC Project Delivery Principal HDR
Susan is a project architect with over 27 years of diversified experience. Her expertise in both architectural design and technology allows her to excel in the profession from concept design through to contract administration. Susan’s ability to deliver complex projects and documentation on time is a hallmark of her work and is achieved through effective leadership and teamwork. She has developed a reputation as a highly competent, efficient, effective and approachable project architect who loves the challenges that each and every project brings to the team. Some of her recent, award-winning projects include the CNL Chalk River Laboratories “New Builds,” Queen’s University John Deutsch University Centre, and Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
Ryan Zizzo, PEng, MASc, LEED AP ND Founder & CEO Mantle Developments
Ryan Zizzo is a professional engineer and Founder & CEO at Mantle Developments, a consultancy focused on climate-smart infrastructure and buildings, based in Toronto. Mantle helps projects go beyond energy efficiency, incorporating resilience, embodied carbon emissions, and life cycle approaches to make projects future-proof and net-zero carbon ready. Ryan is a recognized leader in helping large organizations and governments transition to a low-carbon future. He has directly supported the Government of Canada, several provincial Ministries, the City of Toronto, the YMCA of Greater Toronto, and numerous developers, property managers, and real estate investors.
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