The building sector stands as the third most carbon-intensive industry in Canada, contributing 13% of the nation’s emissions in 2022, totaling 92 million tonnes (MT) of carbon dioxide, as reported by the Royal Bank of Canada. In response to this alarming emission rate, the government aims to reduce it to 53 MT by 2030. Kicking off towards this target, the construction sector is embracing wood, particularly mass timber, as an alternative or complement to concrete and steel, as it holds the potential to slash embodied emissions in buildings by up to 25%.

British Columbia’s abundant forests and inclination for innovation and sustainability puts them at the forefront of the mass timber industry. The province’s mass timber sector is projected to be worth $403 million by 2035. The Mass Timber Action plan released in April 2022 has only further propelled the industry forward. The plan developed in consultation with Indigenous leaders, major stakeholders in the forest industry, ministries and councils, aim to build more mass timber buildings and expand the manufacturing of mass timber. In turn this would further develop the mass timber ecosystem and workforce while also providing thousands of jobs in the mass timber workforce. The Forest Product Association Canada (FPAC) reported in June 2024 that nearly 700 mass timber buildings have been completed in Canada and more than 140 projects under construction or in planning stages with one-third of these projects being in British Columbia.

A recent update to the BC Building Code, now in effect, allows for taller encapsulated mass-timber construction (EMTC) buildings, enabling residential and office structures to reach up to 18 storeys, higher from the previous limit of 12 storeys. This is drawing other provinces throughout Canada to revamp codes to promote mass timber construction on a national scale. The Mass Timber Construction Summit, a flagship event by 2nd Annual Trueventus, features presentations from leading industry experts on the latest techniques and technologies in timber construction. Gain firsthand insights and experience on the latest innovations and opportunities in modern construction methods to streamline workflows, improve productivity, generate ample profit, and take advantage of the excellent networking opportunities.